University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point
OP-11: Sustainable Procurement

We don’t have campus specific policies, guidelines or directives, but we do have them from the State Level. The University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, Residential Living Department aim to purchase environmentally preferred products whenever possible for our ongoing and durable product needs. Environmental considerations for these purchases include but are not limited to transit distances, recycled content, recyclability, FSC certifications, energy efficiency, low VOC and additional environmentally friendly manufacturing processes. The intent of this policy is to become even better stewards of the land, air and water by improving our ability to recognize and minimize our impact on the environment through our purchasing habits.

The institution will use life cycle cost analysis where applicable. The policy (PRO-E-19 of the State Procurement Guide) is very general in nature and does not specify or itemize criteria by certain categories of product. http://vendornet.state.wi.us/vendornet/procman/proe19.pdf

The Academic Custodial Work Unit is 'Greenguard Certified' through the GREENGUARD ® Certified System. The GREENGUARD Certification Program gives assurance that products designed for use in indoor spaces meet strict chemical emissions limits, which contribute to the creation of healthier interiors. Achieving GREENGUARD Certification gives credence to manufacturers’ sustainability claims, backing them with empirical scientific data from an unbiased, third-party organization. http://greenguard.org/en/CertificationPrograms/CertificationPrograms_indoorAirQuality.aspx Residential Living has a Green Housekeeping Program that includes cleaning products that are environmentally friendly and safe. The State of Wisconsin mandatory contract includes this in the bid: The purpose of this Request for Bid (RFB) is to provide interested parties with sufficient information to enable them to prepare and submit a bid for Cleaning Chemicals. Contractors are encouraged to work with authorized end-users to replace non-Green certified chemicals with Green certified (Green Seal, Ecologo, or EPA Dfe certified) cleaning chemicals through product testing processes. Contractors are also expected to provide end-users with current cleaning methods and techniques for using Green Certified cleaning chemicals. https://vendornet.wi.gov/Download.aspx?type=contract&Id=f40f7b48-212a-e611-8964-40a8f0ad9999&filename=3292_2.PDF UWSP Grounds Work Unit does use pesticides but only for certain areas that may demand it like curbs, patios and walkways. Over the past several years, the amount of pesticides that the Grounds Work Unit utilizes has been reduced to 2 products, a reduction of close to 90%. We also have chosen a student weeding staff vs. pesticides for all our berms and flower beds. All members of the Grounds staff that apply pesticides are state certified for applying restricted-use chemicals. What is important to note is that the UWSP Grounds Work Unit do not utilize any restricted-use chemicals, however the staff uses the same demanding application procedures when applying pesticides on campus. With the eco system in mind, organic based fertilizers are used in over 2/3rds of campus applications. The Grounds Work Unit uses ‘Nature Safe’ fertilizer which is constituted from animal proteins. The feather meal, blood meal, meat meal and bone meal found in ‘Nature Safe’ are the same ingredients used in animal nutrition and pet foods. Synthetic fertilizers are only applied when grassy areas need to be turned around in a short period of time. Product 2-4D is used on grassy areas to control broadleaf weeds including dandelions, chickweed, and plantain. Pesticides are used once per year in the summer. 'Nature Safe' fertilizers are used on athletic fields 3 times throughout the year. https://www.uwsp.edu/facsv/Pages/Grounds1.aspx

Found in the State of Wisconsin Division of State Facilities Sustainable Facilities and Standards. ftp://doaftp1380.wi.gov/master_spec/Sustainable%20Facilities%20Standards/Sustainable%20Facilities%20Standards.pdf

Policy The State of Wisconsin has mandatory contracts and policies for the purchase of university technology. The Information Technology Department also has standards in place to insure compatibility, technical support, and security of all applications, software, and hardware purchased for the University. All University technology purchasing requests are to be processed through the Information Technology Purchasing Office. This includes computers, monitors, printers, computer peripherals (flash drives, cables, etc.), projectors, audio/visual equipment, televisions, DVD/VCRs, web based applications, software, and software as a service. UW - Stevens Point Information Technology Department will adhere to the following energy efficiency requirements when making technology purchases: • UW - Stevens Point Information Technology Purchasing will have a strong preference toward purchasing EPEAT certified equipment where application, market, budget and standards permit the institution to do so. • UW - Stevens Point will at a minimum purchase desktops, laptops, computer monitors and multifunction devices that have achieved Bronze registration or higher within the EPEAT system. UW - Stevens Point will purchase EPEAT Silver or Gold registered desktops, laptops, computer monitors and multi-function devices, where application, market, budget and standards permit the institution to do so. • UW - Stevens Point will adhere to contracts and policies regarding EPEAT policies promulgated by Wisconsin Department of Administration and UW-System and its affiliates. • UW - Stevens Point Information Technology will seek to make purchases that will minimize the energy demands of the campus

Scope: to ensure that contracts for contractual services are entered into only in the best interests of the state; to ensure that the state will procure at lowest possible price, without sacrifice in quality, the contractual services required for the optimum performance of state government functions. PRO-I-1 does not apply to any contracts for utilities; for construction and environmental consultant services; or for engineering, consulting, surveying or other specialized services; or for printing.

Some product categories have some specific criteria, such as purchasing recycled paper, which there is a published information in below system link establishing that at least 40% of total paper purchase must be recycled. UW-Stevens Point purchases all of their copy paper as recycled paper with a minimum of 30% post-consumer recycled content, so we exceed what is required. http://vendornet.state.wi.us/vendornet/procman/prod19.pdf Residential Living purchases furniture with wood from sustainable forests. https://www.uwsp.edu/resliving/Documents/PDF/Green%20efforts%208-2013.pdf

We are a Fair Trade university Ensure that Fair Trade products are used at internal university meetings, events and in university offices. Offer Fair Trade coffee, tea, sugar and other products whenever possible http://fairtradecampaigns.org/campaign-type/universities/