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Green Products & Services

Explore environmentally preferred products, certifications, recycling programs, and purchasing resources that support Penn’s sustainability goals.

Procurement

Procurement Services identifies environmentally preferred products using criteria that support Penn’s sustainability goals. While definitions may vary, the University considers several characteristics when evaluating green products.

  • Easily reused (either whole or through disassembly)
  • Made using natural and/or renewable resources
  • Contains recycled content (post-consumer and/or post-industrial)
  • Readily recycled (preferably in a closed-loop recycling system)
  • Biodegradable
  • Does not contain highly toxic compounds, and their production does not result in highly toxic by-products
  • Does not contain chlorofluorocarbons, hydrochlorofluorocarbons or other ozone depleting substances Promote good indoor air quality (typically through reduced emissions of volatile organic compounds and/or formaldehyde)
  • Energy efficient
  • Durable with low maintenance requirements
  • Low “embodied energy” (energy required to produce/transport material)

Green Product Certifications

Energy Star

The University is committed to purchasing Energy Star qualified products such as printers, computers, and appliances. Penn Computing Green Information Technology (IT) program has established recommended guidelines for IT purchases that include Energy Star 4.0 compliant desktops and replacing CRT monitors with LCD monitors.

Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool (EPEAT)

EPEAT is a system to help compare and select desktop computers, notebooks and monitors based on their environmental attributes. EPEAT has three tiers of environmental performance
(Bronze, Silver and Gold)

Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)

All Penn branded stationary is printed on 30 percent PCR chlorine-free paper, FSC and Green Seal certified, and the electricity used to manufacture this paper is offset with 100 percent Green certified wind certificates.

Green Seal

Green Seal certification requires that the product contain a minimum of 30% post-consumer recycled content. Certification also requires that manufacturing operations be improved to reduce their use of energy and materials as well as reduce wastes and emissions associated with the process of making the product.

Recycling and Reuse Programs at Penn

Computer & Electronics Recycling and Disposal Options
  • Electronic equipment that is broken or obsolete must be properly disposed or sent for recycling. DO NOT PLACE ANY ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT IN THE TRASH, EVEN IF IT IS BROKEN.
  • You can also trade in your used technology and get credit for new technology purchases through the Penn Computer Connection.
  • For more details, contact Penn Environmental Health and Radiation Safety.

Book Repurposing and Recycling
  • Penn Bookstore : At the end of each semester during final exam weeks, the Penn Bookstore holds its “buyback” event where you can receive up to 50% of the price paid for textbooks. This includes books purchased through other vendors. In addition to getting cash back your books could then become available for students in future semesters, providing them a more affordable textbook option.
  • PennMOVES: Every May Penn Residential Services collects items that Penn students can’t take with them when they leave campus in the summer. Rather than ending up in the landfill, these items are gathered and donated to Goodwill.  PennMOVES accepts the donation of any type of book.

Ink & Toner Cartridge Recycling Program
  • Procurement Services is partnering with Telrose Corporation and Office Depot to provide easy, convenient and green recycling programs for all of your used ink and toner cartridges. Rather than shipping the used ink or toner cartridges individually, Telrose Corporation is consolidating shipments for the entire University. Your Telrose Corporation delivery person will pick-up used cartridges from your office, palletize them, and ship them in bulk to the recycler.
  • To request a pick-up of your used cartridges, simply send an email with your name, address and suite/office to Telrose Corporation Customer Service. Ensure you place your used ink or toner cartridge in the box of the new supplier you purchased, sealing the box prior to Telrose pickup.
  • Please direct all questions related to this program to Martin Hull at Telrose.

Lab Supplies and Equipment Disposal & Recycling
  • Laboratory Freezers: Procurement Services offers a collaborative freezer recycling program when purchasing a new freezer from Panasonic Healthcare Company of North America, a University preferred contract supplier of laboratory equipment and supplies and Scientific Apparatus Services a preferred contract supplier for scientific equipment repairs and services. Please contact the Panasonic Healthcare Company of North America representative,  David Cassanelli – david.cassanelli@us.phchd.com or the Scientific Apparatus Services representative Bob Lubonski – sas@scientificapparatus.com for product, pricing and recycling information.
  • Miscellaneous Laboratory Equipment: Procurement Services offers recycling and disposal of laboratory equipment through a contract with EForce Compliance. Please contact Ted Miller at 215-964-6668 for Penn specific pricing and other information.
  • Recycling of Centrifuges and Rotors: Procurement Services offers recycling and disposal of laboratory Centrifuges and Rotors through its contract with Beckman Coulter. The Beckman Coulter representative will work with laboratories to recycle/return centrifuges and rotors to help free up valuable lab space.  Beckman Coulter also accepts returns from other suppliers as well, and will utilize the recycling/return as trade-in value on a laboratory’s next Beckman Coulter centrifuge purchase. Please contact Jessica Tsaoi at 215-964-0293 for Penn specific information and documentation to be completed.
  • Recycling of Corning, Falcon, or Axygen Product Packaging: Procurement Services offers the recycling and disposal of Corning, Falcon or Axygen product packaging through Corning’s Package Recycle Program.
  • Recycling of USA Scientific Laboratory Pipette Products: You can recycle USA Scientific TipOne racks and inserts at no charge! If you have any questions, please contact Chris Muta at 800-872-3847 ext. 506.

