Judy Walton, AASHE's Chief Publications Officer, recently interviewed Herb Sharpe, Corporate Director of Education and Health Care Solutions at Waste Management, an AASHE Business Leader Member. Herb is responsible for leading a team of sales and sustainability professionals to drive value and provide sustainable solutions to Waste Management’s customers. He joined Waste Management in the summer of 2011 to develop and lead the new Education Solutions group within the Public Sector Segment and recently accepted the opportunity to manage the Healthcare Solutions Segment for North America. Before coming to Waste Management, Herb spent 23 years in the telecommunications industry building and managing top performing sales teams and successfully executing growth strategies.

JW: Colleges and universities are more like small cities than large businesses and this distinction is bound to create unique challenges when it comes to sustainability, specifically in implementing waste reduction and diversion initiatives. In your line of business, what are the main challenges you see facing higher education institutions today as they address their sustainability needs?

HS: I think one of the main challenges higher education institutions are facing is the ability to implement sustainability programs while controlling costs. When implementing new programs, universities continually look for ways to balance their long-term sustainability initiatives, which will deliver savings and benefits, with the short-term impact of increased costs. With our Think Green ® Campus Model, Waste Management can help with this challenge. We can help colleges and universities implement cost-saving green programs such as single-stream recycling, composting, solar powered compactors, and e-waste recycling. Programs like these can help control waste disposal costs while at the same reducing the amount of waste sent to landfills.

JW: You mentioned the cost benefits of bringing in certain new programs, recognizing that higher education institutions today have serious financial concerns. Can you further discuss how institutions can minimize the costs of solutions while maximizing long-term benefits of becoming more sustainable?

HS: Waste Management can customize unique solutions for higher education institutions depending on how large or small their sustainability goals and budgets are. We can help colleges cut their overall costs by using our Education Solutions team to perform assessments and identify potential savings. A good example of this is Waste Management’s solar-powered compactors. This program cuts operational costs while helping to meet waste reduction goals. Arizona State University and Boston University are enjoying the benefits of this. In addition to looking out for cost saving opportunities, our trained team of sustainability professionals works with campuses to identify areas of great potential for increased diversion (including re-use opportunities) and recommends and/or implements strategies to maximize that diversion.

JW: It’s well known that student involvement is pivotal to the success of any sustainability program, and that the success of a recycling or sustainability program depends greatly on student behavior change. While institutional leadership may remain fairly consistent over the next decade, the student population is constantly changing. What are the best ways to guarantee active participation from students and maintain that involvement from one year to the next?

HS: Visibility is important. By that, I mean ensuring that all programs are implemented in a way that is visible to the student body. Placement of recycling containers at the student unions and large gathering places sends a strong message and keeps the institution’s sustainability goals at the forefront of students’ minds. In addition to that, ongoing education is important. g College websites, student newspapers and bulletin boards, for example, are constant re-enforcers that help to remind students and faculty what the campus is doing to meet its green objectives. With our network of schools, we are able to foster collaboration and share best practices from our different partners. We see an emphasis on a green culture from before the students arrive on campus, until they eventually leave. Green Move-in days, Greening Game Days, Zero Waste Events and appointing sustainability ambassadors are all programs we have identified as critical to getting active participation from students.

JW: We hear a lot about Zero-Waste these days. Is Zero by 2020 realistic for most campuses? What can make attaining that a reality?

HS: A goal of 80 percent waste diversion by 2020 is attainable, especially with Waste Management’s focus on organics. Organics is a major portion of the waste stream. In some universities, organics is a big issue and we are putting together several different pilot programs in order to help with diverting organics away from the landfills and turning it into a reusable source.
I mentioned move-in and move-out programs earlier. This program offers another great way to divert waste from the landfill through recycling and re-using. For example, a lot of furniture, such as desks and dressers, is thrown away each year as students move out. We’ve implemented programs on some campuses where we capture those re-usable items and give them to students coming in the following year so that those items don’t go to the landfills. Waste Management has several case studies of successful waste reduction programs, including those at Rutgers, ASU and the University of New Hampshire. Our goal is to help institutions get to zero waste. Advancements in collections systems and new technology will dictate whether we can reach 100 percent waste diverted, but 80 percent is definitely achievable by 2020, or even sooner.

JW: What about reporting programs showing students year over year how much was recycled and the impact that had? Does Waste Management offer programs like that?

HS: Absolutely. Reporting is key because it helps students - as well as faculty, staff and administrators - see the successes and motivates them further. To help universities and colleges track and meet their set goals, Waste Management provides quarterly and annual reports on how successful the institution has been in achieving those goals, and the impacts it has had year over year. Those reports can then be posted as another visible way to remind students and faculty of the institution’s sustainability programs and goals.

