Section Menu Sustainability

Contact Information

sustainability@csustan.edu

Division of Business & Finance

Sustainable Procurement

The California State University Sustainability Policy requires use of suppliers and vendors who support environmentally friendly practices.

At Stan State, this has resulted in high rates of success in various areas such as custodial supplies, electronics, fleet vehicles, and paper purchasing.

  • 94% of cleaning/custodial products are certified/meet sustainability standards
  • 99% of electronics (computers, tablets, televisions, copiers/printer/scanners) meet EPEAT or ENERGY STAR standards
  • 58% of campus fleet vehicles are 100% electric
  • 76% of purchased paper contains post-consumer recycled content

Environmentally Preferable Purchases and Practices

California State University, Stanislaus

Environmentally Preferable Purchasing (EPP) is the procurement of goods and services that have a reduced impact on human health and the environment as compared to other goods and services serving the same purpose (Public Contract Code §12400-12404).

The California State University Sustainability Policy establishes Environmentally Preferred Purchasing and Use Practices that are applicable to all California State Universities. The California State University is committed to promoting environmental sustainability on all campuses, with programs to source clean and reliable products to enhance sustainable procurement.

California State University, Stanislaus, including, but not limited to, all auxiliary and business services, is committed to implementing Environmentally Preferred Purchasing and Use Practices that meet or exceed the goals of the California State University, working within the University’s budgetary, regulatory and programmatic constraints.

California State University Sustainability Policy

CSU Sustainability Policy: Sustainable Procurement

  1. Campuses shall promote use of suppliers and/or vendors who reduce waste, re-purpose recycled material, or support other environmentally friendly practices in the provision of goods or services to the CSU under contract. This may include additional evaluation points in solicitation evaluations for suppliers integrating sustainable and socially responsible practices.
  2. To move to zero waste, campus practices should: (1) encourage use of products that minimize the volume of trash sent to landfill or incinerators; (2) participate in the CalRecycle Buy-Recycled program or equivalent; and (3) increase recycled content purchases in all Buy-Recycled program product categories.
  3. Campuses shall continue to report on all recycled content product categories, consistent with PCC § 12153-12217 and shall implement improved tracking and reporting procedures for their recycled content purchases.
  4. Campuses shall align procedures with state initiatives to report environmental product declarations for select construction materials, consistent with PCC §3500-3505 and state mandates.
  5. Campuses shall promote circular economies by seeking to reduce waste when considering materials purchases, including but not limited to, office supplies, equipment, classroom supplies, and promotional and giveaway items by minimizing purchase of items that have a short useful life, are unable to be recycled, and/or are made of unsustainable or carbon intensive materials.

CSU Contracts and Procurement Policy

CSU Contracts and Procurement Policy: Sustainable Procurement

CSU Buy-Recycled Products Campaign

CSU Contracts and Procurement Policy: Buy-Recycled Products Campaign

This section articulates the CSU's requirements related to buying recycled products to ensure procurement and contracting activities comply with applicable regulations.

Campuses shall establish purchasing practices that ensure, to the maximum extent economically feasible, the purchase of materials, goods, and supplies that are recycled or have recycled material within their content. Fitness and quality being equal, purchase preference shall be given to recycled products whenever such products are available, and the cost of such products is no greater than that of their non-recycled counterparts. The detailed requirements of the Buy Recycle Campaign are established by the State.

Campus Responsibilities:

  1. Purchase Recycled Content Products (RCP) instead of non-Recycled Content Products (RCP) if fitness and quality are equal and the RCP is available at no more than the total cost of the non-RCP. However, campus procurement officers shall allow a price preference for recycled paper and tire derived products.
  2. Require all contractors to certify the recycled content of all RCP purchased. For all products, contractors shall be required to certify in writing the minimum percentage, if not the exact percentage, of post-consumer material in the materials, goods, (or supplies) provided or used. This certification shall be furnished under penalty of perjury.
  3. Attain the RCP procurement mandates. Campus procurement offices shall strive to meet or exceed the legislative goals and timetables prescribed by the California legislature for the acquisition of recycled products.
  4. Submit Buy Recycle procurement reports annually. Campus shall submit to the Office of the Chancellor Buy Recycled reports in accordance with due dates specified on the CSU Contract Services and Procurement Policy Reporting Requirements Schedule.
  5. Establish purchasing practices that ensure the purchase of materials, goods, and supplies that may be recycled or reused when discarded.

CSU Single-Use Plastics

CSU Contracts and Procurement Policy: Single-Use Plastics

This section articulates the CSU's requirements related to single-use plastics to ensure procurement and contracting activities comply with CSU's sustainability goals and applicable regulations.

Campuses shall establish purchasing practices that ensure, to the maximum extent economically feasible, the purchase of single-use plastics including plastic straws, plastic water bottles (regardless of serving size or volume), and plastic bags are eliminated. Purchase preference shall be given to reusable products, followed by locally compostable and/or recyclable products. Procurement, auxiliaries, and all relevant stakeholders will work with campus sustainability staff to assess and select the most sustainable alternatives.

The California State University Sustainability Policy applies to Auxiliary Organizations incorporated to support the California State University.

Campus Responsibilities:

  • Eliminate single-use plastic water bottles (regardless of serving size or volume) by January 1, 2023 or upon contract renewal if existing contract terms prohibit. A 25% reduction in single-use plastic water bottles purchased and supplied will be achieved annually.
  • Eliminate plastic straws no later than January 1, 2019
  • Eliminate single-use plastic carryout bags no later than January 1, 2019
  • Eliminate single-use polystyrene (e.g. STYROFOAM™) food service items no later than January 1, 2021
  • Replace single-use plastic items with materials that are reusable, locally compostable and/or recyclable.

Exceptions to the above are only to be made for complying with Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements or when it is demonstrated that compliance with the above will result in undue hardship on students or campus organizations.

Laws, State Codes, Regulations and Mandates

Updated: September 10, 2026