Sustainability Retreat Focuses Efforts for Greater Impact

On February 26-27th, 2024, Systemwide Procurement hosted a Sustainability Retreat at UC Berkeley for the Sustainable Procurement Working Group (SPWG), a dedicated body comprised of sustainable procurement representatives from across the UC system. This pivotal two-day event aimed at enhancing sustainability within our procurement processes and practices. The experience provided a unique platform for collaboration, innovation and advancement in our sustainability initiatives.

Day 1 Highlights: Enhancing Sustainability Scoring in RFPs
The retreat kicked off with a deep dive into our current sustainability scoring process for Requests for Proposals (RFPs). Participants engaged in interactive workshops and discussions to refine and streamline this evaluation system. The goal was to establish transparent and measurable criteria for assessing the sustainability impact of our potential vendors and partners, culminating in a more effective scoring process that aligns with our sustainability priorities.

Day 2 Highlights: Boosting Annual Sustainability Report & Staff Engagement
On the second day, the focus shifted to improving the Annual Sustainability Report and enhancing engagement with procurement staff. Efforts centered on developing a more efficient process for compiling this report and clearly defining team roles and responsibilities. We also explored strategies to foster more engaged and informed purchasing teams and develop more awareness and support of our sustainability guidelines.

This retreat was not just an event; it was a steppingstone toward a more sustainable future at UC. By joining forces, we can significantly advance our sustainability efforts and make a collective impact on sustainability practices at UC and beyond, benefiting our communities and the planet.