JW: What do you do in your spare time?

HS: My 18 year old daughter, Chandler, is an amazing soccer player and her mom and I just love watching her play. So most times, you’ll find me on the sidelines cheering her or at home watching my beloved South Carolina Gamecocks football.

Visiting UMBC

Hi everyone!

Many of you across campus may remember me, others may have recently heard from me, and still more may just be hearing from me for the first time now!  I am honored and thrilled to take on this new role devoted to sustainability on campus.

I have the pleasure of working for the Vice President of Administration and Finance, Lynne Schafer. She chairs the Climate Change Task Force, a group of faculty, staff, and students improving our campus and reducing our environmental impact. From transportation to energy, from waste to outreach, and even from research to education, they have been transforming the campus for the past 5 years. Returning to campus for the first time in a couple years last month, I have been overjoyed to discover all the new successes implemented, from composting to carpooling, topped off by green roofs.

You can find me on the 9th floor of the Administration Building in room 930. Feel free to contact me by email at tanvig1@umbc.edu and to call me at my extension, x53896.  My door is open to anyone with concerns, questions, ideas, and hopes for the sustainability on campus. 

There is already a growing movement on campus, with many amazing groups working on all aspects of environmental concern. I am here to help, and I would be happy to connect you with opportunities to turn your ideas into realities on campus, just like I had the chance to do as a student here only a few years ago. Or, if you already have something in the works, I would love to hear about it- I'm always excited to learn about the great ideas flourishing across campus.

Whether you are a student, staff, or faculty member, I hope that we can collaborate towards the common goal of making UMBC a clean, green, healthy, and innovative home for all of us to thrive!

Thank you all for the overwhelmingly warm welcome and I am so grateful to be working with the kind and caring community of UMBC. Below you will find Lynne's gracious introduction for me. 

Thanks,

Tanvi

I am very pleased to share that we have appointed Ms. Tanvi Gadhia as Environmental Sustainability Coordinator, a new position created to support the work of the Climate Change Task Force and its workgroups, and to further our efforts to reduce the impact of the UMBC campus on our environment.Effective November 19, Tanvi is on board and beginning to reach out to campus leaders. In the meantime, she will be contacting workgroup leaders, sustainability interns, and others to get acquainted and to discuss your priorities for the year and ideas for energizing our efforts.

Ms. Gadhia is a 2009 graduate of UMBC, with a BA in Environmental Studies.She is currently working on a MS degree in Environmental Science and Policy at Johns Hopkins University.Ms. Gadhia was very active while a UMBC undergraduate student, in leadership roles in the Students for Environmental Awareness, the Maryland Student Climate Coalition, and as president of the Geography and Environmental Studies Council of Majors.She played an active role in initiating and executing many campus sustainability advances including the environmental alternative service break and the community garden initiative. Her passion for environmental issues has continued since graduation, with positions in policy and education at the Maryland League of Conservation Voters, the Center for Food Safety, the Pickering Creek Audubon Center, the Oregon Ridge Nature Center, and the Union of Concerned Scientists food and environment program.

Please join me in welcoming Tanvi Gadhia back to UMBC in this new role.She can be reached at tanvig1@umbc.edu.

Lynne Schaefer, Vice President of Administration & Finance

This week, AASHE is proud to release its fourth STARS Quarterly Review (SQR): Recap and a Look Ahead. The winter 2012 edition of the SQR highlights two developments that took place in 2012, with a focus on how these developments relate to emerging issues in campus sustainability. In closing out the year, this edition also looks at changes that can be expected for STARS in 2013.

Latest SQR Highlights

• Universidad de Monterrey (STARS Reporter, Mexico) became the first STARS International Pilot participant to submit a report and earn a rating. The growth of STARS in the international context underscores a demand for establishing sustainability standards that are comparable worldwide.

• As STARS matures, more institutions are submitting multiple reports and using STARS as a tool for gradual improvement. Ball State University, Kankakee Community College, King’s University College, and Northern Arizona University were highlighted for recent advancements and initiatives identified in their most recent STARS reports.

• With the expected launch of STARS 2.0 in 2013, changes have been proposed that address the evolving concept of sustainability. Several proposed new credits are highlighted in the Winter SQR, including a new Curriculum credit that would encourage interdisciplinary learning, applied research, and practical work that advances sustainability.

Fall 2012 SQR Highlights
The fall edition of the SQR explores how the diversity of STARS institutions has changed over time and how participation in STARS according to institution type compares to U.S. demographics.

• Findings in this review suggest that the institutional characteristics that make higher education institutions distinct also play a role in how campuses are advancing sustainability. Special Focus institution Babson College and two-year institution Haywood Community College demonstrate that any institution type can do well in STARS if there is strong commitment to campus sustainability.

