Purchasing
Home: Environmental Stewardship
Environmental Stewardship
The University is committed to environmental stewardship,
conserving natural resources, and preserving the environment.
We encourage suppliers to identify products, services,
or processes that promote environmental stewardship.
In addition to the requested bid, suppliers are encouraged
to offer an additional bid for products, services, or
processes that are more environmentally friendly. Such
products or services should be bid as an alternate to
the requested bid. Any exceptions or deviations from
the original specifications must be clearly identified.
The environmental benefits must be clearly identified
with supporting data. Examples of such benefits include
reduced life cycle costs, reduced energy consumption,
recycled content, recyclability, extended product life,
and decreased maintenance.
Environmental Programs and Practices
Collaborations and Recognitions
Office of Physical Plant – Environmental Information
Finance & Business – Environmental Stewardship Key Initiative
Penn State Purchasing and its departments are committed to being responsible stewards of University resources and the environment. As a major part of Finance and Business’s Environmental Stewardship Key Initiative, we have already taken several steps toward this goal and are continually searching for new ways to maximize purchasing value while making wise choices that benefit University and the environment.
Below are several examples on the different purchasing processes, policies, and programs that we have to help us become environmental stewards for the Penn State community.
Purchasing
Energy
Our office purchases Energy Star certified microwave-refrigerator combo units for all Penn State campuses.
We have instituted the Environmental Protection Agency’s EPEAT standards to the purchases of laptops, desktop computers, and, monitors. It is our commitment to abide by our environmental standards when buying computer equipment in bulk.
Cleaning Products and Chemicals
We purchase environmentally friendly cleaning products whenever possible.
We also do not purchase 55-gallon drums of chemicals. The drums cause a hazardous waste stream that the University would have to pay for to remove. We worked with the chemical manufacturers to provide Penn State with the chemicals in a smaller size and at the price at or below the 55-gallon bulk price.
We also purchase more environmentally friendly water treatment chemicals as they become available.
Paper
We offer 30 percent recycled paper and five of Penn State’s top paper users, including the computer labs and the Multimedia Print Center, have committed to become buyers of the recycled paper. The recycled paper purchased from OfficeMax is packaged in recycled brown kraft cartons instead of bleached cartons. This extends the environmental benefits of the paper to its carton - recycled brown kraft cartons require fewer trees, less water and no bleaching to manufacture. We also buy the paper by the truckload and receive a bulk discount.
Light Bulbs
We purchase non-hazard light bulbs.
Trash Liners
The University is now using Trash Liners that meet or exceed the EPA Standard for Post-Consumer Resin Content of 10% in several applications. Bags offered for free outside Beaver Stadium during football games as well as a portion of the liners used at the Penn Stater Conference Center and the Nittany Lion Inn are a few examples of this achievement. The University is continuing to expand this program to other applications with the goal of having all Trash Liners meet or exceed the recommended EPA guidelines.
Recycling
Computers
Over 750 tons of computers, electronics, and other computer related goods were recycled (through approved vendors) resulting in savings in excess of $50,000 in landfill fees.
The sanitation of data and subsequent sale of used computers and peripherals through our sales store and computer auctions significantly reduces the use of energy and materials to manufacture new goods. We sold in excess of 250 tons of these goods.
We revised our Lost and Found policy to allow materials that weren’t beneficial for sale at Lion Surplus and/or did not meet the State of Pennsylvania stature abandoned property to go to the Trash to Treasure Program.
We also encouraged and conducted sales and auctions at the Commonwealth Campuses to reduce costs from hauling between campuses such as vehicle wear and tear.
Purchasing Cards
Since the program began in 1996, we have been recycling cancelled purchasing cards. PNC Bank sends them back to the company that produces the plastic. There they are melted down to produce new cards. We recycle approximately over 250 cards every year.
Ceiling Tiles
For three years, Penn State has been involved with Armstrong to recycle old ceiling tiles. Armstrong has dedicated a trailer to be used as a storage facility for the tiles. As OPP does renovation projects, old tile is stored in the trailer. Once the trailer is full, Armstrong transports the materials back to their plant to be recycled. Last year, 2,230 tiles were recycled. This program helps Penn State avoid landfill fees while keeping material out of the landfill. Aluminum ceiling track is also saved as scrap for recycling. Penn Harrisburg has also utilized Armstrong’s services for recycling tile.
Business
Travel Services
Along with several of Purchasing’s online eBusiness outlets, like eBuy, Travel Services has employed a paperless transaction process. All documents, except for when an airline requires paper, are now electronic and accepted as official receipts for reconciliation and reimbursement.
Travel Services has also added a section in its RFP for athletic team hotels that address environmental stewardship. This section asks the bidder to outline what they are doing in the area of recycling, conservation, use of environmentally friendly processes, and carbon offset.
General Stores
General Stores reduced paper usage by implementing an electronic tracking system. The system eliminates roughly 104,000 paper orders and 6000 custom cylinder gas forms annually.
General Stores is also the main processing center for used toner cartridges. Last year, 7.5 tons of used toner cartridges were processed for recycling at the University Park campus.
General Stores offers a wide array of recycled products that can be found in the General Stores catalog and can be ordered on-line through eBuy (www.ebuy.psu.edu or www.generalstores.psu.edu), including Boise Aspen recycled paper (30% post-consumer content, 10 reams/carton) and is available by the skid or carton.
General Stores has also added Energy Star certified Sylvania micro-mini compact fluorescent lamp and a wide array of green cleaning products and chemicals to the product line.
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