Update on Sustainability Projects and Green Purchasing

National Institutional Acceptance: 2011 National Association of Educational Procurement Study

• Green Procurement has become accepted as a key element of institutional sustainability.o 60% of institutions recognize green procurement as such

(vs. 53% in 2010 and 2009)o 36% have formally adopted a green procurement policy

(up from 24% in 2009 and 32% in 2010)

234 institutions responded (vs. 230 in 2010)59% were a new respondent

• Who responded?

National Institutional Acceptance: 2011 National Association of Educational Procurement Study

Institution Size

Large >10,000 FTE

Small <10,000 FTE

Institution Type

54%(53%)

46%(47%)

62%(60%)

38%(40%)

Private Public

*59% are new respondents

Results 2011 – Economic Conditions

• Despite the economic conditions for Higher Education, Green Procurement efforts have remained largely unchanged.o 54% of respondents reported NO change in their programs (vs. 55% in

2010)

National Institutional Acceptance: 2011 National Association of Educational Procurement Study

Results 2011 – Reporting of Results

• As Green Procurement has become more engrained in the sustainability plans, formal reporting has grown.o Internal reporting is up from 40% to 45% of institutionso External reporting is up from 19% to 30% of institutions

National Institutional Acceptance: 2011 National Association of Educational Procurement Study

Results 2011 – Training Opportunities

• Green Procurement Training is a major issue and has not improved in 2011.o No training is available for 32% of the respondents (vs. 33% in 2010)o 42% of the respondents self evaluate their training as POOR or FAIR

(vs. 34% in 2010)

National Institutional Acceptance: 2011 National Association of Educational Procurement Study

Results 2011 – Overall Conclusions

• The Future of Green Procurement is Goodo 58 respondents indicate they will add a Green Procurement policy in

2011o This is consistent with commitments in 2009 and 2010

National Institutional Acceptance: 2011 National Association of Educational Procurement Study

Green in the Procurement Process at the University of Illinois

• Currently, the University achieves benefits for green programs in two ways:– Direct– Programs for

recycling, packing, green products (direct product purchases)

– Indirect – Reduction of paper and administrative costs (iBuy, e-invoicing, e-settlement)

Green in the Procurement Process at the University of Illinois

• University Sourcing incorporates green programs and initiatives in our procurement process by: – Requesting program plans and current

green availabilities.– Requesting e-invoicing capabilities.– Requesting central point of delivery. – Requesting information on any recyclable

programs the vendor(s) may offer.

Getting Green on New Initiatives: RFP Process

• Data gathering - what is currently used• Criteria: Green Seal or EcoLogo• Testing

o Double blindo 4 primary cleaners –

• floor, glass, multipurpose, disinfectanto Pass/Fail

Take-Aways

• Allow lots of time o data gatheringo understand limitationso stakeholder concerns

• Include paper goods• Develop fair testing criteria

Green Programs - Contracted Vendors

• AmSan• DOT Scientific• Fisher Scientific• UPS• Grainger• CDW-G• Sigma Aldrich• Wesco

• University Sourcing works with several vendors with green initiatives that benefit the University as a whole. – Vendors such as Grainger, EESCO/WESCO, Fisher Scientific,

Sigma-Aldrich, CDW-G, OfficeMax and many others all have green programs that directly or indirectly benefit the University.

– Direct benefits from these vendors include vendor representatives approaching departments and identifying areas where sustainability and green alternatives are available and the potential cost savings associated with the alternatives.

– Indirect benefits from these vendors include packaging programs and the use of biodegradable products. These benefits also include the use of recycled products.

Green Programs - Contracted Vendors

Next Steps

Colleges and Universities are catalysts for change. We must work to use a model for cultural change

implementing green concepts on both Micro and Macro Levels

Develop Partnerships to work together to Teach, Promote, Sponsor, Market and Organize Events

Begin with a "Stop, Start, Continue” approach to plan changes

Identify our limitations, do what we can do now and do what others are doing based on real results and data.

Develop a long range plan and incorporate changes in projects when it makes sense and funding incentives are available.