New Department will Drive Change in University Supply Chain

Sustainability is now a core focus within Procurement Services at Stanford University, marked by the establishment of a new department focused on vendor engagement and encouragement of responsible purchasing among the campus community. This new Responsible Purchasing Department enables Stanford to set a new benchmark for higher education institutions by fostering innovative supplier partnerships, equipping the campus community with user-friendly purchasing tools, and leveraging its purchasing power. The expansion of procurement-related sustainability initiatives and supplier engagement programs underscores the university’s commitment to reducing its environmental footprint and promoting social responsibility. With these ongoing efforts, Stanford is not just influencing its own supply chain, but shaping the future of sustainable procurement on a global scale.

To reduce greenhouse gas emissions and waste, Stanford University has set three goals for purchasing: procuring from environmentally conscious suppliers, prioritizing eco-friendly products, and fostering a culture of reuse, circularity, and waste reduction. Vendor engagement is critical in supporting all three goals: in addition to providing more accurate data on these topics, vendor engagement helps broaden Stanford’s supplier base, improve competitive sourcing, and identify innovative partnership and training opportunities.  

The Responsible Purchasing Department’s supplier engagement initiatives began with a Supplier Engagement Pilot in fiscal year 2024. This pilot aimed to develop effective supplier partnerships that enhance sustainability outcomes and reporting. The pilot’s primary goals included collecting data from suppliers to inform the university’s Scope 3 (indirect) greenhouse gas emissions calculations, identifying partnership opportunities to advance sustainability efforts, and making supplier sustainability information readily available to campus purchasers. As part of the pilot, Stanford engaged with 30 suppliers across various industries, including IT, food, medical and laboratory equipment, furniture, carpet, airlines, and others. “Suppliers were eager to collaborate with Stanford on sustainability efforts, offering custom emissions reporting, creative recycling solutions, and other bespoke sustainability initiatives,” says Moira Zbella, Director of Responsible Purchasing. Due to the pilot’s success, the Supplier Engagement Program will expand to include a second cohort of suppliers in fiscal year 2025, alongside the launch of new tools and resources to support campus purchasers in making informed, sustainable decisions.

To encourage all members of the Stanford community to contribute to Stanford’s climate goals and drive down emissions, the new Responsible Purchasing Department is launching web pages and informational materials to support the sharing of items across campus, provide guidance on selecting sustainable products and suppliers when buying new, and recommend environmentally friendly packaging and shipping options, among other responsible purchasing tools. The department is also launching sustainable student travel initiatives to help drive down campus greenhouse gas emissions, such as creating engaging spring break and Thanksgiving week activities to entice students to stay local instead of traveling over breaks, and exploring shuttle programs.

As Stanford continues to advance its sustainability goals through climate-conscious procurement, the Responsible Purchasing Department is positioned to lead transformational change within the university and redefine best practices for institutions worldwide. As these efforts continue to grow, Stanford’s leadership in responsible procurement will serve as a model for others, demonstrating how institutions can leverage their purchasing power to drive meaningful change for the environment.