Each member of the Stanford community makes choices that have a meaningful impact on the world. Choosing the types of goods and services the university purchases, how they are packaged and delivered, and the types of suppliers to engage with are all powerful decisions.
With an annual spend of $2.8 billion on goods and services, responsible purchasing is paramount to achieving Stanford’s zero waste goal. The objects we buy today that cannot be reused, recycled, or composted will end up in the landfill tomorrow.
Sustainable purchases minimize harm to humans and the environment when compared to competing goods and services that serve the same purpose. Responsible purchasers take a holistic view when selecting products or services, considering not only functionality, price, quality, and availability, but also the product’s effect on the environment, human health, and society.
The university’s Responsible Purchasing recommendations summarize key responsible purchasing considerations at each phase of the purchasing process, from planning the purchase to selecting a supplier, to choosing a product and packaging and shipping tips. Also see category-specific sustainable purchasing guidance on the Purchase Goods page, which covers electronics to lab supplies and more.
Stanford’s Responsible Purchasing information session provides actionable tips to integrate sustainability into your purchasing, whether ordering lab gear or booking travel.
Stanford has several programs to support the reuse of materials year round: the ReUse program for bulky items like furniture, the Surplus Chemical Program for excess chemicals from labs, and the Recycle for Change Collection Boxes across campus for clothing and shoes. Join the #stanford-property-reuse Slack channel to to request and/or post supplies available for free reuse or sharing, campus-wide.
These lists provide curated collections of items that meet the Responsible Purchasing Guidelines. While not comprehensive of all products that meet the guidelines, they make purchasing sustainable products easy as they are integrated into the Amazon for Business platform.
To access the Sustainability lists, log in to Amazon for Business via Stanford’s Oracle iProcurement platform. Once logged in, copy and paste the links below into your browser’s URL bar:
Laura Segura Gonzalez, a second-year design student, is leading jean upcycling workshops to combat fast fashion waste, empowering students to transform old jeans into something new.
Events like Big Swap, a swap event run by-and-for students, aim to use Stanford resources to codify cultural norms of sharing and increase the efficacy of reuse initiatives.
The Responsible Purchasing Department hosted an information session to inform the Stanford community about how everyday purchasing choices — like reusing, sourcing locally, and slowing shipping — can drive big sustainability impacts.