{"id":162,"date":"2015-07-16T10:01:10","date_gmt":"2015-07-16T15:01:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/uwm.edu\/sustainability\/?page_id=162"},"modified":"2026-04-29T17:58:20","modified_gmt":"2026-04-29T22:58:20","slug":"purchasing","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/uwm.edu\/sustainability\/services\/purchasing\/","title":{"rendered":"Purchasing"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"size-p-lg\">The UWM community is a large consumer of goods and services. Anything from our choices of carpet to coffee has a great impact on our economy, society, and the environment. Where we choose to spend our dollars says a lot about who we are as an individual or institution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>From materials with recycled content, to energy efficient equipment, to simple durability, UWM\u2019s purchasing decisions are a part of the sustainability movement on campus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-sustainable-purchasing-goals\">Sustainable Purchasing Goals<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Purchase University materials and services based on these sustainable factors, whenever possible, meeting multiple qualifiers:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Durable, such that the form of the product is suited for maximize use and longevity (e.g. not single use).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Product is made from pre\/post-consumer or industrial recycled material.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Product can be recycled at the end-of-life, rather than sent to landfill, and campus operations exist to support that form of recycling.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Efficiency of the product or machinery will save money by utilizing less water or energy resources over its lifetime.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Product is documented to produce significantly less toxins.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Product is harvested or made within a 500 mile radius of UWM.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Product is shipped with minimal packaging (consistent with care of the product), preferably made of recycled and\/or recyclable materials.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Purchase and monitor certified products that meet these standards, where they exist:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>EPEAT Certified (Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool) electronics<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Green Seal Certified<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>NSF\/ANSI 140<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Green Guard<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>ISO 14000<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The Forest Stewardship Counsel<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Energy Star<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-purchasing-efforts-at-uwm\">Purchasing Efforts at UWM<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-paper\">Paper<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>All campus-managed printer and copy paper purchases use 100% recycled paper content as of 2024.\u00a0 <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-computers\">Computers<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>University Information Technology Services offers campus computers that are EPEAT gold-certified, high-performance, and environmentally preferable products.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-carpeting\">Carpeting<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Campus planners and purchasing agents have NSF\/ANSI sustainable carpet choices available through the state contract.\u00a0 Many installations have taken place at UWM, including a trend moving towards to use of carpet tiles. This allows campus to replace only small portions of affected flooring, rather than needing to replace entire rooms. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-cleaning-products\">Cleaning Products<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Green Seal Certified products are used throughout campus buildings as part of the&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/uwm.edu\/sustainability\/what-we-do\/green-building\/green-cleaning\/\">CIMS green cleaning program<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-furniture\">Furniture<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Refurbished furniture is available through a UW-Madison contract. Campus departments also have access to the UWM Surplus program where they can find campus reused furniture, equipment, and supplies. Surplus items are available free of charge to be used for business purposes on campus, contributing to $500,000 &#8211; $1.5 million in annual savings. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The UWM community is a large consumer of goods and services. Anything from our choices of carpet to coffee has a great impact on our economy, society, and the environment. 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