• NCAA conference rivalry is furthering sustainability on campuses through healthy competition that involves a diverse population of students. Representing four different NCAA athletic conferences, Wake Forest University, University of South Florida, Oregon State University, and Middlebury College were highlighted for best practices in sustainability.

Summer 2012 SQR Highlights
The summer edition of the SQR focuses entirely on the Innovation category, an area within STARS that recognizes innovative solutions to sustainability challenges.

• University of Alberta, California State University, Monterey Bay, and University of Saskatchewan were highlighted for submitting Innovation entries that touched on social, environmental, and economic dimensions of sustainability.

• Interactive, web-based energy management systems were highlighted for Boston University, University Kentucky, Arizona State University, and University of Arkansas.

• Eastern Iowa Community College District, Indiana University Bloomington, Elon University, and University of Alaska Fairbanks were recognized for innovative initiatives that yielded positive measured impacts.

Spring 2012 SQR Highlights
The spring edition of the SQR features comprehensive stories to frame sustainability in higher education.

• A story focusing on Operations introduced the release of the STARS Average Scores Visualization. University of Minnesota, Morris and Cornell University were highlighted for best practices in Buildings and Energy.

• Qualitative analysis of certain STARS credits brought to light some interesting facts about the interplay of social, economic, and environmental issues. Chapman University and University of British Columbia were highlighted for initiatives that incorporated each of the three sustainability dimensions.

STARS Data in 2013 Publications
Beginning in 2013, STARS data will be presented in a variety of different AASHE publications. By incorporating STARS data together with other AASHE data in publications, sustainability issues can be analyzed using multiple data sources to provide greater context and understanding. STARS Quarterly Reviews will no longer be needed, as STARS data will be incorporated into these other AASHE publications, as well as an annual STARS report.

AASHE looks forward to pursuing these new opportunities over the coming months, and as always, we encourage members of the sustainability community to provide feedback and suggestions. Please submit any thoughts and ideas to stars@aashe.org.

Happy New Year from the AASHE team!

Many thousands have have traveled to the Qatari capital of Doha for the 18th Conference of the Parties (COP 18) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). For a primer on the alphabet soup of acronyms used during negotiations this article is helpful.

Scheduled to run until Dec. 7th, COP18 is intended to work towards a legally binding agreement on climate change. A large number of people affiliated with colleges and universities across the world are participating in the conference.

The Kyoto protocol is the major agreement currently at stake and which is set to expire this year. As many readers are aware, Kyoto ignited much activity in climate action planning in higher ed, even though the US was not a participating country in the agreement. Initiatives such as the American College & University Presidents' Climate Commitment (ACUPCC) are examples of ways in which colleges an universities have responded.
In his Wonkblog at the Washington Post, writer Brad Plummer uses three charts to illustrate what Kyoto has and has not achieved, and what a second phase of Kyoto must achieve if the world is going to avert an increase in temperature of 3-4 degrees Celsius (a threshold that the World Bank and other organizations have suggested would be dangerous to cross).

A second phase of Kyoto would only be a temporary fix however. Many are holding out hope that a commitment to signing a new treaty will happen by 2015 to take effect by 2020 (if not sooner as some are arguing for).

The common complaint that the United States is holding back progress by not being an active participant is again a refrain being heard. Yet, some are optimistic that the recent memory and destruction brought by Hurricane Sandy will propel the US to actively engage.

As has been the case in other conferences, higher education faculty, researchers and students are playing an important role by presenting on some cutting edge research related to climate change.

Recent research highlights are below:

• "Thawing of Permafrost Expected to Cause Significant Additional Global Warming, Not yet Accounted for in Climate Predictions"

• "Incorporating Blue Carbon as a Mitigation Action under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change"

• "Estimating Global “Blue Carbon” Emissions from Conversion and Degradation of Vegetated Coastal Ecosystems" (related article, Why negotiators at Doha should care about the world’s forgotten mangroves)

• "Sea levels are rising 60 per cent faster than the United Nations originally predicted"

• "Comparing climate projections to observations up to 2011" (key finding: The rate of sea-level rise of the past few decades, is greater than projected by the IPCC models. This suggests that IPCC sea-level projections for the future may also be biased low.)

This is the third in a series of blog articles highlighting many of the excellent case studies AASHE has received for our campus sustainability case study database (AASHE Member-only resource). Virtually all of the case studies in the database have been submitted as part of our annual awards program. Although we can only recognize a few campus submissions as "official winners," there are many exemplary case studies in the database worthy of recognition and wide dissemination (this is also a reminder to our campus readers to submit to our awards program and database. We know you have great case studies to share!).

This week's highlight comes from Yale University and provides a roadmap for successfully creating departmental/unit specific sustainability action plans.