Purchasing Refurbished/Used Laboratory Equipment
  • Procurement Services is pleased to announce the availability of a new discount pricing agreement with Global Medical Instrumentation (GMI). Making ecological and economical strides since 1995, the Global Medical Instrumentation (GMI) program strives to reduce the costs for acquiring reliable used laboratory equipment, meeting specifications as well as reducing the cost of ownership through decommissioning of unneeded instruments, trade-ins against purchases of new instruments and disposal services. These features also help by minimizing the impact on our environment.
  • Please contact Dan Erzberger, at (800) 745-2710 for additional product, pricing and other information.

Laundry Services
  • Procurement Services Procurement Services has a discount pricing agreement with Wash Cycle Laundry, Inc., ( Ben Buys Supplier #499914), a University preferred supplier of sustainable laundry services..
  • Please direct all pricing and service requests to the Wash Cycle Laundry, Inc. representative Joel Hommes, at (888) 611-9274, X706

Ultra-Low Temperature (ULT) Freezers
  • Procurement Services is pleased to announce the availability of a new Ultra-Low Temperature (ULT) Freezer Efficiency Program. This program is aimed at reducing both the number of old, under-utilized, and abandoned freezers and incentivizing the purchase of energy-efficient freezers. This program is funded by the Energy Reduction Fund (ERF) in the Facilities & Real Estate Services Division. This program only applies to Ultra Low Temperature (ULT) freezers. Ordinary refrigerators and freezers are not eligible for this program.
  • Only ULT freezers that are or will be installed in University owned and/or operated properties and were purchased and/or appropriately disposed of are eligible for this program. UPHS facilities are not eligible for this program. The energy performance figures should be based on the Energy Star ULT Freezer Test Guidelines.
  • Please direct any related questions to Penn Sustainability.

Reusable Sharps Container Program

Masks, Gloves and Safety Glasses Recycling Program
  • Procurement Services is partnering with EMSCO/Fisher and TerraCycle in the recycling of disposable Masks, Gloves and Safety Glasses.  The process is simple: Order one of the collection boxes, fill it up, and mail it out using the prepaid shipping label. You can order the recycled boxes from the EMSCO/Fisher Ben Buys catalog or through the Chemical Stockroom.  The recycled material will be turned into Park Benches and Playground Mats.  Please note on glove recycling.  Gloves must come from labs working with non-hazardous materials and cannot be recycled if the gloves have come into contact with any blood or bodily fluids.  For more information please contact upenn@thermofisher.com.
  • Disposable Mask Recycling
  • Disposable Eyewear Recycling
  • Disposable Glove Recycling

Surplus Property

Procurement Services encourages departments to reuse surplus University assets whenever possible before purchasing new items.

  • BEN’s Attic
    • BEN’s Attic is an online application hosted on the University of Pennsylvania Procurement Services website which provides a service for online auctions/sales or giveaways for departments which have surplus equipment.
  • GovDeals
    • GovDeals provides services to various government agencies and Universities that allow them to sell surplus and/or confiscated items via the Internet.
    • Mark Moritz
      Senior Client Services Representative | GovDeals.com
      P: 215-359-7296| mmoritz@govdeals.com
  • Manheim Auto Auctions
    • The largest selection of vehicle remarketing solutions in the industry to help turn your used vehicle inventory into used car profits. Manheim brings your listings to the largest dealer base around and supports each sale with excellent customer service.
    • Rich Mullen
      Field Sales Representative | Dealer Fleet
      P: 609-385-8998 | rich.mullen@manheim.com
    • In case of motor vehicles, the Office of Risk Management is responsible for maintaining title, registration and insurance information for all University vehicles. The selling department must notify the Office of Risk Management whenever ownership of a vehicle is transferred from one department to another, however Penn remains the owner so there is no need to transfer the title only need to transfer the vehicle as an asset. For additional information, contact Endo Mayuko (215) 898.4327 in the Office of Risk Management.