George Brown College - Green
Plan Policies and Practices
Issue: Green Purchasing
Objective: To reduce the environmental impacts associated with the College’s purchasing
decisions, including “upstream” impacts related to the extraction of natural resources,
manufacturing, transportation and packaging, and “downstream” in the final disposal, recycling
and reuse of products.
Results:
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The College has a Green Purchasing Policy which specifies environmental attributes as
preferable (recycled content, recyclability, LEED Criteria, toxics contents, local,
environmentally friendly, etc.) It also makes recommendations regarding purchase of various
product categories that should meet the standards of third-party environmental certification
programs, including for: paint; furniture, fixtures, floor coverings; computers and electronics;
appliances and equipment; housekeeping and cleaning products and services; and wood
products/lumber.
The College has Green Purchasing Sustainability Guidelines for furniture, fixtures and
equipment. These guidelines which are also made available to contractors, specify certain
criteria that should be met in terms of a product’s manufacturing process, off-gassing
properties and in terms of recycled material content and being locally manufactured. Categories
include wood products, carpets and flooring and paints and coatings.
The College’s Policy and Procedures for Purchasing ITS (Information Technology Services)
Equipment includes specifications that equipment meet certain levels under the EPEAT
(Electronic Product Assessment Tool) program
The College has a Paper Use and Purchasing Policy that includes guidelines for College use of
paper. The College has also switched to photocopy paper which has 30% Post Consumer
Waste (PCW) recycled content and is either certified by the forest Stewardship Council (FSC)
or the Sustainable Forests Initiative (SFI).
Green Plan II Future Plans:
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Ensure the consistency in terms of the weighting of environmental criteria when carrying out
Technical Evaluation of proposals received in response to Requests for Proposal and Quotes.
Where feasible, increase weighting for environmental criteria to 10% of total points.
Reduce paper consumption associated with proposals by requesting vendors not to submit a
copy of the College’s RFP with submissions and requesting that all paper submissions be
printed double sided.
For more information contact: Wray Hodgson, Manager, and Purchasing
Issue: Paper Consumption
Green Plan I Goal: To reduce total consumption of paper by 15% over 5 years and to purchase
paper that has been manufactured with minimal impact on the environment.
Progress to Date:
- Over the last four years the College’s photocopy paper has increased by 10.2%; however, per
capita paper use has decreased by approximately the same amount.
Photocopy Paper Per Capita GBC Photocopy Paper
Per Capita (GBC Photocopy
per Capita
& Grenville)
Sheets
Grenville
GBC Photocopy #
Sheets
Grenville Printing #
Sheets
Total # Sheets
2009-10:
17,977,000
9,827,612
27,804,612
1,159
749
409
2010-11
21,277,838
11,280,772
32,558,610
1,163
760
403
2011-12
21,679,241
10,617,675
32,296,916
1,114
774
379
2012-13
19,971,392
10,667,347
30,638,739
1,057
689
368
10.19%
Green Plan II Future Plans:
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Launch a Photocopy Paper Challenge to all departments to reduce paper use by 15%.
Be more proactive in encouraging faculty to provide course outlines on-line and to accept and
mark assignments electronically.
Consider adding a surcharge to departments for paper use to serve as an incentive to reduce
paper consumption.
Start tracking student paper consumption such as in the Learning Commons and Computer
Labs and other classroom with printers
New campus locations at Waterfront Campus, 193 and 341 King do not allow single (personal)
printers.
For more information contact: Geoff Swift, Senior Manager, Business Services
Issue: Greening Food Services
Green Plan Objective:
To reduce the environmental impacts of the College’s food service operation by modeling
environmental sustainability practices.
Green Plan I Results:
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The College developed a Green Meeting Guide
that is used as a resource by the College
community in planning events and functions with minimal impact on the environment.
-10.17%
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Only Fair Trade certified (organic and shade-grown) coffee is used in College-run cafeterias
and for catering.
Customers are offered 10 cent discount for bringing their own reusable coffee/tea mug to the
cafeteria.
The use of Styrofoam in College food services has been eliminated; take out containers in
College run cafeterias are biodegradable as are all coffee cups.
The College no longer uses bottled water for office catering; bulk water is provided instead.
New vending machines with healthier food options have been added to St. James campus as a
pilot.
We switched to single serve Pizza Pizza servings instead of a whole mini-pizza box reducing
cardboard use.
Used vegetable oil is collected and sent to a local chicken farm where it is used as a feed
additive.
All pre-consumer food waste is collected for compost including from Tim Horton's/
Condiments are served in bulk rather than single serve packages.
All napkins are 100% recycled, unbleached napkins.
Green Plan II Future Plans:
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Be a resource to the Student Association in helping them to specify environmentally friendly
food service options for their food service vendors such as at La Doice Vita. For example, an
effort needs to be made to eliminate use of Styrofoam take-out containers.
Start with the Waterfront Campus, efforts will be made to track purchase of local (Ontario)
food and percentage of "sustainable" food.
For more information contact: Geoff Swift, Senior Manager, Finance
Issue: Transportation
Green Plan I Objective:
- Encourage alternatives to conventional vehicle use.
Progress to Date:
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The College has added over 40 new bike parking spots on Casa Loma and St. James Campuses.
The College provides incentives for public transit by providing discounted TTC Metropasses
for students and employee as well as a College discount for Auto Share membership.
College is working with Smart Commute Toronto to develop an overall Sustainable
Transportation Strategy.
Green Plan II Future Plans
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Set-up an on-line Smart Commute Car Pool Zone for College employees.
Investigate possibility of putting shelters over some of the bike parking racks.
Explore feasibility of designated carpool parking for carpoolers.
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Make special parking spots available at Casa Loma Campus for hybrid vehicles and car pool
cars.
Encourage employees to take advantage of the City's Activate Your Commute web-site and
resources.
For more information: Contact Stephanie Foster, Green Team/ Sustainability Coordinator