KU Purchasing

Procurement

KU Procurement and Purchasing, within the Office of the Comptroller, is taking steps towards a more sustainable purchasing on campus.

Current and planned efforts for procurement include:
  • The Sustainability Ambassador program has worked with KU Purchasing to get more competitive pricing for 30% recycled content paper through the OfficeMax contract. Between January and June 2009 purchases of recycled-content items increased to 17% compared to 6.5% during the previous 6-month period.
  • KU Dining Services is purchasing some local foods, organic foods and Fair Trade Certified Coffee and have planted an herb garden on the rooftop of the Kansas Union. In 2009, approximately 4%of total Dining Services food expenditures for were for local, organic or other environmentally preferable foods, and 100% of meals in dining halls included vegetarian options.
  • Dining Services has also switched to biodegradable or recycled-content materials for their disposable ware.
  • The Department of Student Housing, KU Athletics, and KU Memorial Unions use Green Seal certified products, and KU Facilities Services uses products that meet green cleaning standards. In 2009, 46% of reported cleaning product purchases were environmentally preferable products.
  • Student Housing is purchasing paper products certified by the Forest Stewardship Council, and KU Memorial Unions uses recycled-content paper towels.
  • Computers purchased through contracts with Dell and Apple are Energy Star certified.


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