Authored by Amber Garrard, Education and Outreach Coordinator for the Yale Office of Sustainability, the case study describes a unique program designed to guide departments within a larger institution in creating department/unit-specific Sustainability Action Plans.

The case study overview and background is included below;
"The Yale Office of Sustainability developed the Roadmap manual and tools in 2011 and piloted the program with nine University departments over the academic year. The Roadmap is designed to become an online program that departments can use with minimal direct support and cost to develop a sense of ownership over sustainability planning. Roadmap provides a crucial component to institutional sustainability—allowing more effective research, assessment, and strategic planning to occur on the ground level.

The Roadmap to Sustainability was originally conceived of as a complement to Yale University’s Sustainability Strategic Plan. The Strategic Plan, endorsed by Yale’s President Levin in 2010, synthesized overarching goals and policies in sustainability for the entire University; the Roadmap was designed to support on-the-ground realization of these goals through individual departments. During the summer of 2011, a summer research fellow in the Yale Office of Sustainability created an elaborate set of tools, templates, and guidelines for department leaders, with the ultimate goal of creating a Departmental Sustainability Action Plan. The following school year (2011-2012), another undergraduate Research Assistant and the Assistant Director of the Office of Sustainability piloted these materials with nine departments from across campus."

To read the full case study including sections on project implementation, timeline, financing, results and lessons learned please visit, "Roadmap to Sustainability for Departmental Planning".

Additional information is also available from the Yale Office of Sustainability website.

Happy America Recycles Day to all! In celebration of the 15th annual event today (November 15), AASHE offers two different takes on the day and opportunities it presents for higher education.

Thank you to the College & University Recycling Coalition (CURC) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Food Recovery Challenge for their perspectives!

Virginia Military Institute, Northwestern U and U Massachusetts Amherst get into the spirit.

College & University Recycling Coalition Says:

The purpose of America Recycles Day is to raise awareness about the importance of recycling and waste reduction in conserving natural resources and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The 34 percent of waste currently recycled and composted in the U.S. helps avoid the equivalent amount of greenhouse gas emissions produced by 36 million cars. As President Obama pointed out in the special proclamation he issued today, America Recycles Day is our opportunity to take “bold action to preserve our natural resources, strengthen our economy, and protect the bountiful landscapes we have been blessed with.”

This year, the College & University Recycling Coalition (CURC) is partnering with Keep America Beautiful (KAB) and RecycleMania to get the word out about America Recycles Day to over 250 schools that are planning events. Many of these schools received free toolkits with “I Recycle” shirts, banners and recycled-content plastic bags for tailgate collections at home football games. The University of Texas at Austin, University of Alabama, Michigan State, Virginia Military Institute, Stetson University and University of Nevada Las Vegas are just a few of the schools promoting America Recycles Day at home games this fall.

It isn’t all football, though! In Wisconsin, Carroll University is using America Recycles Day to promote its 3rd annual Recycle-a-Thon, and Duke University and the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill are planning plastic bag and e-waste collection events. Out in the Pacific, the University of Guam got a jump on everyone with day long-activities including games, prizes and a photo booth - all promoting a recycling and “going green” theme.

“We’re excited about all the ARD events happening on campuses this year, especially those doing tailgate recycling collections. America Recycles Day is the perfect opportunity for schools to do recycling outreach in the fall and then follow up with RecycleMania during the winter term,” said Alec Cooley, who manages college recycling programs for KAB.

Join campuses across the country this America Recycles Day to recycle more and help protect the environment. While you’re at it, add your name to the list of 34,000 people who have already pledged online to recycle more at http://americarecyclesday.org/take-the-pledge.

EPA Food Recovery Challenge Says:

For America Recycles Day this year, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is focusing on wasted food. Americans send more food to landfills than any other material in the municipal solid waste stream - 33 million tons per year to be exact! Much of this food is fresh and safe to eat, or is suitable for feeding the soil through composting. When excess food, leftover food and food scraps are put in a landfill they decompose and become a significant source of methane with 21 times the global warming potential of carbon dioxide. The environmental impacts aren’t limited to disposal - wasted food also wastes the fertilizer, water and energy used to grow food and deliver to our communities.

To address the issue of wasted food, EPA started the Food Recovery Challenge under its Sustainable Materials Management Program. Through the Challenge, organizations commit to reducing the amount of food sent to landfills through prevention, donation and composting. Over 60 colleges and universities have already taken the pledge and committed to feed people, not landfills.

Wasting food wastes money. It is estimated that wasted food costs $100 billion per year in the U.S. Businesses and households alike can save money by reducing over-purchasing and disposal fees.

