UVM has been recognized as a 2020 EPEAT Purchaser Award winner, which celebrates leaders in sustainable electronics procurement. UVM also received this award in 2017. 

The award comes from the Green Electronics Council (GEC), the non-profit organization that manages the EPEAT ecolabel. EPEAT considers the lifecycle impacts of the electronics like computers, displays, tablets, servers, and televisions. 

Meeting EPEAT criteria requires addressing labor and human rights issues along the entire supply chain. Certified products are also more energy efficient, less toxic, longer lasting, and easier to recycle than other products. While preference for EPEAT is not part of any UVM purchasing contracts or policies, it is being considered since that leverage point has been successful for advancing sustainability in the past. 

For example, Procurement Services has long been making 100% recycled content paper the preferred and most affordable contracted paper option, leading to increased use on campus. The dining contract with Sodexo in 2015 was groundbreaking, helping UVM to surpass the Real Food Challenge goal ahead of schedule. Most recently, a Vehicle Fleet Procurement Policy was put in place, which has already helped reduce our overall fleet size, promote inter-departmental vehicle sharing and resulted in more electric and efficient vehicle purchases.

As a winner, UVM received a calculation of the environmental and cost benefits associated with our EPEAT-registered purchases, which makes the impact of thoughtful purchasing apparent. See the infographic below for the full picture.