Wesleyan College
Responsible Purchasing Policy
April 2009
Overview
Wesleyan College has adopted a Responsible Purchasing Policy as one of the tangible actions required
for compliance with the American College & University Presidents’ Climate Commitment (ACUPCC).
College departments shall purchase environmentally preferable equipment and services whenever such
equipment and services are available or financially feasible. Departments should analyze the short- and
long-term savings of an environmentally preferable appliance over a less energy efficient model before
every purchase.
Purpose
Environmentally preferable products are “products and services that have a lesser or reduced effect on
human health and the environment when compared to other products and services that serve the same
purpose. This comparison may consider raw materials acquisition, production, manufacturing, packaging,
distribution, reuse, operation, maintenance, or disposal of the product or service.”
Environmental or ‘green’ purchasing is a very practical way in which the College can make a positive
difference while demonstrating leadership to the community. Responsible Purchasing dictates that
decisions about purchasing will be based on attributes other than price and availability. While the focus is
on environmental impacts, purchasing criteria may also be developed to support other College objectives
or values, such as purchasing locally, social or industrial issues associated with production, or fair trade.
The Responsible Purchasing Policy supports other initiatives with respect to conservation and the
environmental stewardship. The intent of this policy is to assist the College in meeting its greenhouse gas
reduction target and energy reduction goals required by the ACUPCC.
Scope
Wesleyan College is committed to buying more environmentally preferable goods and services as long as
they meet our performance needs and are available within a reasonable period of time at a reasonable
cost. This policy should not be construed in any way as requiring a department or contractor to procure
products or services that do not perform adequately for their intended use, exclude adequate competition,
or are not available at a reasonable price or within a reasonable period of time.
The determination of what is a reasonable price to pay for an environmentally preferable product will take
into consideration the environmental costs associated with the alternatives.
As a consumer of goods and services, there are several opportunities to direct the purchase through
choices. Through environmentally preferable purchasing, many positive outcomes are possible . This
requires that product specifications be compliant with:
Energy Star®
Developed and promoted by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department
of Energy (DOE). Energy Star® currently certifies and labels appliances, heating and cooling systems,
clothes washers, dehumidifiers, dishwashers, commercial and residential refrigerators & freezers,
commercial food service equipment, room AC, lighting, office equipment, and manufactured homes.
Criteria for product categories are updated regularly and designed to reduce energy use. In addition,
Energy Star® and the EPA provide information for reducing the costs of operating buildings through their
website and informational material.
EPEAT™
Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool (EPEAT™) is a procurement system that assists
purchasers in evaluating, comparing, and selecting desktop computers, notebooks, and monitors based
on the following environmental attributes:
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Reduction/elimination of environmentally sensitive materials
Materials selection
Design for end of life
Product longevity/life cycle extension
Energy Conservation
End of life management
Corporate performance
Packaging
EPEAT™ evaluates electronic products according to three tiers of environmental performance – Bronze,
Silver, and Gold. To qualify for acceptance as an EPEAT™ product, it must conform to all the required
criteria. A higher ranking (Gold) is obtained by meeting the various levels of additional optional criteria.
Green Seal®
Green Seal® is a non-profit formed in 1989 that began certifying products in 2000. Green Seal® certifies
hand cleaners, cleaners, fleet vehicle maintenance, floor care products, paints, papers, newsprint and
windows and doors. Green Seal® is a member of the Global Eco-labeling Network (GEN).
Product standards are developed with the input of the public and industry stakeholders, academia, and
government agencies. Standards must meet U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requirements,
International Standards Organization (ISO) requirements and the requirements of third party certifiers.
Green Seal® certification is required for all cleaning products bought by the College and their service
providers.
Wesleyan College currently utilizes Green Seal® certified restroom paper and hand soaps, and our
custodial services provider utilizes Green Seal® certified cleaning products.
This policy applies to a wide spectrum of products including, but not limited to:
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Appliances
HVAC equipment
Electric motors
Office equipment
Lighting and Signage
Cleaning Chemicals and Paper
Consumer electronics
These criteria must be included in all materials specifications involving the purchase of supplies or
equipment by Wesleyan College.
The Energy Star® website sponsored by the EPA has a tool for most appliances to calculate the longterm energy savings from a particular Energy Star® appliance: There is also a database of appliance and
service providers listed on the website. This database is large and diverse with several product
categories, appliance guidelines, and commercial product recommendations including a comprehensive
listing of pre-qualified service companies and partners.
EPEAT™ and Green Seal® websites also provide information on products and services meeting their
environmentally responsible requirements.
By adopting this Environmentally Responsible Purchasing Policy, the College aims to:
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Reduce greenhouse gas emissions
Reduce water and energy consumption
Reduce the use of toxic chemicals
Minimize waste that goes to landfill
Improve indoor air quality
Demonstrate community leadership
The goal of this policy is to raise the awareness of environmental issues and prompt the campus
community to use care when procuring goods and services and realizing the impact of these decisions.
Only by individuals taking action can Wesleyan College hope to minimize its environmental impacts of the
goods and services purchased and meet the energy reduction goals set forth by the recent commitments
and challenges.
Sources:
Energy Star® information was obtained from the EPA Website at: http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=bulk_purchasing.bus_purchasing
EPEAT™ information was obtained from http://www.epeat.net/.
Green Seal® information was obtained from http://www.greenseal.org/.