Sustainable Purchasing
"Sustainable purchasing" refers to the acquisition of products that are made from recycled content; that are environmentally preferable, bio-based, or energy- and water-efficient; that use alternate fuel and renewable energy; or that offer alternatives to hazardous or toxic chemicals.
Procurement Services is committed to supporting sustainable initiatives by leveraging its buying power and supplier partnerships. Over the past several years, strong supplier partnerships have been developed that support sustainability initiatives. Visit the Vendor Directory to search by supplier or by commodity. Vendors that may provide sustainable products will be noted within each vendor profile.
What are sustainable products and services and why is it important to use them?
Sustainable products provide visible benefits to the university. They are reusable, energy-efficient (or have greater efficiencies than industry standards), are made with post-consumer materials, have reduced toxicity properties, are manufactured with minimal environmental impact, and are delivered in eco-responsible packaging. Examples of the types of sustainable products that university suppliers provide include:
- Laboratory chemicals that can be easily disposed of without harming the environment
- Cleaning supplies with less harsh and safer formulas
- Items made from 100 percent post-consumer materials or recycled products
- Laboratory chemicals that can be easily disposed of without harming the environment
- Cleaning supplies with less harsh and safer formulas
- Items made from 100 percent post-consumer materials or recycled products
- Unique items made from natural resources (e.g., corn and soy) that can be replenished
University suppliers provide different types of sustainable services, including:
- Disposing of used materials (e.g., carpeting and catalogs) in recycling centers
- Replacing mercury thermometers with thermometers that use less hazardous materials
- Investing in reusable shipping containers and eco-friendly packaging materials
- Managing a program for collecting and recycling pipette boxes and inserts for labs
- Assisting departments and Procurement Services with sourcing and identifying green products
Make An Impact
By making small changes to your purchasing approach, your department can:
- Stimulate market demand for greener products
- Help the university meet its environmental targets
- Improve worker safety and health
- Reduce healthcare and disposal costs
- Reduce university liabilities
Ways to Help:
- Consolidate orders to once per week Reduce paper output
- Switch to online ordering
- Make use of digital instead of printed catalogs
- Buy items that contain recycled material
- Opt for non-hazardous alternatives
- Look for the most energy-efficient model
- Buy locally
- Buy only what you need
- Spread the word about the benefits of green purchasing