Green
procurement
To close the loop and create a
market for materials that are recycled, it is essential to
integrate green procurement into the way your organisation
purchases equipment and supplies.
Green procurement covers the purchase of energy
efficient computers, office equipment made from environmentally
sustainable timber or recycled products, other materials that are
easily recycled and buying energy from renewable resources.
It can also enable your business to integrate recycled material
into products you manufacture or sell.
Some green procurement ideas are outlined below:
Furniture
- make sure furniture is of high quality with regard to
durability and strength - this will make it last longer and thus
save money
- try to purchase furniture that is repairable, i.e. access to
spare parts secured for more than ten years.
Stationery
- buy recycled paper
- use refillable pens, pencils, markers (used for text, board and
flipcharts), as well as ink and laser cartridges
- choose glue which contains waterbased solvents
- check that plastic material for folders and filing systems
contain PP (polypropylene) instead of PVC
- purchase durable strong plastic or paper folders
Packaging
- enquire if packaging will be taken back by your supplier
- teduce packaging by using concentrated cleaning agents
delivered in refillable containers
- if you are a supplier introduce a take back scheme, or, use
reused or biodegradable packaging
Equipment
- lengthen the lifespan of old computers through innovative
software
- lease IT devices with an incentive to energy saving
- buy computers that have easily separable components, which
facilitate recycling at the end of their life
- lease photocopiers and ensure that they have been adapted for
use with recycled paper and for copying on both sides
- limit the consumption of energy by purchasing energy-efficient
devices (IT, lighting or white goods)
- purchase machinery that has a low impact on the environment in
terms of emissions and noise.