Economic and Community Impact in FY25
Economic & Community Impact
Campus Contributions Towards Economic & Community Impact
Systemwide
UC Central Travel Secured Lodging for LA Fire Victims
In response to the devastating Southern California fires in January 2025, the UC Central Travel Office (CTO) quickly negotiated with multiple hotels and car rental companies in the greater LA area to provide lodging and transportation for those affected. Properties generously offered competitive rates for short- and long-term stays and waived deposits and pet fees.
To ensure easy access to resources, the SWP Communications and Travel teams established a dedicated space on the Procurement portal, categorizing lodging geographically and updating with new options frequently. The CTO also coordinated these resource offerings with UCLA, which served as a centralized organizing and dispatch center.
Berkeley Leads the Way in Sustainable Travel with Annual Event
UC Berkeley’s Travel Team, in collaboration with the Berkeley Sustainability Office and the UC Central Travel Office, hosted the 2nd Annual Sustainable Travel event on October 10, 2024. This innovative gathering brought together over 20 systemwide travel suppliers, campus organizations, and sustainability advocates to showcase how travel products and services are becoming more sustainable and carbon neutral.
Sustainable Procurement Champions
UC Berkeley, and Chief Procurement Officer, Russ Chung, were recognized as 2024/25 Sustainable Procurement Champions by CPOstrategy, the procurement magazine that provides insights into modern procurement processes, technologies, and practices that highlight procurement’s role in driving business strategies. Check out the 2024/25 Sustainable Procurement Champions!
Berkeley Builds Opportunity Through Partnership
At UC Berkeley, innovation and inclusion go hand in hand. That’s why we proudly pioneered a project with Fisher Scientific and Possible Missions, a certified small, woman-owned business, to shift $5 million in spend toward the goal of directing 25% of spend to small businesses. This collaboration makes buying and meeting federal requirements simpler for researchers, empowers a small supplier to grow, and advances UC’s commitment to positive community impact, without added cost or complexity. Even better, this pilot has influenced other UC campuses to adopt this model as well.
Driving Toward a Greener Future
In FY2025, UC Berkeley added 37 fully electric vehicles and 3 plug-in hybrids to its fleet—advancing California’s vision of a zero-emission future and in alignment with Berkeley’s mandated policy that all new vehicles be electric. This investment supports cleaner air, reduced carbon emissions, and Berkeley’s commitment to sustainable transportation.
Leading the Way with STARS 3.0 Platinum Rating
UC Berkeley made history as the first university in the world to earn a Platinum rating under the new STARS 3.0 sustainability framework – with an impressive score of 86.76, more than a full point higher than our last report. This milestone reflects a collaborative effort by over 100 participants across campus, sister UC campuses, UCOP, and expert consultants. It’s more than a badge; it’s a strategic roadmap. We’ll use this momentum to launch unit-level gap analyses and integrate updated sustainability goals moving forward.
Restoring Berkeley’s Watersheds
In CY2025, UC Berkeley’s non-research grant team—supported by Supply Chain Management—submitted $3.9 million in habitat restoration grant projects aimed at improving local water quality through the restoration of critical watersheds on campus. With a goal of exceeding $10 million in submissions by year’s end, this team is advancing Berkeley’s commitment to sustainability and is eagerly awaiting more award notifications.
UC Irvine
UCI Turns Waivers into Certified Small Business Partners
In FY25, UC Irvine Procurement advanced supplier diversity by helping vendors shift from Small Business First waivers to formal state certification. Many qualified as small businesses but lacked certification, limiting visibility and opportunities. Through direct outreach, UCI guided vendors through the California Small Business certification process, troubleshooting applications and providing resources.
The impact: 18 new certified small business partners representing over $1 million in spend across industries like life sciences, media, travel, and design. This effort strengthened compliance while expanding opportunities for small and diverse businesses.