Wasted food is also a social equity issue. Fourteen percent of households in the U.S. are food insecure, and fifty million Americans don’t get enough to eat while we are sending more food to landfills than ever before. We can shift that balance by feeding people, not landfills.

• Prevention/Source Reduction

UC Berkeley recently began tracking the amount of food wasted in their dining halls using a computerized waste tracking system. This system allows them to understand how much and why food is being wasted in their kitchens. While cutting an extra inch off of one bell pepper doesn’t seem like a lot, it adds up when you are preparing 100 pounds of bell peppers. Tracking their waste has allowed UC Berkeley to change operational practices and train staff, leading to significant reductions in wasted food. Staff is also awarded for improving or coming up with innovative solutions to reduce wasted food. These significant reductions are saving $1600 a week!

• Donation

Starting at University of Maryland College Park and Brown University, students realized that good food was being wasted every night at their dining halls. They took action and started a program to get that bounty of wholesome food to those in the community without food. Now on seven college campuses nationwide, the Food Recovery Network’s student volunteers coordinate with their campus’ dining services to safely collect excess food and distribute it to food banks and food rescues in the area. Based on their successful model, the Food Recovery Network is working to expand this to more colleges across the nation.

• Composting

University of Texas at Arlington composts its food scraps on-site and uses the resulting soil amendment at its organic community garden. In 2011, over 60,000 pounds of food and landscape materials were composted and used in the garden to grow food. The food grown at the garden is then donated to a local food bank. Since 2011, more than 800 pounds of food has been donated to those in need.

Let’s continue to make the grade! Keep this Food Recovery Challenge conversation going and talk about sustainable materials management. Not just on America Recycles Day, but every day of the year!

-Laura Moreno, environmental scientist in EPA Region 9's Office of Pollution Prevention and Solid Waste

Sustainable procurement work has never been more exciting. New data, science and processes are coming together with years of on-the-ground experience to create a new paradigm. A higher education pilot project is laying the groundwork for a sustainable procurement leadership recognition program, modeled on the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED rating system. If that program comes to fruition, it could radically accelerate the adoption and effectiveness of sustainable procurement in sectors far beyond higher education.

This article originally appeared in the September Issue of College Planning & Management magazine. AASHE is currently soliciting institutions interesting in participating in the pilot project described in this article. Please contact purchasing@aashe.org for further details.

In the early days of the “green” purchasing movement, institutional procurement professionals only had to focus on a few product attributes, such as recycled content, or on a few eco-labels, such as FSC certified wood. In fact, of the more than 400 eco-labels tracked by Ecolabel Index today, only 25 pre-date 1996. Those simple days are long gone. In addition to navigating the explosion in eco-labels, buyers are now expected to take into account the impact of products throughout their whole life cycle. What are the waste, water and air pollution impacts during manufacture? What about during their use? And what happens at the end of their useful life? Taking all these impacts into account requires matching them up with credible eco-labels or standards that certify those impacts have been mitigated to a specified degree. It also requires having a plan for the reuse, recycling or safe disposal of the product at the time of purchase.

But environmental factors are no longer the only points of emphasis for the responsible purchasing movement. Thinking more holistically, “sustainable procurement” requires taking into account the economic and social impacts of products as well as environmental impacts throughout their lifecycle. Total Cost of Ownership accounting helps institutions avoid buying a product whose lower up-front cost is more than offset by inefficient power consumption that drives up utility bills during the product’s use or the inclusion of toxins that incur hefty disposal fees. Buying local strengthens the community in which an institution resides. Similarly, buying from historically under-utilized businesses, such as those owned by women and minorities, returns resources to the communities in ways that better reflect the demographics the institution serves. Ensuring that products are not manufactured in sweatshops supports employers that provide healthy working conditions while also reducing the institution’s risk for bad publicity.

When all of these factors are combined, the resulting synergy often produces elegant and unexpected solutions that are a win-win-win from a social, environmental and economic perspective. While implementing a green cleaning program, Rutgers University reduced its annual cleaning chemical costs more than 20% by simplifying the number of chemicals in use and by metering portions so there was less waste. Because workers were no longer being exposed to harsh chemicals, the institution reaped a further savings in lower worker compensation insurance premiums. “The janitorial staff liked the new products so much they wanted to take them home, so we set up a program for them to purchase them at a discount,” recalls Kevin Lyons, director of the Supply Chain Management program at Rutgers Business School and author of Buying for the Future: Contract Management and the Environmental Challenge.

Complexity Compounded

Until now, it has been the responsibility of each institution to pull all of these pieces together into a coherent sustainable procurement program. Typically, institutions interested in starting such a program are advised to form a stakeholder group, review the best practices and policies at peer institutions, draft a sustainable procurement policy that defines what purchases count as sustainable, design a program to implement the policy and determine metrics for measuring the program’s success. Most institutions could execute that process when there were only a handful of eco-labels and standards, but as the complexity of factors has increased, the cost of this process has become an increasingly high hurdle for nascent sustainable procurement programs.

