Policy 5.15 - Sustainable Purchasing - UNDER REVIEW

Part 1: Purpose

Lake Superior College promotes economic, ethical, environmental, and social considerations in all purchasing decisions while maintaining standards of cost and value in all purchases made for college use.

Part 2: Objective

Lake Superior College, where possible, will procure environmentally preferable products by considering short- and long-term implementation and costs, life cycle costs, and maintenance costs. This policy does not require changes in typical purchasing practice, but serves as a guide to preferable purchasing criteria.

Part 3: References

1. MinnState Board Policy 5.17
2. Minnesota Pollution Control Agency
3. Minnesota Statute 115A, Waste Management
4. Minnesota Statute 16C.0725, Purchase of Recycled, Repairable, & Durable Materials
5. Minnesota Statute 16C.073, Purchase and Use of Paper Stock; Printing
6. Minnesota Statute 115D, Toxic Pollution Prevention
7. Minnesota Statute 116D, Environmental Policy
8. Minnesota Statute 216B.241, Energy Conservation Improvement
9. Minnesota Statute 216H.02, Greenhouse Gas Emissions Control

History

Date Implementation: August 6, 2015

Date Reviewed/Revised: October 9, 2025

Note from January 2026: As of last review, the sustainability committee had not been reconstituted. Once committee is in place, Policy 5.15 and Procedure 5.15.1 Sustainable Purchasing should be reviewed again.

President's Signature Date: February 9, 2026