Sustainable Purchasing Articles

On September 25, 2015, EPA published Recommendations for Specifications, Environmental Performance Standards, and Ecolabels for Federal Procurement. The notice describes EPA's recommendations for federal agencies that are purchasing environmentally-friendly products. Section 3(i) of Executive Order 13693, ...

Oct. 2, 2015

By Bergeson & Campbell, P.C.

This article presents the trends, challenges, and priorities in sustainable procurement in 2012 identified by the Municipal Collaboration on Sustainable Purchasing and Reeve Consulting.  Sustainable procurement refers to the purchasing of goods and services that is not based on unit cost alone. In this type of procurement, total cost of ownership (TCO) and environmental and ethical impacts ...

Mar. 24, 2013

By Reeve Consulting

Version 3 of this guide incorporates the most up-to-date developments on the legality of forest products, new technological developments to control wood and paper supply chains and increase their transparency, and an expanded chapter on the social implications of forest products. Decisions regarding the purchase and use of wood and paper-based products can have far-reaching, long-term impacts on ...

Dec. 1, 2012

By World Resources Institute WRI

Introduction What is the connection between public purchasing and the environment? Public authorities are major consumers in Europe, spending some 16 % of the EU’s gross domestic product (which is a sum equivalent to half the GDP of Germany). By using their purchasing power to opt for goods and services that also respect the environment, they can make ...

Jul. 5, 2011

BT demands its suppliers to measure, report and reduce their carbon footprint with new sustainable procurement ...

Mar. 9, 2011

By Vital Efficienci Ltd.

This paper reports on research based on the University of Leeds' supply chain as part of its sustainable development programme. The research examines the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions in its supply chain and preventing human rights abuses by its suppliers. This paper is based on a case study of the University of Leeds and its suppliers using qualitative interviews combined with a ...

Oct. 4, 2010

By Inderscience Publishers

TORONTO, ON - Since 2008, Five Winds International has been working with the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) to implement a Green Procurement Policy and Program (GPP). An article on the TTC's Green Procurement Policy was recently featured in Summit, Canada's magazine on public sector purchasing. The article, Driving Sustainable Transit in Canada through Green Procurement, discusses how the TTC ...

Apr. 19, 2010

By Five Winds International L.P.

Almost half of the Earth’s original forest cover has been converted to other land uses (Bryant et al., 1997). Although estimated rates of net loss seem to indicate a slowdown, the total forest area continues to decrease; today forests extend over an estimated 30% of the total land area (FAO, 2006). Interest in procurement of wood and paper-based goods produced in a sustainable manner is growing. ...

May 28, 2008

By World Resources Institute WRI

In close cooperation with the Institute for Sustainable Commodities (ISCOM) research has been doneon sustainable electronic procurement in the so-called City Triangle in eastern part of the Netherlands(WGR Regio Stedendriehoek). The City Triangle consists of the municipalities Apeldoorn, Brummen,Deventer, Epe, Lochem, Voorst and Zutphen. The research was based on policy documents ...

Mar. 12, 2008

Decisions regarding the purchase and use of wood and paper-based products can have far-reaching, long-term impacts for the forests where they are harvested, the communities supported by wood-using industries, and the places where those products are purchased and used. The information in this joint WRI/WBCSD publication is organized around ten key issues, posed as “essential questions” that ...

Oct. 2, 2007

By World Business Council for Sustainable Development

With the clear trend towards Local Authorities (LAs) adopting new eProcurement systems to improve efficiency and effectiveness, it was felt that small and mediumsized businesses (SMEs), particularly the smaller ones, might be disadvantaged if they did not start to respond positively to this move towards electronic trading. This is why the EPROC project – with partners from Germany (MFG ...

Apr. 1, 2007

This paper examines the relationship between organisations and their ability to contribute to sustainable development through sustainable procurement. Organisations, particularly corporations and government, command an increasingly powerful influence on the economy and society and are required to serve a wide range of stakeholders, including the community, shareholders, employees, customers, and ...

Jul. 28, 2005

By Inderscience Publishers

Public authorities are major consumers in Europe, spending some 16 % of the EU’s gross domestic product (which is a sum equivalent to half the GDP of Germany). By using their purchasing power to opt for goods and services that alsorespect the environment, they can make an important contribution towards sustainable development. Green public procurement covers areas such as the purchase of ...

Apr. 1, 2004