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Dekalb County School District

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Sustainable Procurement

🛒 Sustainable Procurement

By 2029, the DeKalb County School District will increase sustainable purchasing practices by prioritizing environmentally preferable products, reducing waste through responsible purchasing, and integrating sustainability considerations into district procurement policies and vendor partnerships.

Supports DCSD Strategic Goals

Goal 3 – Recruit, Develop, and Retain Talent
Goal 6 – Organizational Excellence

Relevant Sustainable Development Goals

SDG 08 – Decent Work and Economic Growth
SDG 09 – Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
SDG 11 – Sustainable Cities and Communities
SDG 12 – Responsible Consumption and Production
SDG 13 – Climate Action
SDG 17 – Partnerships for the Goals

Priority Areas

Policy, Standards, and Governance
Lifecycle Analysis & Product Evaluation
Supplier Engagement & Partnerships
Waste Reduction & Circular Economy
Environmentally Preferred Purchasing
Equity, Local, and Ethical Sourcing
Data Tracking, Reporting, and Accountability
Education, Training, and Internal Engagement
Energy, Water, and Climate-Aligned Procurement
Category-Specific Procurement Strategies

Key Actions

Policy, Standards, and Governance

  • Establish a formal sustainable procurement policy that embeds sustainability criteria into bid documents, defines approved product standards, and aligns with district goals and compliance requirements.

Lifecycle Analysis & Product Evaluation

  • Evaluate environmental impacts from production to disposal, use Total Cost of Ownership instead of lowest upfront cost, and prioritize durable, efficient, and low-impact products.

Supplier Engagement & Partnerships

  • Collaborate with vendors that meet sustainability criteria, encourage supplier transparency and reporting, partner with local, diverse, and environmentally responsible businesses, and collaborate on take-back and recycling programs.

Waste Reduction & Circular Economy

  • Reduce single-use materials and packaging, prioritize reusable, recyclable, and compostable products, implement reuse programs, and support closed-loop systems.

Environmentally Preferred Purchasing

Procure products with lower environmental impacts.

  • Green cleaning products
  • Recycled-content paper
  • Low-VOC materials
  • Energy- and water-efficient equipment

Equity, Local, and Ethical Sourcing

  • Support minority-owned, women-owned, and local businesses, ensure fair labor practices and ethical supply chains, and incorporate social responsibility into procurement decisions.

Data Tracking, Reporting, and Accountability

  • Track sustainable purchasing spending and outcomes, monitor waste diversion, emissions reductions, and cost savings, set measurable targets, and report progress annually.

Education, Training, and Internal Engagement

  • Train procurement staff and school leaders on sustainable purchasing, provide tools and guidance for selecting approved products, and engage students and staff in understanding purchasing impacts.

Energy, Water, and Climate-Aligned Procurement

  • Prioritize high-efficiency equipment and infrastructure, procure renewable energy or low-carbon solutions where possible, and align purchasing decisions with climate and resilience goals.

Category-Specific Procurement Strategies

  • Facilities & construction: green building materials
  • Food services: local, sustainable food, compostables
  • Transportation: clean fuels, EVs, fleet efficiency, central warehouse
  • Technology: energy-efficient, e-waste responsible

Progress & Tracking

Ongoing purchasing of energy-efficient equipment and materials
Consideration of sustainability in procurement decisions
Initial exploration of sustainable purchasing practices