Handbook of Business Procedures

7.12. SUSTAINABILITY - STATEMENT AND PURPOSE

Consistent with the President’s Committee on Business Productivity’s recommendations toward more active stewardship of tangible and intangible assets and critical examination of their use, The University of Texas at Austin is committed to encouraging and supporting sustainable practices throughout the supply chain.

The university spends more than $800 million on goods and services annually. The type, quality, and quantity of commodities being procured have far-reaching economic and environmental impacts. Sustainable purchasing can create jobs, reduce strain on public infrastructure and resources, create and maintain a healthier indoor and outdoor environment, and inspire growth and innovation in the local economy. Responsible purchasing decisions result in a positive impact to the university and the environment and/or human health that include:

• Reorganizing or redesign processes to require less goods or energy or to produce less waste
• Reducing consumption of unnecessary and unwarranted goods, including focusing on the re-use and recycling of existing goods
• Considering total cost of ownership
•  Future proofing supply chains and investments
• Minimizing the amount of waste generated from university purchases, in turn minimizing materials that are require disposal

Departments expending university funds should select sustainable products whenever reasonably practical. They should not purchase products that do not perform adequately for their intended use or are not available at a reasonable price in a reasonable period of time.

Part 7. Purchasing - Table of Contents