Statement on Sustainable Procurement

Download the Statement on Sustainable Procurement 

University Commitment

The University of North Florida has a rich history of proactive care for the environment, which it works to instill in students. Currently, the University has LEED-certified 11 buildings, is retrofitting campus with LED lighting, maintains the 382-acre Sawmill Slough Preserve, operates two electric vehicle (EV) charging stations, conducts campus-wide recycling, cultivates the Ogier Organic Gardens, and resources academic initiatives through Environmental Center. In concert with vendor partners, the UNF Bookstore no longer uses plastic bags and the Osprey Café donates café leftovers to the local community in need. This statement is set forth to enhance how we work and provide education.

Scope

This guideline applies to all items procured and contracts negotiated by the University. Sustainability is a comprehensive cycle involving purchase as well as use, disposal, and reuse of materials. The collaborative process of sustainability involves all employees, vendors, and students.

The University realizes the economic, environmental, social, and ethical dynamics of sustainability. As such, the total cost of ownership, encompassing these impacts, shall be the standard for procurement.

Current Initiatives 

• Carbon commitment: The University strives to reduce greenhouse gas emissions associated with University procurement and operations, with the long-term goals of reaching carbon neutrality.
• Conservation: Protect the native flora and fauna in their natural communities while promoting biological diversity in the Sawmill Slough Preserve.
• Dining practices: The Osprey Café incorporates source reduction, food recovery and composting strategies to reduce waste to landfill. Other initiatives include tray-less dining, reusable to-go containers, plant-based options, and obtaining animal products from cage-free chickens, non-rBGH cows, and poultry raised with restricted use of additives.
• Energy efficiency via light-emitting diode (LED) lighting: UNF has completed three phases of its LED retrofit project. The most recent retrofits resulted in over 4,000 fixtures and 1,500 bulbs converted. UNF has retrofitted streetlights on Lot 18, lighting in Parking Garages 38 and 44, as well as lighting in 10 buildings on campus. Future plans include the continued conversion of additional fixtures, bulbs, and street lamps to LED. This retrofit has proven to show substantial reductions in energy consumption.
• Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) buildings: LEED certification is an international rating standard for buildings developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). The University constructed its last 11 buildings as LEED certified, now with nine at gold or silver status.
• Post-consumer paper: Preferred office supply vendor offers copy paper with 30% to 100% post-consumer content.
• Recycling: Recycling bins for mixed paper, plastics, and cans are available in every academic and office building across campus.
• Vendor management: Procurement Services meets annually with holders of higher-dollar, term contracts. Vendors are asked to provide ‘green’ activity totals and industry updates.

Future Opportunities

Three key commodity types for sustainable action are durable goods, ongoing consumables, and on-campus services. Durable goods are higher-cost-per-unit materials that are replaced infrequently and/or may require capital outlays to purchase. These products may include, but are not limited to office equipment (such as computers, monitors, printers, copiers, fax machines), appliances (refrigerators, dishwashers, water coolers), external power adaptors, televisions, and furniture. Ongoing consumables refer to low-cost-per-unit materials that are regularly used and replaced through the course of daily business operations. These products may include, but are not limited to printing and copying paper, notebooks, envelopes, business cards, sticky notes, paper clips, toner cartridges, and batteries. On-campus services including, but not limited to, landscaping, custodial, construction, maintenance, and transportation activities may involve the use of chemicals, machinery, materials, energy, and water. In buying for or servicing the University, consider:

• Energy efficient products use relatively less electricity, gas, or water when compared to similar products in the industry.
• Fair Trade is a third-party verified system of trade that provides better prices, decent working conditions, local sustainability and fair terms of trade for farmers and workers in the developing world.
• Packaging includes plastics, paper, cardboard, and other materials used to ship product to campus, which the University aims to minimize in partnership with vendors.
• Recycled content refers, but is not limited to post-consumer, salvaged, and renewable materials, which the University aims to maximize in partnership with vendors.
• Toxins and pollutants may be minimized by selecting biodegradable, phosphate-free and citrus-based solvents when the quality of service will not be compromised by their use.
• Water may be conserved with the use of water efficient appliances, which may include, but are not limited to high performance fixtures such as toilets, low flow faucets and aerators.

Responsibility of Vendors