Sustainable Procurement Category Information | Life Sciences

Key Category Guidelines and Goals

UC Sustainable Procurement Policy and Guidelines have set standards for the purchase of products within the Life Sciences category. Below are some of the key standards outlined. Review the UC Sustainable Practices Policy and UC Sustainable Procurement Guidelines (pdf) for more detail.
  • Contracting with suppliers of products (e.g. electronics, furniture, lab consumables) that have established (preferably non-manufacturer specific) end-of-life reuse, recycling, and/or takeback programs at no extra cost to the University, and in compliance with applicable federal, state, and University regulations regarding waste disposal.
  • The University requires that all packaging be compliant with the Toxics in Packaging Prevention Act (AB 455) and sets additional criteria to maximize the sustainability of packaging brought on campus in  support of UC's Zero Waste goals.

Aside from the above standards, UC procurement teams collaborate often with campus stakeholder groups to develop best practices including the purchasing of energy efficient products, supplier collaborations on recycling/take-back programs as well as ULT Freezer programs, collaborations with non-profits on lab assessments and more.

General Criteria 

Some Green (environmental) and Economic and Social sustainability criteria are applicable across all, or a large number of different product or service categories. You can refer to the Sustainable Procurement Guidelines (pdf) for general criteria that must be applied to all applicable categories, and included in the specifications for all relevant solicitations and contracts.

Access Solicitation Guidance & RFx Questions here

Other Resources