Institutions pursuing this path today usually make the task manageable by borrowing from the policies of pre-existing sustainable procurement programs, many of which are not keeping their policies up to date with rapidly changing science and market conditions. The result is a patchwork of similar but different policies and programs, each with its own metrics for success. This discordance confuses vendors and makes it difficult for institutions to share the cost of training. And when it comes time to trumpet the accomplishments of the program, it’s difficult to do so in a way that is widely recognized.

Bottom Line Results

As the complexity of the marketplace and policy environment grows, so too do the pressures to deliver results. While stakeholders in the past might have been satisfied to see their institution bump up the recycled content in its copier paper, now they want to know more. How big was the impact of that change? Given that paper use continued to rise, did the switch actually produce a net benefit? What’s the total impact of the institution’s purchases? Is it going up or down? How can we cut it in half? In many cases the procurement staff don’t have the data or the scientific backgrounds to answer these questions, but these are the kinds of questions that have to be answered if an institution is serious about sustainability.

Institutional stakeholders aren’t the only ones asking questions. Procurement staff are increasingly being asked to report sustainability spend data to third parties. In 2011, thirty percent of the respondents to an annual Green Procurement Survey conducted by the National Association for Educational Procurement (NAEP) said they are now reporting their “green spend” to external parties, up from 19% just a year prior. Naturally, in the absence of a standardized sustainable procurement assessment tool, each third party is asking for the reporting of similar but different data.

A New Paradigm

The time appears to be ripe for a standardized assessment and leadership recognition program for sustainability in institutional procurement. The need is clear and the list of potential benefits is long (see info box). Just as LEED allowed building professionals without sustainability science degrees to create buildings that make sustainability scientists swoon, a similar program for institutional purchasing can empower procurement professionals to produce dramatic benefits for the planet, society and their institution’s bottom line - without their having to be experts in the science of Life Cycle Assessments.

A pilot project launched this summer by the Green Products Roundtable (GPR) and the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE) intends to explore exactly how such a program might work. The project will use the best available science and knowledge from the field to assess the effectiveness of the procurement credits in AASHE’s Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System (STARS), a transparent, self-reporting framework that more than 300 colleges and universities are now using to assess their sustainability performance. As Chris O’Brien, American University’s Director of Sustainability and STARS Steering Committee member, observes, “The STARS procurement credits are filling in the gap in the absence of a comprehensive procurement assessment tool, so we want to know that STARS is prioritizing the right things.“

The pilot project grew out of a public meeting GPR hosted this past January in Washington, D.C. The roundtable group, convened by The Keystone Center and made up of institutional purchasers, manufacturers, retailers, standards developers, environmental groups and government liaisons, was just wrapping up four years of intensive work tackling difficult and foundational questions such as “what is a green product?” and “how do you know if an eco-label is credible?” and “how should organizations prioritize product areas of concern?” The group’s dialogue and research had produced a powerful decision-making “framework” that it believed could answer those questions, and many more, by strategically combining the best available science, current knowledge from the field and real-world procurement data (see infographic). At the public meeting, GPR presented a draft business plan for a new nonprofit that would help institutional procurement professionals evaluate the environmental claims of products. But, as Jason Pearson of TRUTHstudio, a strategy consultancy that helped to develop the business plan and continues to coordinate the project, recalls, “We heard loud and clear from the institutional representatives present that they wanted more than just a method for evaluating products. They wanted a program that would guide and recognize institutional leadership in procurement.”

Looking Long Term

While the pilot project’s short-term goal is to evaluate the existing STARS procurement credits using the GPR framework and recommend how they could be improved in future versions of STARS, a secondary goal is to sketch out what a stand-alone assessment and leadership recognition program for sustainable institutional procurement might entail. Given that the lowest impact purchase is an avoided purchase, how would the assessment tool recognize and reward source-reduction and in-sourcing – in addition to buying preferable new products? End-user education also needs to be evaluated and rewarded because misuse of a preferable product can have a big negative impact while education can multiply positive benefits by influencing end users’ own purchasing decisions.

If this second part of the project goes well, the plan is to build a multi-stakeholder organization to develop and implement the stand-alone assessment tool and leadership recognition program. To be successful in that effort, the project will need the wisdom and participation of procurement trade associations, group purchasing organizations, vendors, government agencies, educational institutions, standards developers, manufacturers, service providers, software and ERP vendors and nonprofits focused on social and environmental issues. If you or your organization would be interested in participating in the pilot, or being kept in the loop as it proceeds, the project team would welcome your involvement (contact purchasing@aashe.org).

