Sustainable Purchasing Guidelines
- Purpose & Scope
- Guiding Principals
- Preferred Purchasing Practices
- Environmentally Preferred Products
- Supplier Expectations
- Purchasing Best Practices
- Implementation & Oversight
- Questions & Support
- Resources
Purpose & Scope
Elon University is committed to environmental stewardship, social responsibility, and fiscal accountability in all procurement activities. These Sustainable Purchasing Guidelines are designed to guide faculty and staff in making informed purchasing decisions that align with the University’s mission and 10-year Sustainability Master Plan. These guidelines apply to all departments and purchases made on behalf of the University, including those processed through purchase orders, P-Cards, and contracts.
Guiding Principles
- Environmental Responsibilities
- Prioritize goods and services that reduce environmental harm throughout their life cycle
- Social Equity
- Support suppliers who uphold fair labor practices, promote diversity, and demonstrate commitment to human rights
- Economic Viability
- Choose products that provide the best total value, considering quality, durability, service, and end-of-life disposal
Preferred Purchasing Practices
Elon encourages departments to adopt the following sustainable purchasing practices:
- Source locally, regionally or within the United States, when possible, to reduce carbon emissions and support regional economies.
- Procure products with minimal or recyclable packaging and choose suppliers who offer take-back or recycling programs.
- Consolidate orders to reduce transportation-related emissions and associated costs.
- Avoid polystyrene foam and single-use plastic products where feasible alternatives exist.
- Avoid products containing toxic chemicals and other potentially hazardous substances.
Environmentally Preferred Products
Elon prefers the following types of products and materials when they are competitively available:
- Recycled paper products (minimum 30% post-consumer content)
- Items made from recycled, biodegradable, or rapidly renewable materials
- Energy-efficient appliances and equipment (Energy Star-rated or equivalent)
- Electronics registered with EPEAT (Gold level preferred)
- Non-toxic cleaning products certified by Green Seal, EPA Safer Choice, or equivalent
- Durable and repairable furniture over single-use or disposable alternatives
- Products with third-party sustainability certifications such as Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), TCO Certified, Fairtrade, or GREENGUARD
Supplier Expectations
Suppliers doing business with Elon University are encouraged to:
- Adhere to all applicable environmental laws and regulations
- Comply with Elon University’s Non-Discrimination and Ethical Procurement policies
- Disclose the environmental and sustainability attributes of their products and services upon request
- Demonstrate efforts to reduce environmental impact across operations (waste reduction, water conservation, energy efficiency) and share outcomes upon request
- Disclose carbon emissions associated with their products and services upon request
Purchasing Best Practices
Supplier Diversity & Equity
Elon encourages the inclusion of small, minority-owned, women-owned, veteran-owned, and other historically underrepresented businesses in procurement processes. Where competitive and feasible, departments should actively seek quotes or bids from such suppliers.
Lifecycle Costing & Total Value
Departments are encouraged to consider the total cost of ownership—including purchase price, operating costs, maintenance, and disposal. Lowest initial price should not be the sole factor in purchasing decisions. Products with longer lifespans, lower operating costs, and easier end-of-life recycling often provide better overall value.
Implementation & Oversight
Departmental Support
The Purchasing Department will work collaboratively with departments, Sustainability, IT, Facilities, and other key stakeholders to:
- Identify opportunities for sustainable alternatives
- Develop and negotiate contracts with environmentally and socially responsible suppliers
- Educate campus buyers on sustainable procurement options and resources
- Share best practices and case studies across departments
Annual Review & Assessment
The Director of Procure-to-Pay will lead an annual review that includes:
- Analysis of sustainable supplier usage across the University
- Assessment of adherence to these guidelines
- Documentation of areas of progress and opportunities for improvement
Campus Feedback & Engagement
The Purchasing Department will conduct department check-ins annually to:
- Gather feedback on sustainable purchasing options and supplier performance
- Identify barriers and challenges in implementing sustainable purchasing practices
- Recognize departmental achievements and share lessons learned
Questions & Support
For questions or guidance on sustainable purchasing practices, please contact the Purchasing Department:
Email: purchasing@elon.edu | Phone: 336-278-5580
Resources
- Cradle to Cradle –a certification that assesses the circularity and sustainability performance of materials and products.
- EcoLogo –a third-party environmental standard and certification mark based on the lifecycle of a product or service.
- Energy Star – an EPA program that identifies energy efficient products and practices.
- EPEAT – Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool is operated by the Green Electronics Council (GEC). EPEAT is based on science-based criteria that address environmental and social issues often associated with electronic products and requires independent third-party experts to verify that products meet them.–
- Fair Trade USA – the leading third-party certifier of Fair Trade products in North America. Fair Trade products meet rigorous social, environmental and economic standards
- FloorScore – a certification program that tests and certifies hard surface flooring and flooring adhesive products for compliance with indoor air quality emission requirements.
- Forest Stewardship Council – the FSC label supports responsible forestry and verifies that the forest material in the product is from one or more of the following: FSC-certified forests, recycled or reclaimed sources, or controlled sources.
- Green Guard – a certification program for a variety of products that indicates low chemical emissions.
- Green Label Plus Program – a program of the Carpet and Rug Institute that identifies carpet, cushions and adhesives that have been tested and certified by an independent laboratory to meet criteria for low Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) emissions.
- Green Seal – A global nonprofit organization committed to making sustainability everyone’s business. Green Seal certification indicates a product has met a high standard for health and sustainability from beginning to end.
- LEVEL by BIFMA – a comprehensive certification program for furniture. The LEVEL mark demonstrates that the product, the manufacturing facility, and the company responsible for the product brand, have achieved the necessary requirements for certification.
- OEKO-TEX – a certification program for the textile industry that focuses on traceability and transparency for maximizing sustainable impact.
- Safer Choice – a program of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) designating products that can help protect the environment and are safer for families.
- SCS Indoor Advantage – a certification program for furniture and building materials that indicates low Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) emissions.
- TCO Certified – a comprehensive sustainability certification that addresses sustainability issues connected to IT products and their supply chains.
- USDA Certified Biobased – indicates a product that has third-party tested biobased content.
- NOTE: There are many third-party certifications for sustainably or ethically produced food and beverage products. This resource, which highlights some of them, was compiled by Elon Dining.