Improving Sustainability Efforts in Universities across the United States: Developing Better Procurement Practices
Consumption patterns in the U.S. are unsustainable, as we consume more than any other nation in the world. The time to move towards more sustainable purchasing practices is urgent as climate change and the degradation of the planet is only getting worse. The purpose of this study was to explore ways universities in the U.S. can develop more sustainable procurement practices, since universities are considered small cities and their impact on the environment is significant. To accomplish this task, I used data from the Sustainable Choices Survey that I was working on during my internship with UW Sustainability. I also conducted semi-formal interviews on the phone and in person with eight different universities across the states who exceed in their sustainable purchasing practices, as well as conducted a literature review. Findings show that there are four major ways universities can develop more sustainable purchasing practices. These ways are through central/bulk purchasing, set goals, education and communicate to all stakeholders, and have an exchange program available to all departments within the university. Since institutions spend billions on goods and services every year, every purchasing choices represents an opportunity to choose sustainably. Utilizing these results will help universities reduce waste, use natural resources more efficiently, reduce the university’s environmental footprint, and reduce the harmful impacts of pollution and waste.