A comprehensive green purchasing or procurement policy should address the following:

• lifecycle costs of products
• sustainability of materials
• recyclability of products
• transportation and packaging costs
• environmental and health impacts of manufacturing, use and disposal.

Green purchasing is complicated by the optional nature of manufacturers' disclosure agreements and by the lack of consensus over what constitutes a "green" product. What has emerged over the past few years is a patchwork of emerging and sometimes overlapping standards and purchasing guidelines.


Resources:

The Responsible Purchasing Network (RPN) is an international network of buyers dedicated to socially responsible and environmentally sustainable purchasing. Their membership program and consulting services provide institutional purchasers with cutting edge procurement tools and resources designed to save money, conserve resources, reduce waste, and improve efficiency.

The EPA's Environmentally Preferable Purchasing Program provides a comprehensive source of information on green purchasing. Their database includes green contract language and specifications, voluntary standards and guidelines, and other practical information.

INFORM is a non-profit research organization providing information on ways to reduce environmental impacts through improved product design and green purchasing policies.

The North American Green Purchasing Initiative (NAGPI)'s Green Purchasing Self-Assessment Tool can help professional purchasers evaluate their organization's environmental purchasing initiatives and identify opportunities for improvement.

The Massachusetts Environmentally Preferable Products Procurement Program provides information about green products and includes guides, reports and sample contracts.
View a sample small-town GREEN PURCHASING POLICY