UCLA
UCLA Makes Big Strides in Sustainability Across Campus
In FY25, UCLA advanced its sustainability goals across energy, water, buildings, and waste. Greenhouse gas emissions fell through reduced gas use and expanded renewable electricity, with a decarbonization study underway. Campus growth was balanced with conservation: water use dropped 76 million gallons annually and per-capita use by 15%. Three new LEED-certified buildings were added, including the Gold-level Nimoy Theater. UCLA also eliminated single-use plastic beverage bottles, advanced plant-based dining, and expanded native landscaping. Together, these efforts reflect UCLA’s holistic approach to building a greener, more sustainable future.
UC Merced Invests in Community Health with New Mobile Air Lab
Big things are rolling out at UC Merced! The Public Health department secured funding for a Mobile Air Laboratory and Field Research Office, a project designed to boost community health research and air quality monitoring. As a purchase over $100K, Procurement Services launched a competitive bid, with 32 vendors contacted and five submitted proposals. After a thorough evaluation, Electric Vehicle Choice was selected to deliver an all-electric mobile lab vehicle, including operational training. The total cost? $345,000 plus tax, with build completion expected in 2025. (Photo depicts similar mobile air lab from UC Riverside)
UC Merced Student Chefs Cook Up Sustainability
In September 2024, UC Merced Dining student employees joined a workshop with the Alice Waters Institute to explore sustainable farming and food. After touring Burroughs Family Farms and learning about regenerative practices like mulching, skip-tilling, and livestock integration, students returned to campus kitchens to craft seasonal, locally sourced dishes—from butternut squash tacos to fig salad. The experience connected food, land stewardship, and sustainability, showcasing UC’s commitment to community, environment, and innovation through hands-on learning and creative dining.
Surplus Sales Diverts 1.6M Pounds from Landfills
In 2024, UC San Diego’s Surplus Sales diverted 1.6M pounds from landfills by refurbishing and reselling surplus. In April 2025, the program expanded student access with secure point-of-sale integration, enabling on-campus pop-up sales. The debut events diverted 600 pounds in one week while offering affordable, unique items. Surplus Sales turns sustainability into action while funding UC San Diego’s education and research mission.
UC San Diego Launches Sustainable Cold Chain Program
In FY25, UC San Diego’s Core Bio Services, with Procurement, Logistics, and the Small Business Development & Sustainability Office, launched the Core Bio Sustainable Cold Chain. Partnering with Thermo Fisher, the program replaces Styrofoam, dry ice, and single-use gel packs with reusable, temperature-controlled packaging. Products ship from Carlsbad to Core Bio, then to labs in cooler bags, with packaging reconditioned for reuse. The initiative reduces landfill waste, improves delivery efficiency, and supports UC’s zero-waste goals—earning strong backing from campus researchers.
UC San Diego Strengthens Partnership with Local Small Business Supplier
To support UC’s 25% small business spend goal, UC San Diego formalized a partnership between BioPioneer—a local, small, alumni-owned business—and Core Biosciences. With Procurement, they created a purchasing agreement granting BioPioneer exclusive consignment part numbers and full catalog access in eProcurement. The move streamlines ordering, improves researcher access, and strengthens UCSD’s commitment to local and small businesses—building efficiency while driving community impact.
UC Santa Barbara
UCSB Receives 5th EPEAT Purchaser Award for Sustainable Electronic Leadership
UC Santa Barbara earned its fifth EPEAT Purchaser Award from the Global Electronics Council, recognizing leadership in sustainable electronics procurement. EPEAT-registered products are energy-efficient, durable, recyclable, and meet labor and supply chain standards. This achievement highlights UCSB’s commitment to environmental and social responsibility and its leadership in advancing sustainable procurement across higher education.
