The Procurement and Payable Services department is able to track spending in a variety of different ways.  As we consider spending at the supplier level, we use data that the suppliers provide via their profiles in the Supplier Portal.  For local spending, we track spending by zip code for over 150 zip codes as defined by the Dayton Chamber of Commerce. For green spend tracking, vendors designate eco-friendly or good environmental choices at the item level. We also rely on our suppliers to help us track their green spending and review this in supplier reviews. Some of this data can be shared in department reviews. Diversity spending is tracked in all categories required for Federal reporting of small business spend as well as categories tracked by the Dayton Chamber of Commerce and the State of Ohio.

Buying local is one way that we create jobs and overall wealth for our regional community. Several studies have shown that when you buy from an independent, locally-owned business, rather than a nationally-owned businesses, significantly more of your money is used to make purchases from other local businesses, service providers, and farms — continuing to strengthen the economic base of the community. This notion is particularly important because of our commitment to support growth in the region and the local economy. Our partnership with local government, businesses and other organizations enhances the overall life and work experience of our region.

When we use small and diverse suppliers, our supply chains are more robust and the number of innovative supplier solutions drive more savings and campus productivity. Supplier ideas and supply chain reliability result in operational excellence.

As procurement decisions are made, we consider barriers that prevent our suppliers to obtain economic and social equality in our society and through-out the world. Whenever possible, we seek to level the playing field by extending RFPs to suppliers of all business classifications. Diverse cultures and different ethnic experiences shape our interactions in society, local and globally. The United States is becoming more diverse and we are increasingly aware of gender issues and differences. We are called to deepen and expand our heritage of a strong campus community by building community across diversity. Our Catholic and Marianist traditions of education provide insights and ideas that allow us to respond to this call.

Green products provide a variety of benefits in addition to positive environmental impacts, which include: protecting natural resources, minimizing waste, and reducing toxic chemicals. Contrary to common belief that environmentally sustainable products cost more than traditional products, green products can actually reduce operating and maintenance costs. Some green products such as biodegradable cleaners also improve worker health and safety. Green purchases contribute to the overall demand for such products and services, leading to an increase in these goods, making it easier and more affordable to purchase them.

The Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System™ (STARS) is a transparent, self-reporting framework for colleges and universities to measure their sustainability performance.  University of Dayton's STARS result can be found at the ASHEE STARS website. In addition to the STARS report, Procurement and Payable Services tracks Sustainability spend in the Procurement for the Common Good scorecard.