language in Management Directive 215.14). The Management Directive also tied
6. Put a green purchasing clause into your contracts with your suppliers requiring
manufacturers to provide environmentally sustainable alternatives.
7. Look for products that are certified as green. Certification may come from third
party certifiers or from information provided by state or local government, local
consumer protection groups, or environmental watchdog organizations. Look for U.
S. Environmental Protection Agency Energy Star logos or mission statements from
companies that have attained ISO 14001 compliance. ISO 14001 is a voluntary
international standard that establishes a uniform set of environmental guidelines to
which manufactures agree to adhere.
8. Find out what the product's life cycle impacts are. Look for a brand that is greener
than its competitors. Find out if the company is ISO 14000-compliant.
9. Check to see that wood products do not contain threatened tropical hardwoods,
such as mahogany or teak.
10. When possible, buy products that are easy to maintain and inexpensive to repair or
upgrade.
11. For battery-operated products, favor rechargeable batteries over disposable ones.
12. Use products completely before discarding them.
13. For products used infrequently, consider renting or sharing a product with another
department or agency before buying it.
14. Also consider visiting the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Green Procurement
Working with Suppliers
Let your product suppliers know that you are greening your workplace, including
your purchasing. Not only does this tell them that greener purchasing is important
to a growing number of their clients, but it gives them am impetus to look for more
environmentally friendly products.
To ensure that your suppliers have the same responsible policies that your agency
has, you may want to ask them the following questions:
·
Which of the products that you carry are made from recycled, non-toxic, or
sustainably harvested materials?
·
What are your products' impacts on environmental health, including human
health?
·
Will they biodegrade, or will they add to the waste stream?
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