What are Green Purchasing Guidelines?

 

            Green purchasing means, quite simply, that purchasers take into consideration the impact of products on the environment and human health when making purchasing decisions, giving preference to more environmentally friendly products when quality and cost performance are equal or superior.  Green Purchasing Guidelines are a formal set of goals that direct an institution’s implementation of green purchasing.  The guidelines are integrated with established purchasing criteria and included in job training. 

 

Top reasons to Buy Green!

 

1.                  Values: Recycled product purchasing confirms Duke's commitment to the environment and the community.  Such products evidence Duke's values and help to foster good will between the University, students, employees and the public.

 

2.                  Close the Loop: Buying recycled closes the recycling loop.  The collection of one ton of glass through Duke’s recycling program produces only $3 in materials sales.  The reason no substantial market exists for recycled materials is that many institutions, such as Duke, have implemented recycling programs without a corresponding recycled purchasing program.  The result is that materials markets become flooded while demand for products made from those materials languishes.  We need to "close the loop" here at Duke.

3.                  Economics: Save money while saving the environment.  Green purchasing takes into account the cost of a product through its full life cycle, from manufacture to disposal.  By incorporating these operational costs into purchasing decisions, you can reduce your operating costs.

 

4.                  Educate: Duke is an educational institution.  By introducing students to environmentally preferable products and services, University purchasers will augment the value of a Duke education. Through green building, water and energy efficiency, waste reduction, and green purchasing, University leaders have made it clear they want Duke to become a model sustainable campus.

 

5.                  Impact:  When you buy green, it encourages your suppliers to find and promote even more environmentally preferable products to you and all of their customers.

 

6.                  Quality:  Environmentally sound products can offer superior quality.