Sustainability in Procurement

California Community Colleges have long been leaders in climate action, energy conservation, and sustainability. Through work like the updated Climate Action and Sustainability Framework, the Board of Governors has set ambitious goals for sustainable procurement. CollegeBuys is committed to supporting these efforts by offering Sustainable Procurement Guidelines and partnering with vendors who prioritize eco-friendly products and practices. Our mission is to empower campus communities with the tools and resources needed to meet and exceed sustainability benchmarks, driving meaningful progress in climate action.

Sustainable procurement means purchasing products and services that have benefits to society and ecosystems without producing externalities or creating impediments to human and ecologic health when compared with competing products and services. Sustainable procurement considers the environmental and social impacts of all phases of the product’s life cycle, including raw materials acquisition, production, manufacturing, packaging, distribution, operation, maintenance, and disposal, including potential for reuse or ability to be recycled.

At CollegeBuys, we are dedicated to advancing sustainability goals through strategic procurement practices. By 2025, California Community Colleges should benchmark the sustainability characteristics of products and services, adopt a sustainable procurement policy, and prioritize environmentally and socially preferable electronic products. Our long-term goals include increasing sustainable procurement by 25% compared to benchmark levels by 2030, and 50% by 2035.

CollegeBuys plays a crucial role in achieving these targets. We integrate Sustainable Procurement Guidelines into our bidding and contracting processes, partnering with vendors who prioritize eco-friendly products and services. By providing districts with the necessary tools and resources, we empower California Community Colleges to lead in sustainable procurement, ensuring that every purchase contributes to a healthier planet and a more equitable society.

Resources and Vendors

Sustainable Procurement Resources

Access guidelines, tools, and community resources to lead sustainable procurement initiatives.

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Eco-Certified Vendors

Explore vendors engaged in sustainable processes and find eco-friendly products and services.

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System Climate Action Resources

Access system-wide climate action resources and initiatives driving sustainability.

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Case Studies and News

    WAXIE Recognized for Environmental Leadership

    WAXIE has been recognized as an outstanding Safer Choice Distributor as part of the 2024 Safer Choice Partner of the Year awards for their dedication to environmental sustainability. Winners were recognized for their innovative use of safer chemicals in product design, manufacturing, promotion, and use, significantly reducing their environmental impact.

    WAXIE successfully earned Safer Choice certification for several of its WAXIE-Green products and actively promotes certified products on its website. The EPA applauds WAXIE’s commitment to safer chemicals and sustainable practices.

    watch video

    Citrus College’s Synthetic Turf Baseball Field Installation with KYA

    Citrus College sought to enhance the performance of its baseball field while minimizing ongoing maintenance needs. Collaborating with KYA, the college chose to installed a synthetic turf system that would maximize the field’s lifespan and contribute to the institution’s broader initiative to create more eco-friendly spaces on campus.

    The state-of-the-art system is free of PFAS and microplastics, contributing to the college’s sustainability goals. By installing 130,000 square feet of turf, the college is now able to conserve 1 to 3 million gallons of water annually.

    Learn more

    Butte College’s Allied Health Building Lighting Retrofit with GonLED

    Commencing in October 2022 and concluding in February 2023, the project focused on replacing existing lighting structures with more energy-efficient LED alternatives. After conducting a thorough analysis, GonLED developed a plan that would lead to an expected 59% reduction in energy usage.

    In total, Butte College is projected to achieve an annual ROI of 53.7%, saving over $1.3 million in the next 10 years, and fully recovering the investment in less than 2 years.

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    I consider the CollegeBuys team to be an extension of our district’s Purchasing Department. CollegeBuys contracts have the exact terms and conditions the colleges need to purchase high quality products that can meet the demands of our educational environments and account for the total cost of ownership of each purchase.

    San Jose Evergreen CCD Saves Water: KYA’s Turf and Plant Upgrade

    KYA supported San Jose Evergreen Community College (SJECC) in transforming its outdoor spaces by installing artificial turf on four quads and adding 170 artificial plants.

    This sustainable upgrade has significantly reduced maintenance efforts and water usage. By replacing 16,500 square feet of natural grass with artificial turf, SJECC saves an estimated 907,500 gallons of water annually.

    I consider the CollegeBuys team to be an extension of our district’s Purchasing Department. CollegeBuys contracts have the exact terms and conditions the colleges need to purchase high quality products that can meet the demands of our educational environments and account for the total cost of ownership of each purchase.

    WAXIE Recognized for Environmental Leadership

    WAXIE has been recognized as an outstanding Safer Choice Distributor as part of the 2024 Safer Choice Partner of the Year awards for their dedication to environmental sustainability. Winners were recognized for their innovative use of safer chemicals in product design, manufacturing, promotion, and use, significantly reducing their environmental impact.

    WAXIE successfully earned Safer Choice certification for several of its WAXIE-Green products and actively promotes certified products on its website. The EPA applauds WAXIE’s commitment to safer chemicals and sustainable practices.

    Watch Video

    Citrus College’s Synthetic Turf Baseball Field Installation with KYA

    Citrus College sought to enhance the performance of its baseball field while minimizing ongoing maintenance needs. Collaborating with KYA, the college chose to installed a synthetic turf system that would maximize the field’s lifespan and contribute to the institution’s broader initiative to create more eco-friendly spaces on campus.

    The state-of-the-art system is free of PFAS and microplastics, contributing to the college’s sustainability goals. By installing 130,000 square feet of turf, the college is now able to conserve 1 to 3 million gallons of water annually.

    Learn More

    Butte College’s Allied Health Building Lighting Retrofit Case Study

    Commencing in October 2022 and concluding in February 2023, the project focused on replacing existing lighting structures with more energy-efficient LED alternatives. After conducting a thorough analysis, GonLED developed a plan that would lead to an expected 59% reduction in energy usage.

    In total, Butte College is projected to achieve an annual ROI of 53.7%, saving over $1.3 million in the next 10 years, and fully recovering the investment in less than 2 years.

    Learn More

    I consider the CollegeBuys team to be an extension of our district’s Purchasing Department. CollegeBuys contracts have the exact terms and conditions the colleges need to purchase high quality products that can meet the demands of our educational environments and account for the total cost of ownership of each purchase.

    San Jose Evergreen CCD Saves Water: KYA’s Turf and Plant Upgrade

    KYA supported San Jose Evergreen Community College (SJECC) in transforming its outdoor spaces by installing artificial turf on four quads and adding 170 artificial plants.

    This sustainable upgrade has significantly reduced maintenance efforts and water usage. By replacing 16,500 square feet of natural grass with artificial turf, SJECC saves an estimated 907,500 gallons of water annually.

    I consider the CollegeBuys team to be an extension of our district’s Purchasing Department. CollegeBuys contracts have the exact terms and conditions the colleges need to purchase high quality products that can meet the demands of our educational environments and account for the total cost of ownership of each purchase.