Sustainable Purchasing

Boston University strives to be an industry leader in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and achieving Zero Waste, as outlined in Boston University’s Climate Action Plan and Zero Waste Plan, by embracing best practices for sustainable sourcing and procurement of goods and services.

 

For every ton of material burned or buried locally, 71 tons of material were disposed upstream through mining, manufacturing, and distribution of products. The Zero Waste Hierarchy of Highest and Best Use recognizes that “more energy can be saved, and global warming impacts decreased, by reducing waste, reusing products, recycling and composting than can be produced from burning discards or recovering landfill gases.”

 

The University seeks to identify, adopt, and promote measurable strategies to reduce its emissions from purchasing and waste-related activities. The University will rethink how it purchases goods and services. First, we will prioritize reduction of product purchases overall; then, consider used and surplus goods before considering new goods. BU aims to avoid single-use products and packaging, buy remanufactured or durable goods, and lease/share equipment.

 

The University defines sustainable goods and services as those which deliver value (quality and cost) to BU, and for the environment and society. The University is committed to the stewardship of the environment, fair labor practices, supplier diversity, reducing the risk of exposure to harmful chemicals, and minimizing adverse effects of the University’s purchasing decisions. BU will source goods and services from strategic suppliers that are aligned with these goals.

 

The scope of the Sustainable Purchasing Program covers consumable goods, chemicals for cleaning and landscaping, appliances and equipment, electronics, furniture, vehicles, and transportation products. Separately, BU Dining and Auxiliary Services have developed goals and tracking sustainable purchasing of food and related non-food products.

 

The full guidelines for the Sustainable Purchasing Program is available to download here.

 

Below are the list of different categories, and the related guidelines for sustainable purchasing:

 

Category Recognized Certifications & Standards Required Minimum Preferred Standard Example products

Commercial Print

GreenSeal

 

Environmental Paper Network

 

Conservatree

 

Sustainable Green Printing Partnership

 

EcoLogo

Green alternatives, such as chemicals reduction, soy-based inks, recycled content paper, and alternatives to foam project boards

 

Green alternatives, such as chemicals reduction, soy-based inks, recycled content paper, and alternatives to foam project boards

 

Minimal Styrofoam

 

Maximum recycling of materials used in printing process

 

Use of alternative energy sources

Large volume print orders, magazines, brochures

Stationery

GreenSeal

 

Environmental Paper Network

 

Conservatree

100% Post-Consumer Recycled Content or

Agricultural residue content

100% Post-Consumer Recycled Content or Agricultural residue content Notepads, envelopes, business cards
Office Furniture Carpet and Rug Institute Green Label Plus

 

Forest Stewardship Council

Greenguard

 

Scientific Certification Systems (SCS) Indoor Advantage

 

Rainforest Alliance

 

BIFMA Level

 

Cradle to Cradle

 

GOTS

 

Standard 100 by Oeko-Tex

 

STeP Oeko-Tex

 

Health Product Declaration

 

Declare Label

 

Facts Certification

Purchased with consideration to toxins and waste minimization and durability; without added flame retardants, and one of the following certifications: GreenGuard Gold or BIFMA Level Purchased with consideration to toxins and waste minimization and durability; without added flame retardants, recycled content and/or organic materials, and one of the following certifications: 

GreenGuard Gold or BIFMA Level

Task chairs, desks, tables
Office/Copy Paper FSC Recycled

 

Post-consumer recycled content (PCRC)

 

Processed Chlorine Free (PCF)

 

Green Seal (GS-07)

 

Environmental Paper Network

100% Post-Consumer Recycled Content or Agricultural residue content

 

100% Post-Consumer Recycled Content or Agricultural residue content

 

Copy paper
Office and Breakroom Supplies GreenSeal

 

Post-consumer recycled content (PCRC)

 

Non-antimicrobial

Recycled content and end of life recyclability Recycled content and end of life recyclability Binders, clips, folders, writing utensils
Promotional Products GreenSeal

 

Fair Trade

 

B-Corp Certified

 

Global Organic Textile Standard

 Purchased with consideration to durability, recyclability, reusability, and minimal packaging

 

No sweat shop labor/sound labor practices

 Purchased with consideration to durability, recyclability, reusability, and minimal packaging

 

No sweat shop labor/sound labor practices

T-shirts, drinkware, apparel
Air Travel Book all University travel through Concur & Christopherson Business Travel Book all University travel through Concur & Christopherson Business Travel Flights
Transportation Products Contain the highest post-consumer recycled content practical Contain the highest post-consumer recycled content practical Signs, cones, parking stops, delineators, channelizers, and barricades
Vehicles UL safety certifications

 

Hybrid, plug-in hybrid Battery electric Sedan/SUV, pickup truck, passenger van, cargo van
EV Charging Stations Energy STAR Networked charging station with data tracking services, in alignment with Massachusetts and Eversource standards
Electronics & IT Hardware Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool (EPEAT)

 

Energy STAR

 

Scientific Certification Systems (SCS))

Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool (EPEAT) criteria designated as “Bronze” Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool (EPEAT) criteria designated as “Gold” and Energy STAR Computers, monitors, printers, copiers, servers, televisions
Toner EcoLogo Use high-capacity cartridges Use high-capacity and remanufactured cartridges
Laboratory Supplies ThermoFisher Green Leaf Label

 

ACT Label

 

LabConscious Endorsement

 

ACS Solvent Selection Tool

 

OSHA Green Chemicals Guidelines

Purchased with consideration to toxins and waste minimization, durability, recyclability, and reusability Purchased with consideration to toxins and waste minimization, durability,  recyclability and reusability Chemicals absent from the TURA hazardous chemicals list and glassware, gloves, chemicals/reagents
Laboratory Equipment and Appliances Energy STAR

 

ThermoFisher Green Leaf Label

 

ACT Label

 

LabConscious endorsement

 

High efficiency High efficiency and

Energy STAR Certification

Fume hoods, biosafety cabinets, centrifuge, microscopes
Lab Equipment, Freezers, & Furniture Energy STAR

 

ThermoFisher Green Leaf Label

 

ACT Label

 

LabConscious endorsement

 

High efficiency High efficiency and

Energy STAR Certification

Fume hoods, biosafety cabinets, centrifuge, microscopes