October 4, 2004 61LCB
#10 Furniture
University of
Colorado Student Union
Legislative Council
Sponsored by: Stephen Fenberg Legislative Council 2nd
VP
Authored
by: Carina
Molnar UCSU Environmental
Director
Stephen Fenberg Legislative Council 2nd VP
Bill History
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UCSU has been committed to a tradition of environmental stewardship.
The environmental standards that have developed within UCSU for all cost
centers and UCSU Proper Offices include such practices as having recycled paper
requirements, energy conservation, and the promotion of the usage of renewable
energy sources. These requirements have
helped UCSU partake in environmentally sound practices and also to invest in
products and corporations with similar environmental agendas.
At this point however,
many of UCSU’s environmental efforts are directed at products purchased on a
regular basis, such as general office supplies. Larger purchases generally have not been mandated
up to this point.
Knowing that larger purchases, specifically furniture, are now offered
with extremely high environmental and functional quality, UCSU has the
obligation to extend environmental efforts to such purchases. The process of purchasing new furniture
should incorporate environmental standards that are cost effective, just as
other purchases already do.
________________________________________________________________________
Bill Summary
To
continue UCSU’s tradition of lessening our environmental impact by extending
environmental standards to large purchases, herein specifically furniture
purchasing.
________________________________________________________________________
THEREFORE BE IT ENACTED by the Legislative
Council of the University of Colorado Student Union, THAT,
Section 1: When UCSU proper purchases new furniture, environmental standards
should be an extremely important factor in deciding upon both the product
purchased and the supplier from whom it is acquired.
Section
2: When purchasing furniture, the
product shall be selected that is most compatible with the ideals embodied in
the LEED building standards.
Section3: This bill only serves to mandate the process of purchasing
furniture for UCSU proper offices.
However, it is strongly recommended for all UCSU cost centers to adopt
the policies herein as well.
Section 4: After evaluating all costs involved with purchasing new
furniture, the product with the highest level of environmental quality shall be
chosen.
Section 5: Recommendations for criteria
that should be considered when purchasing UCSU proper furniture includes, but
is not limited to:
1) Wood fiber substrate material must be
100% recycled and 100% recyclable.
2) Water-based adhesives for laminates and
fabrics.
3) Sugar-based sandblasting to be used in
production.
4) Mastic Glue must not be used in any
process of furniture production or completion.
5) Manufactured by a company which has
fair and just labor practices.
*This criteria serves as recommendations
and not requirements simply because of the changing nature of the
industry. UCSU acknowledges that
innovation is a constant when dealing with recycled products and therefore,
there may be newer technology within a short period of time. However, the spirit of this bill shall still
be used as a guideline in furniture purchases.
Section 6: The requirements and suggestions in this bill as well as the
actual process of purchasing furniture shall fall under the jurisdiction of the
Environmental and Social Justice Labor Commission. The commission will
aid in the process of researching and purchasing furniture for all UCSU proper
offices. Final decisions on furniture
purchases shall be subject to passage by the Environmental and Social Justice Labor
Commission.
Section 7: This bill shall take effect
upon final passage by Legislative Council and obtaining the signatures of the
Tri-Executives.
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10/7/04 Passed 12-0-0
10/14/04 Passed 13-0-0
Eugene Pearson, Legislative Council
President Joe Neguse,
UCSU Tri-executive
Veronica
Crespin, UCSU Tri-executive Garrett Stanton, UCSU Tri-executive