The recipients of the University of Pennsylvania’s 2025 Green Purchasing Award, presented by Penn Procurement Services and Penn Sustainability, were announced on April 10. Now in its 9th year, the award honors outstanding contributions made to sustainable purchasing at Penn. For 2025, there are three recipients representing two centers.
Lauder College House Reupholstery Project
When Lauder College House opened in 2015, Residential Services invested in high‑quality, sustainably sourced Herman Miller furniture. Rather than replacing the furniture at end-of-life, Assistant Director of Projects and Contract Management Jeremy Estrada led a plan to reupholster the pieces once their soft surfaces wore out.
In summer 2024, after confirming the frames remained structurally sound, the project, managed by Special Projects Coordinator Caleb Younkman, became Penn’s first large‑scale reupholstery initiative. This effort diverted significant waste from landfills, reduced demand for new raw materials, applied circular economy principles, and saved an estimated $64,000.
Penn Libraries Fleet Electrification, Water Filtration, and Waste Separation Efforts
As Director of Facilities Management, Salvatore Caputo led a series of sustainability initiatives across Penn Libraries that exceeded the scope of his core responsibilities. Most notably, he selected and deployed a new fleet of electric vans, replacing three gas‑powered vehicles and reducing carbon emissions by 3,881 pounds annually—the equivalent of 18 barrels of oil.
Sal also expanded recycling and introduced Collegecomposting through the installation of multi‑stream receptacles throughout the Van Pelt–Dietrich Library Center, working closely with Housekeeping to ensure proper waste management. In addition, he oversaw the installation of advanced water filtration systems that enabled the phase‑out of bottled water services, reducing environmental impact and saving more than $5,000 in annual operating costs.
From advancing circular economy principles to reducing emissions and operational waste, these initiatives highlight the powerful role sustainable purchasing plays in Penn’s climate and fiscal goals. The Green Purchasing Award recipients show how leadership at every level can drive lasting change. Their work reflects Penn’s commitment to responsible resource use—proving that practical, solution-driven approaches can strengthen our operations, lower our environmental footprint, and model sustainable practices across campus.