Committed to supporting the University’s mission to “enhance the social, cultural, physical, and economic wellbeing of our students, Oregon, the nation, and the world”, Purchasing and Contracting Services (PCS) works to perpetuate the purchase of supplies and services that reflect the institution’s values, support its academic endeavors, and generally allow the University to steward resources well. PCS uses a “Best Value” perspective. This approach allows University buyers to consider factors other than price when making their purchases.
Examples of sustainability considerations include selecting products and services with:
- Recycled and recyclable content
- Non-toxic and sustainably sourced materials
- Social equity policies
- Energy efficiencies
- Alternatively fueled equipment and vehicles
- Regional manufacturing
- Durability or ease of upgrading
- Environmental certification by third party certifiers
- Zero waste practices
Purchases often have large upstream production impacts. Choosing more sustainable products and services leads to a host of potential benefits, including:
- Proactively protects the environment, biodiversity, and human communities
- Long-term cost reduction
- Increased innovation
- Reduction in waste, carbon emissions, energy, and water consumption
- Supports fair economic growth
- Reduces risk
- Bolsters reputation and stays consistent with University’s mission
University Buyers
PCS has incorporated general sustainability language into the University Standard Terms and Conditions and within competitive procurement documents. Teams involved in procurements and contracts can take this a step further by including environmentally protective requirements specific to the product or service. For example, if you are on a team purchasing major equipment with various power source potentials, you may include more environmentally friendly fuel requirements, state that non-toxic materials be used during manufacturing, detail that the vendor take back the item for repurposing at the end of its useful life, and/or you can even specify that there be no idling of vehicles during delivery. Contractors innovate regularly. Ask them how they can assist your team in reducing the negative environmental impacts of the items and services you buy.
Questions to ask about your purchase:
- Is this purchase necessary?
- May a reused product meet your needs?
- Is the product energy-efficient in production and use?
- Does the product have a high recycled/post-consumer content?
- Does the product have less, recyclable, or biodegradable packaging?
- Will the product last -is it durable, reusable or upgradable?
- Was the product produced locally or regionally?
- Overall, is the product the least environmentally damaging throughout its lifetime?
- Is the product non-toxic or minimally toxic (preferably biodegradable)?
- Can the product be recycled and, if not recyclable, may it be disposed of safely?
- Is the product made from raw materials obtained in an environmentally sound, sustainable manner?
- Are the services provided by a company that actively reduces its negative impacts on the environment?
- Can the services be performed in a less polluting manner?
- Can the vendor advise on and implement services that reduce the environmental impacts of this purchase?
Sustainable Purchasing Resources:
EPA Identify Greener Products and Services
Responsible Purchasing Network
Energy Star
Green Seal Product Search Tool
Sustainable Products Search Tool
Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool (EPEAT)
EPA Energy/Resources Calculator
Berkeley Carbon Footprint Calculator
Pharos Project Hazards Assessments (requires sign-up)
Declare for Healthy Building Products
UO Campus Recycling
UO Comprehensive Environmental Policy
UO Office Of Sustainability
Memberships and Learning Opportunities Available to UO