Environmental Visionary Statement

CMC is committed to being a leader in environmental stewardship. This report represents the first comprehensive review of resource use and social policy. CMC’s aim to excel among liberal arts colleges requires recognition of environmental issues. For this reason, CMC uses responsible decision-making and tracks environmental impacts.

Environmental Impedements and Challenges

Resource consumption at CMC is spread across different divisions without cohesion. Although this report is an attempt to compile data regarding resource use, it has been a semester-long attempt funded independently by the Roberts Environmental Center. An environmental management database is currently being programmed to compile resource use data.

Commitment to minimize consumption

The College pledges to minimize its consumption of resources whenever possible. It is a continual effort to reduce energy, water, materials and pesticide use.

Green purchasing

Currently, there are no explicit policies guiding green purchasing. Responsible decisions are made on an individual level. Purchasers who were interviewed demonstrated genuine interest for using environmental considerations as one of the factors in choosing a product. A general policy promoting sustainable purchasing should be evaluated.

Office supplies: Individual departments order office supplies. No general policy exists to guide purchases towards sustainable alternatives. Nevertheless, many individuals making purchasing decisions take it upon themselves to select responsible products such as competitively priced recycled paper products. However, the current system generally encourages purchasers to view cost as a primary consideration.

Cleaning supplies: Currently, CMC is looking at opportunities to use ecologically friendly cleaning supplies for all housekeeping services. The effectiveness, availability, cost and health and safety considerations of cleaning products are currently the primary issues under consideration when making purchasing decisions.

Wood purchases: Most furniture purchasing is done without consideration of sustainability. However, when told of the benefits possible in certified wood, purchasers showed a great willingness to introduce such products onto the campus. Most importantly, this failure to use the most responsible products lies with a lack of research and communication of responsible products. It was voiced that purchasers would appreciate an approved list of responsible products to help guide further purchasing decisions.

Dining halls: An extended interview with Pam Franco, manager of CMC’s Collin’s Dining Hall, is available in Appendix A.

Supplier Screening: No formal system exists to screen suppliers based on environmental or social performance. However, the use of Bon Appétit dining services, a supplier committed to the use of locally grown and organic produce, reflects the fact that environmental factors do come into consideration when suppliers are contracted on campus. Frequently, individual purchasers make decisions concerning which suppliers they prefer and, as a result, reliability and cost become almost the sole factors determining an offer of contract.

Buildings: In 2007, the Buildings and Grounds Committee instituted a new requirement for all new CMC buildings to be certified LEED silver. The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System is a nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction and operation of environmentally conscious buildings. This policy is a major step forward, guaranteeing the environmental impact of all new buildings will be carefully considered.