Accommodating Variation

Given the wide variation between institutions and what they buy, it’s reasonable to wonder if a standardized approach is possible. In LEED’s early days, many wondered the same thing about the wisdom of taking a standardized approach when assessing the sustainability of building projects that varied greatly in terms of scale and locale. In response, LEED was designed to accommodate variation while providing clear guidance on the highest priority impact areas, which are shared by the majority of building projects.

The variability in institutional procurement has a similar dynamic. As Duff Erholtz observed in CP&M last September, “Every school is different and has many unique needs. Yet, the vast majority of purchases one school makes are the same as those purchased by every other school. We all need flooring, furniture, office supplies, copiers and the like.” Similar to LEED, a standardized assessment tool for sustainable procurement will have to accommodate the various spend profiles of large, small, private, public, residential and non-residential institutions, prioritizing and providing clear guidance on the highest impact product categories that are shared by the majority of institutions while at the same time providing room for innovation. How that will work is the sort of thing the pilot project will be exploring with the help of the GPR framework.

Worth a Chance

Writing for the Institute for Supply Management’s eSides newsletter in 2009, Kady Srinivasan said, “A significant need exists for standardized, solid practices, metrics and frameworks to help you establish a business case for green products and methods to cost-efficiently implement those practices.” Filling that need for standards can be tricky business, given that there are few things that make people and organizations more uncomfortable than the prospect of someone else telling them what’s best. LEED has been incredibly successful as a voluntary standard that is driven by leadership recognition. Will the same model work for sustainable procurement? We can only find out by trying. Given the excellent groundwork that’s been laid, now is the time to give it a chance.

I'm delighted to report that the 10th anniversary of Campus Sustainability Day Oct. 24 saw record participation from colleges. More than 150 institutions - triple the number from last year - reported celebrations, posting them on the CSD Events page. Stories of what transpired on each campus - from film screenings to information fairs - are still coming in. In the space below I want to share just five of the many ways that folks celebrated.

University of Calgary Sustainability Street Team's Campus Sustainability Day photo booth contest.

1. Signing Sustainability Commitments

Bowling Green State University (OH)
President Mary Ellen Mazey signed the American College & University Presidents’ Climate Commitment (ACUPCC), making the university the 661st school in the U.S. to become a signatory. According to a campus newspaper article, what first prompted Mazey to look into signing the ACUPCC was her reading of “No Impact Man,” BGSU’s common reading book for 2011. Ah, the power of books!

Viterbo University (WI)
Viterbo became the 14th Catholic college in the U.S. to endorse the St. Francis Pledge to Care for Creation and the Poor, and join the Catholic climate covenant. President Rick Artman signed the Pledge for the institution. Speaking to a local newspaper, Artman explained that Viterbo was founded by the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration and that the sisters have been leaders in environmental and sustainability efforts.
Note: AASHE helped produce a related publication, Sustainability and Catholic Higher Education: A Toolkit for Mission Integration.

Viterbo University President Rick Artman signing the St. Francis Pledge to Care for Creation and the Poor.

Glendale Community College (AZ)
President Irene Kovala re-signed the American College & University Presidents’ Climate Commitment (ACUPCC), reaffirming the university’s commitment to climate neutrality. A discussion of GCC’s climate action plan and where to go next preceded her signing.

2. Improving Coordination & Planning

Saint Louis University (MO)
In honor of Campus Sustainability Day, SLU’s Facilities Services, working with the Center for Sustainability, released its first annual Campus Sustainability Report. The report noted the benefits of collaboration and communication across sectors of campus. Facilities Services also rolled out blue recycling receptacles onto campus walkways to help implement a single-stream recycling program.

Madisonville Community College (KY)
The college convened “Green MCC,” a brand new student-faculty-staff organization. The group began making initial plans for campus sustainability activities. The new organization will focus on sustainability efforts on campus and in the local community.

University of Virginia
U. Va. unveiled a new sustainability website and collected staff and student signatures for a new "sustainability pledge" during a Campus Sustainability Day Forum. A sustainability speaker series was also launched.

3. Tackling Waste

Tufts University (MA)
More than 200 students dropped off all the garbage they had accumulated during a week-long Zero Waste Challenge. Their trash was placed next to a mountain of waste collected from five residence halls.

California State University, Channel Islands
During a “48 Hours of Waste” event, participants (mostly students) deposited their dry waste products in a special bag that they carried around with them for 48 hours. At the end of the 48 hours they got a true sense of their waste footprint.

University of North Florida
UNF held its 6th annual "Garbage on the Green" event, educating the campus community about ways to reduce trash through recycling and litter-prevention. The program began in 2007 with the aim of identifying the types and sources of materials in UNF's solid waste stream. A morning clean-up of campus litter was followed by a waste/recycling audit involving recording and categorizing waste.