UC Santa Cruz Leads UC Campuses in Economic & Community Impact Spend
In FY25, UC Santa Cruz Procurement set the pace systemwide in advancing small, local and diverse business engagement. UCSC was the first campus to hit the 25% of total addressable spend benchmark, reaching a high point of 28.3% in November 2024—going well above UC’s 25% goal. For FY25 overall, 23% of UCSC’s addressable spend went to small and local suppliers. This achievement underscores UCSC’s commitment to building an inclusive supply chain that drives economic opportunity and community investment while delivering strong value to the campus.
UCSC Hosts GCLC Sustainable Food Summit
In August 2024, UC Santa Cruz hosted the Global Climate Leadership Council (GCLC) Sustainable Food Service & Sourcing Summit at the historic Cowell Ranch Hay Barn. The event gathered over 50 key UC stakeholders, including Procurement, dining directors, chefs, sustainability leaders, and students. Discussions focused on expanding sustainable food sourcing, overcoming procurement barriers, and sharing resources and grant opportunities to strengthen systemwide sustainable food sourcing efforts.
UCSF Commits to Advancing Small Business Partnerships
In May, UCSF’s Anchor Institution Mission Procurement team and Small Business Office highlighted UC’s commitment to advancing small business partnerships during National Small Business Month. At NAEP’s EPIC 2025 national conference, they co-presented with UC Berkeley on empowering small business growth through alliances and then connected with local entrepreneurs at San Francisco Small Business Week. These efforts reinforced the impact of procurement decisions in shaping stronger small business relationships.
UCSF Highlights Small Businesses at Staff Resource Days & Supplier Connections Expo
UCSF’s Anchor Institution Mission Procurement and Small Business Office showcased the value of small and local businesses during Staff Resource Days 2025 with a webinar and the first-ever Supplier Connections Expo. Nearly 150 attendees engaged with suppliers, caterers, and exhibitors, while learning about resources to strengthen procurement practices. Both events highlighted how UC campuses can expand small business partnerships and build stronger community impact.
UCSF Ultra-Low Freezer Replacement Program Wins Sustainability Award
UCSF Supply Chain Management (SCM) has been recognized for its commitment to sustainability with the Ultra-Low Freezer Replacement Program being honored with the 2024 Sustainability Award by the University Logistics and Supply Chain Association (ULSCA) for its innovative approach to reducing energy consumption.
SWP Invests in Berkeley’s Big Ideas
The UC Berkeley Big Ideas Contest empowers students to tackle pressing challenges with bold solutions. Systemwide Procurement supports this mission by fostering economic impact, supplier diversity, and innovation. In March 2025, finalists joined a Supply Chain Innovation workshop with Abim Odusoga, SWP’s Director for Economic Impact, who highlighted how diverse supplier integration strengthens local economies, builds resilience, and creates sustainable opportunities—equipping young entrepreneurs to turn ideas into lasting impact.
Driving Sustainable Change: SPWG Retreat 2024
The UC Sustainable Procurement Working Group (SPWG) gathered in October 2024 at UC San Diego for a two-day retreat to advance sustainable procurement impact across the UC system. In-depth sessions delved into 2024 green spend data results, needed revisions to the UC Sustainable Procurement Guidelines, alignment with new AASHE STARS 3.0 guidelines, and enhancing sustainability and economic impact considerations in the RFP process.
Sustainable Travel Takes Center Stage
In April 2025, the UC Central Travel Office hosted its 2nd Annual Earth Month Celebration, highlighting how travel partners are building more sustainable practices and giving back to communities. Over 460 participants joined six sessions featuring:
- Lufthansa: staff teaching entrepreneurship under the UN charter
- Southwest Airlines: supporting 2,800+ nonprofits nationwide
- Hertz: educating high school students on low-emission vehicles
- Enterprise/National: expanding flexible, accessible mobility
- Uber: delivering meals to UCLA medical students and residents
With 97% positive feedback, the series showcased the power of partnership in advancing UC’s sustainability goals.
Innovation Meets Impact: New Supplier Integrations
In support of UC’s 25% economic impact spend goal, Systemwide Procurement and UC Berkeley piloted a pioneering purchasing integration between Fisher Scientific and small business affiliate Possible Missions.
