| Item | Description |
|---|---|
| Principle 7 | Environmentally Preferable Purchasing – Implement a procurement approach to access environmentally-conscious products whenever applicable and available. |
| Goal 7.1 | Establish Environmentally-Preferable Products Procurement Program (EPP) and continue to implement annual procurement goals to move toward alignment with the standards of the Environmental Purchasing Advisory Council where ever appropriate and consistent with available funding. |
| Metric | Annually report on purchasing of electronics, office paper, cleaning products, etc. and progress towards meeting established goals |
Define the goal issue and provide background info to understand the goal in lay terms.
As part of the Commonwealth's overall goals of conserving natural resources, reducing waste, protecting public health and the environment, and promoting the use of clean technologies, recycled materials, and less toxic products, this policy committed to reducing State Agency impact on the environment and enhancing public health by procuring Environmentally Preferable Products (EPP) and services whenever such products and services are readily available.
Environmentally preferable products are products and services that have a lesser or reduced effect on human health and the environment when compared to competing products or services that serve the same purpose. They may include, but not be limited to, items that:
- Contain recycled materials
- Minimize waste
- Conserve energy and/or water
- Consist of fewer toxic substances
- Reduce the amount of toxic substances disposed or consumed
- Protect open-space
- Lessen the impact to public health
Ensure that at least one person from the University is designated to stay in contact with the state regarding the EPP program and EO 515 to ensure that if updates and changes occur they can be communicated to the Sustainability Group and Procurement Director for implementation.
Why is this goal important to highlight?
This goal is important since it complements the other goals surrounding sustainability and will help support those goals through the use of environmentally preferable products wherever possible.
Where does the University/campuses currently stand in meeting this goal?
The Director for Enterprise Wide Procurement currently meets regularly with State procurement leaders and will follow-up on the implementation of this program and any changes that the University should be made aware of.
Are there other groups/departments who will be critical in meeting this goal?
Working closely with the Procurement Council to ensure that EPP products are available on BuyWays and are competitively priced would be an important step to continue.
What has been done in the past to advance towards this goal?
To date, specific products have been researched and launched but not a full scale EPP program. (i.e. Paper, ink cartridges)
The Director of Enterprise Wide Procurement has been meeting regularly as the University’s designee with the State’s Procurement Directors.
What does the University/campus need to do in order to reach this goal?
The University must continue to work together to develop the best and most cost effective EPP program for the University and ensure that all information is effectively communicated to the necessary stakeholders using the products. The UMass Sustainability Council will provide recommendations to the Procurement office and collaborate on a regular basis.
Goals developed should continue to be met through regular communication with the State.
The EPP should also strive to meet or exceed existing campus practices keeping up with STARs criteria or other green purchasing best practices wherever appropriate and consistent with available funding.