Massasoit Community College (MA)
The college hosted Zero Waste Day to raise awareness about the need to reduce waste on campus and in the community. Events included e-waste recycling, a dumpster dive to assess the number of recyclables in the campus waste stream, and a Halloween costume contest for the best costumes made of recycled materials.

Students at Antioch University New England used Campus Sustainability Day to introduce a new compost-sifting bicycle.

4. Celebrating Real Food

[Note: Campus Sustainability Day coincided with Food Day this year]

Corning Community College (NY)
Campus members donated vegetables and herbs for a “stone soup” prepared by a local chef. The nutritious soup was given free to students, staff and faculty, celebrating local produce, community, and Campus Sustainability Day.

Western Kentucky University (KY)
WKU devoted an entire day to "eating real," including a food conference and expo, community education workshops, a "Meet your Farmer" night, and a "Farm Elegant Dinner" prepared by the area’s leading chefs and showcasing the best of seasonally available local foods.

Hampshire College (MA)
A healthy food forum and an advance screening by Hampshire alumnus Ken Burns of excerpts from his forthcoming film, "The Dust Bowl," highlighted a special day called “Sustainable Hampshire: Food and Farm for the Future.” It was part of the college’s comprehensive, $1 million Healthy Food Transition program. The day-long forum brought local and alumni farmers, food producers, and restaurant owners to the Hampshire campus.

Clarkson University student, faculty and staff teams celebrated Campus Sustainability Day and Food Day with a Sustainable Iron Chef Competition.

5. Having Fun

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
The Student Organization for Sustainability at SIUE sponsored a “Zombies, Vampires and Werewolves Costume Party” to educate people about sustainability in a fun environment.

Appalachian State University (NC)
At ASU’s “Blackout Campout,” students joined in an on-campus overnight camping adventure to raise awareness of energy reduction. Participants were asked to reduce the electrical load in their dorm rooms as much as possible by turning off /unplugging everything except their refrigerators from 6 p.m to 8 a.m. the next morning.

University of South Carolina
The Sustainable Carolina Office hosted a "Recycled Fashion Show" with student teams of three competing to create the best outfit out of 100 percent recycled materials and/or secondhand clothing. The winning team’s outfit went on display in the Student Union to celebrate their creativity and commitment to sustainability.

Rider University (NJ)
Actress and activist Rosario Dawson gave the keynote speech at Rider University's Sustainability Day Celebration on the Lawrence Township campus. As the photo gallery shows, Rosario and the students had a lot of fun!

Emory University's Water Coalition provided materials for students to "bling" their reusable water bottles.

Re-Cap of Other CSD Events

The CSD keynote broadcast on “Preparing Students for a Changing Climate” and four regional conversations on the same topic engaged large audiences during the week. Some experimented with a a new technology called Google+ Hangout, allowing viewers to see the panelists virtually. It’s well worth taking a few minutes to watch the video-recordings – they contain much valuable content.

A lively, Campus Sustainability Day social media scene developed for the first time this year. AASHE’s marketing/communications coordinator Margo Wagner captured a choice sample of tweets and photos in a Storify page that I highly recommend taking a look at. You can see other interesting photos and stories on the CSD Facebook page.

See also the summary press release for more stories.

Campus Sustainability Day History

Officially celebrated on the third Wednesday of October, CSD began in 2003 as a project of SCUP (Society for College and University Planning), with support from Second Nature and AASHE. The goal was for campuses to reflect on and celebrate their progress to date and make plans or “blueprints” to guide the next set of actions toward sustainability. In 2011, HEASC (Higher Education Associations for Campus Sustainability) became the host and coordinator of CSD, working in partnership with other organizations to create a successful annual event. See more on the history of CSD.

Organizers see Campus Sustainability Day much like Earth Day – a day when campuses across North America (and the globe) can take stock of where they are, celebrate milestones, and envision where they need to go.

The theme for CSD 2012 was "Higher Education: Moving Sustainability Forward." The 2012 Planning Committee consisted of representatives from HEASC, AASHE, SCUP, Second Nature, National Wildlife Federation’s Campus Ecology Program, and the American Association of Community College’s SEED (Sustainability Education and Economic Development) initiative. In addition, four other non-profits signed on as “supporting organizations” to help promote the event: Focus the Nation, Arbor Day Foundation’s Tree Campus USA program, IDEAS For Us, and the U.S. Green Building Council’s Center for Green Schools.

Thank You
Huge thanks to everyone who helped to make Campus Sustainability Day such a success! Please be sure to publicize your stories, and send us any comments, questions, or ideas for CSD 2013.