This enhancement streamlines ordering, allowing multiple purchase orders from a single punchout session while routing purchases to the small business for fulfillment—with no extra clicks and no extra work by the shopper.
Now expanding to other campuses—UC Davis will launch in October 2025, followed by UCLA in early 2026. This scalable model advances UC’s economic impact goals and serves as a powerful example of how innovation and inclusion go hand in hand at UC.
Systemwide
UC Central Travel Earns Global Recognition for Sustainability
The UC Central Travel Office (CTO) program has again proven its global leadership in sustainable travel. For the second time in three years, UC’s systemwide travel program was a finalist in the Achievement in Sustainability, Managed Travel Program for the Business Travel News (BTN) Sustainability Awards 2025. UC was the only nonprofit/higher education institution among the finalists and one of just two U.S. organizations nominated. Debra Almason, Director of Systemwide Travel, spoke at the award ceremony in New York to share UC’s efforts in implementing best practices for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Building Better Food Data for Sustainable Impact
UC Systemwide Procurement is piloting a reporting system with MaetaData to track sustainable and economic impact spend. Aligned with AASHE Stars and UC definitions, it already includes three major foodservice distributors with three years of data. The next phase will add local contracts, create a unified dashboard for sustainability and small business reporting. This pilot lays the foundation for clearer insights and stronger accountability in UC’s food purchasing.
New Furniture & Flooring Buying Strategies Deliver Beyond Price
UC Systemwide Procurement introduced new ways to buy from leading manufacturers in flooring and office furniture using existing UC systemwide agreements, while boosting economic and community impact. We’ve identified certified small business flooring and office furniture affiliates you can buy from to help UC meet its 25% economic impact spend goal, while supporting local businesses and building positive community impact. This isn’t just about contracts—it’s about fostering more-impactful buying choices across UC.
UC’s First Regenerative Protein Contract
UC Procurement secured a UC-wide contract with Cream Co., the first regenerative protein supplier in UC’s food system. Cream Co. partners with sustainable ranches, providing fairer market access while delivering high-quality, traceable protein. This milestone supports UC’s 25% economic and community impact spend goal, strengthens local producers, and advances responsible food systems. With Cream Co., UC isn’t just buying food—we’re backing responsible food systems, supporting local producers, and serving our values at the dinner table.
UC Honored at WBEC Awards
UC received two awards at the 2024 WBEC Pacific Business Excellence Awards to honor organizations and individuals who are advancing leadership and diversity and creating inclusive and innovative business communities.
Business Excellence Award: Recognizes the UC’s exceptional contributions to business leadership and advocacy for women entrepreneurs.
Advocate of the Year: Abim Odusoga, SWP Director of Impact & Policy, was one of three people awarded.
FY24 Green Spend Project Delivers on UC Goals
The annual Green Spend data gathering process is a cornerstone of UC’s sustainability tracking and essential in advancing our goals. Collecting certified green procurement data from suppliers supports comprehensive sustainability reporting and strategic decision-making at the campus and systemwide levels. A new approach streamlined and simplified the 2024 annual process.
UC Champions Innovation & Equity @2024 Culture Shifting Summit
UC was a proud co-sponsor of the Culture Shifting Summit of Silicon Valley in September 2024, an annual gathering of innovators, investors, and social impact leaders. This transformative event brought together Black and Latinx entrepreneurs and investors to explore the intersections of innovation, technology, and social responsibility.
Strategic Priorities
UC Procurement is committed to the five strategic priorities below. Through dedication to these priorities, we strive to empower our campuses, foster innovation, and shape a more sustainable and equitable future. This Annual Report is organized by these five priorities – click any card to delve into our progress in these areas:
Economic and Community Impact
Strategic Partnerships
Drive Value and Savings
Continuous Improvement
Risk Management
Our supply chain, legal, and policy strategies minimize risk to safeguard UC against financial, operational, and reputational damage.