This document provides guidance on green and sustainable procurement. It defines green procurement as acquiring products and services that have less environmental impact than competing options that serve the same purpose, from raw material acquisition to disposal. Green procurement conserves resources, minimizes pollution, reduces energy and water use, and avoids health hazards. It encourages suppliers to reduce their environmental impact and supports local goods. The document provides tips for determining total cost of ownership, considering alternatives to new purchases like used or refurbished options, and characteristics of sustainable products like durability, recycled content, and energy efficiency. Contact information is provided for purchasing locations.

1. GUIDE TO GREEN
SUSTAINABLE
PROCUREMENT

2. WHAT IS GREEN PROCUREMENT
Green Procurement refers to the procurement and acquisition of products
and services that have a reduced effect on human health and the environment
when compared with competing products or services that serve the same
purpose. This evaluation can consider raw materials acquisition, production,
manufacturing, packaging, distribution, reuse, operation, maintenance, and
disposal of the product or service.
Green procurement is also known as environmentally preferred purchasing
(EPP), environmentally responsible purchasing, green procurement,
affirmative procurement, eco-procurement, and environmentally responsible
purchasing.

3. WHY GREEN PROCUREMENT
• Conserve natural resources
• Minimize pollution
• Reduce water and energy use
• Avoid environmental health hazards on our campus and within our
community
• Divert material from landfills
• Improve the availability and use of environmentally preferable product
• Encourage suppliers to reduce their environmental impact and to send
that message up their supply chain
• Support locally produced goods and services
• Educate and inform ourselves, campus requestors and end users, and
suppliers of the best environmentally responsible procurement choices

4. BEFORE WE BUY
• Is the available productused? Consider purchasing used or
remanufactured products such as laser toner cartridges and
furniture whenever practical and cost effective without
compromising safety, quality or performance.
• Must consider total cost of ownership!!
• Does another department have a surplus of the product they
are willing to share?
• Does another department have the product but is not using it?
• Can the existing product be economically and sustainably
refurbished?
• Have you considered the Redistribution of Assets Program to
see if previously used furniture is available at no cost?

5. COST OF OWNERSHIP
While many items look like they are a good price at point of
purchase, take in to account a product’s total life cycle cost.
Consider:
• acquisition,
• extended warranties,
• operation,
• supplies,
• maintenance,
• support,
• disposal costs or trade-in value,
• and expected lifetime compared to other alternatives.

6. WHEN TO BUY
If a purchase is necessary, look for a product with some or all of the following
characteristics. They may be relevant to your acquisition whenever practical
and without compromising safety, quality, or your budget. Consider if
product:
• is durable and expected to last
• is made in whole or in part from recycled material(s) or from a
renewable resource
• failure parts can be replaced, recycled or returned to the mfg for reuse
or remanufacture
• is energy and water efficient
• is shipped securely with a minimum of packaging; all packaging is
made from recycled materials and is itself 100% recyclable; or,
Supplier takes back packaging for reuse

7. PURCHASING - LAKESIDE
LOCATIONS and CONTACTS
820 North Michigan Avenue, Lewis Tower Suite 700

8. PURCHASING – HEALTH SCIENCES
LOCATIONS and CONTACTS
2160 South First Avenue, SSOM Building 120, 4th Floor