A comprehensive purchasing or procurement policy for a green school system should address the following:

• The lifecycle costs of products
• The sustainability of materials used
• The ability of products to be recycled
• Transportation and packaging costs
• Environmental and health impacts of materials, manufacturing, use and disposal.

The policy should be referenced in bid contracts. Sample policy.

It's important to keep in mind that there is no legal definition of the word "green" or even a national consensus about what the term means. Manufacturers and suppliers use the word loosely to describe anything from a diluted "old" product to a true breakthrough in product development.

Here are some reliable resources to help you choose "green" products and services. (See the green cleaning section for specific purchasing guidelines for those products.)

Resources:

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 useful information on ways to reduce environmental impacts through improved product design and green purchasing policies.

The Center for a New American Dream helps Americans consume responsibly to protect the environment, enhance quality of life, and promote social justice.

The Massachusetts Environmentally Preferable Products Procurement Program provides information about green products, and includes guides, reports and sample contracts.