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Environmentally Preferable Purchasing Tips & Resources

As a customer, there are many opportunities to direct the purchase through choices.  Through environmentally preferable purchasing, many positive outcomes are possible.

Here's some things that Purchasing Managers can do:

  1. Choose non-toxic products, for a safer work place
  2. Consider life cost accounting in all purchases

  3. Ask questions such as:

    1. Is this product made for longevity?

    2. Can separate parts be replaced or when something breaks, does it need to be discarded?

    3. How much waste is generated in the acquisition of the products or services?

    4. Can the product or service, be provided with minimum or no waste generated in the process?

    5. Is the packaging recyclable with the University?  Will the vendor take the packaging back for recycling?

    6. Is the item recyclable and repairable once it has completed its use?

  4. Spend a little more money at the onset in order to choose quality, longevity and recyclability, which saves us all in the long run! Consider "best value".
  5. Choose products that reduce impact on the University and global resources.  Many choices are available for energy and water conservation.  Items such as: energy saver copy machines, computers, printers, lights, washing machines etc. Sometimes these are less expensive then items withoutenergy/resource conservation features.  As the amount of new products and technology becomes part of our daily lives, the impact on our energy and water costs are astronomical.  Consider purchasing items that reduce the impact on our precious resources and make conservation the rule and not the exception.
  6. Buy products made from recycled materials so we can continue to recycle the products we buy!  There are numerous products on the market now that not only meet the performance standards of virgin products, but are cost competitive.  Some items and services are beginning to incorporate wasteinto the contract.

Remember to Ask Questions

Let vendors know of your interest in these items and practices!

More and more companies are incorporating life cost accounting into their products.  This includes: producer responsibility for waste, building products to last, incorporating recycled materials into products and products that promote resource conservation!!

Website Resources:

US EPA Environmental Purchasing Program:http://www.epa.gov/opptintr/epp/

US EPA Wastewise Buy Recycled Guide: http://www.epa.gov/wastewise/

California Integrated Waste Management Board (links to purchasing resources):http://www.ciwmb.ca.gov/BuyRecycledhttp://www.ciwmb.ca.gov/RCP/

The Recycle Store:http://recyclestore.com

Biocorps (compostable foodware):

http://www.biocorpusa.com/html/resourceware.html

 Resource Revival (giftware):http://www.resourcerevival.com/

Oikos (building materials/commercial/industrial):http://www.oikos.com/

Cornell's Enviro Shopping:http://www.environment.cornell.edu/

Clean Washington Center:http://www.cwc.org/

Ecomall:http://www.ecomall.com/

Government Sales Associates:http://www.governmentsales.com/

Green Earth Office Supplies:http://www.webcom.com/geos/geos2.html

Panel King (office furniture and environments):

www.businessfurnitureshop.com/

Buy Recycled Business Alliance: http://brba.com.au/

Other Resources:

American Plastics Council (has Recycled Plastics Source Book withvendors/products): 1-800-243-5790

The Recycling Data Network is a subscription service.  More then 4,500products listed.  Searches and sorts by state. 1-800-267-0707:http://www.recyclingdata.com/

Architectural Resource Database.  A cd-rom of sustainable, resource efficientproducts. ContactADPSR@aol.com or call 510-273-2428 (CA)

Environmental Building News: A subscription newsletter that has in depthconstruction product reviews. Well researched and a must for constructionspecifiers:http://www.ebuild.com/

The Natural Step: An international organization that gives seminars andworkshops on greening business:  http://www.thenaturalstep.org

Green Seal (voluntary labeling organization andadvocate):  http://www.greenseal.org/

OUR THANKS TO KAREN KAPLAN FOR PROVIDING THIS INFORMATION

5/11/00

Updated May 12, 2008