About Sustainable Purchasing
Sustainable purchasing is an innovative approach to purchasing products and services that reflect fiscal responsibility, social equity, and community and environmental stewardship. Sustainable purchasing, also known as green or responsible purchasing, promotes products and services that are made and used in such a way as to reduce toxics, increase efficiency, and reduce waste.
Purchasing managers are in a unique position to change the way their companies do business through their purchasing decisions. Their purchasing decisions can have a significant environmental and social impact. For example, every ton (40 cartons) of 100% post-consumer recycled content paper used saves 17 matures trees, reduces solid waste by over 1,000 pounds, and reduces air emissions by over 2,000 pounds. Recycling programs create jobs in the community while reducing solid waste, typically transported by truck, to local landfills. Each purchasing decision made by a company not only affects the bottom line but their environmental footprint.
The following table summarizes a few of the benefits associated with sustainable purchasing.
