The purchase of biobased or recycled-content products, or products with a lessened impact on the environment, is called Green Purchasing.

When we buy green, we:

• Conserve energy and natural resources
• Reduce the dependence on petroleum
• Minimize the need for potentially hazardous chemicals
• Stimulate markets to produce more biobased or recycled-content products, and create more demand for recycling
• Reduce stress on landfills and avoid waste management costs
• Encourage other institutions to buy biobased and recycled-content products
• Increase product quality and build employee pride

Green Purchasing means shopping with awareness - Think before you buy

• Look for products and materials that are manufactured using environmentally sound practices
• Look for products that are made from biobased, recycled, recovered, reused and renewable materials and energy
• Look for products that require less energy to manufacture and operate
• Look for products that contain few, if any, chemicals
• Look for products that can reduce the amount of waste you generate
• Look for products that come with less packaging
• Look for products that are manufactured locally
  

What Can I Do?

	Ask for biobased or recycled-content products when you order any materials.
	Include "closed-loop" language in procurement and service contracts. That is, require the vendor to take back used products for reconditioning, then purchase the reconditioned product. (Examples: toner cartridges, oils, lubricants, some solvents.)