The University of Pennsylvania’s 2019 Green Purchasing Award, presented by Penn Purchasing Services and Penn Sustainability, was announced at the annual Purchasing Services Supplier Show on September 24. 

Now celebrating its fifth year, the Green Purchasing Award program recognizes the outstanding contributions of an individual or team that significantly advances the development of sustainable purchasing practices at Penn.

This year’s award went to Penn’s School of Veterinary Medicine for the positive impact they have made in managing their print services since they became one of the early adopters of the Penn Managed Print Services Program. Prior to enrolling in the program in 2014, the School was managing over 65 printers, comprising 28 different models from three different manufacturers.  The fleet of printers was located throughout the campus as well as the New Bolton Center. 

Since signing up to participate in the Managed Print Services Program, PennVet has substantially reduced purchases of Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM)—branded toner and has managed the entire portfolio of printers under one contract. They were also able to recover used toner and document their recycling efforts.

“This year’s recipient of the Green Purchasing Award underscores the value that can be derived from managing print services in a department or throughout a School or Center,” said Mark Mills, executive director and chief procurement officer for Purchasing Services. “Our honorees from Penn’s School of Veterinary Medicine made smart, responsible purchasing decisions that have resulted in considerable cost avoidance savings while realizing a significant reduction in electronic, paper, and plastic (ink/toner) waste.”   

Over the life of their program, results of the team at PennVet’s efforts include:

• 767 toners were recycled, saving 576 gallons of oil and averting 2,150.4 kg of CO2.  The School experienced a first-year cost reduction savings of 38.5%;
• 641 potential purchase orders were avoided.  The estimated cost avoidance savings, based on an average of $25 per purchase order in administrative burden, is $16,025; and, 
• 384,000 sheets of paper were not printed, which is the equivalent of 256 trees saved.  The direct cost savings of the 384,000 pages over the period has been $7,680.  

This initiative aligns with Penn’s Climate Action Plan, the University’s comprehensive strategic roadmap for environmental sustainability.