West Michigan Sustainable Purchasing Consortium (WMSPC)
The West Michigan Sustainable Purchasing Consortium (WMSPC) has been formed to provide area companies, organizations, and institutions with an easy and cost-effective way to purchase sustainable materials, products and services in a manner that reflects fiscal responsibility, social equity, community and environmental stewardship with an emphasis on local benefits. WMSPC has over 80 members and has already formed Master Services Agreements with suppliers for environmentally preferable copy paper and de-icing chemicals.
The Consortium is supported by the Community Sustainability Partners -- a diverse network of community organizations in West Michigan who embrace and support sustainability guiding principles in their planning and operations and are striving to make a positive impact in our community. Establishing the West Michigan Sustainable Purchasing Consortium is one way the Partnership is making an impact.
WMSPC is open to businesses and organizations interested in purchasing environmentally responsible products and services. The benefits to organizations that purchase sustainable products through the Consortium will include:
- Access to information about sustainable products and services
- Social, economic, and environmental benefits from purchasing sustainable products and services
- Participation in a regional partnership
- Cost savings on sustainable products from collective purchasing
The WMSPC has the ability to contract with vendors for environmentally preferable goods and services at lower prices because of the collective purchasing ability of the Consortium. It is managed by an independent third party, the Delta Institute and SRG, who are responsible for researching and identifying sustainable products, developing and bidding contracts, managing vendors, and maintaining the Consortium website.
The idea of a purchasing consortium was formed when a group of Grand Rapids area businesses, academic institutions, and a municipality convened to discuss voluntary, pro-active programs that would address ecosystem impairments in the Lower Grand River Watershed. The Ecosystem-based Environmental Management System (Eco-EMS), developed by the Delta Institute, is a decision-making tool for prioritizing environmental initiatives for a facility. The Eco-EMS compares environmental performance to local environmental conditions and identifies efficient ways to improve environmental performance and strengthen a facility’s commitment to environmental stewardship. Click here for more information about Ecosystem-based Environmental Management Systems.
We look forward to your input and eventual participation in the West Michigan Sustainable Purchasing Consortium. Please visit www.wmspc.org for more information. Feel free to contact us with any questions.
Abigail Corso, Delta Institute
(312) 554-0900 x 25
acorso@delta-institute.org
Paula Levin, Delta Institute
(312) 554-0900 x 17
plevin@delta-institute.org
Bill Stough, Sustainable Research Group
(616) 301-1059
bstough@sustainableresearchgroup.com
