Sustainable Procurement

Sustainable Procurement relates to consciously purchasing products and services that are produced in a socially responsible way. It incorporates human health, social equity and environmental concerns into the search for high quality products and services at competitive prices. This includes day-to-day purchases, teaching/research/lab equipment and capital projects, including building construction and renovation.

Leaf iconThe Sustainable Procurement Working Group (established by the Provost), created a Sustainable Procurement Policy which was approved by College Board in 2019. Sustainable Procurement guidelines are available for all staff involved in procurement of services and goods for Trinity.

Collectively, Trinity’s purchasing choices support the implementation of the UN Sustainable Development Goals; reduce our environmental footprint; and affect market change by increasing demand for fairly priced and socially responsible products.

Our Objectives

Trinity has adopted four objectives related to sustainable procurement:

  1. Tenders for procurement to include environmental criteria (100%)
  2. Increase green criteria in tender marking by 10%
  3. Improve use of whole life cycle costing
  4. Reduce GHG Emissions in supply chain

 

Our Sustainability Report details the progress that has been made in their implementation.

WHAT CAN I DO? 

Sustainable Procurement Suggestions

At Trinity, all offices and departments are encouraged to purchase products:

Human Health

  • which are manufactured without materials which are hazardous to human health and the environment
  • which emit fewer irritating or toxic substances during installation or use
  • which result in a reduced release of toxic substances to the environment, or significantly less toxic substances, upon disposal

Ethical Considerations

  • which were manufactured without slave labour or low-cost labour
  • which were produced in a safe and secure working environment

Environmental Protection

  • with improved recyclability, high recycled content, reduced packaging and greater durability
  • which are reusable, avoiding disposable products
  • with optimum energy efficiency
  • utilizing clean technology and/or clean fuels
  • which result in reduced water consumption

Sustainable procurement icons

UN Sustainable Development Goal 3 is to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages.

UN Sustainable Development Goal 8 is to promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all.

UN Sustainable Development Goal 12 is to ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns.

UN Sustainable Development Goal 13 is to take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts.

Third Party Certifications
Many environmentally preferable products are third party certified for environmental criteria. Here are some of the certification logos you can look for:

FSC LogoForest Stewardship Council

Certify products from sustainably managed and harvested forests.
You will find this logo on paper, cardboard & wood products.

epeat logoEPEAT
Is the definitive global environmental rating system for electronics. The environmental criteria within the EPEAT system take into account design and production of the product to energy consumption by the product and end-of-life recycling. EPEAT products are assessed by qualified certification bodies.


Fair trade logoFair Trade
Certifies companies that source their raw materials for a fair price from farmers working in safe and secure conditions.