Publication Name

KICK THE HABIT

THE CYCLE – REDUCE

112

SMALL ORGANIZATIONS

Companies and other organizations – including NGOs – are producers but

also major buyers of goods and services, and can direct their purchasing pow-

er to move markets towards more climate-friendly products. A growing num-

ber of companies, universities, government departments and other groups

now have formal purchasing policies that encourage or sometimes require

staff responsible for spending decisions to choose the

greener options

avail-

able. Engaging in green procurement means matching conventional perfor-

mance requirements with environmental ones. This often requires finding

new vendors. Some climate-neutral products and services cost more than

their conventional counterparts. Using them will probably involve rethinking

ingrained habits. But the potential gains are often longer lifetimes and lower

running costs.

Green procurement means a conscious buying policy based on ecological prin-

ciples, where financial aspects alone do not determine the choice of one product

over another, or where a contract is given not to the lowest bidder but to the one

with the least impact on the environment. Higher purchasing prices are in many

cases compensated by lower operating costs. Many city and business administra-

tions have turned to green procurement policies in the process of introducing sus-

tainable management systems. Public procurement accounts for 16 per cent of EU

GDP, so greening public procurement can become a powerful economic driver for

environmental technologies. A guide to green procurement for public authorities

is available in 22 languages from the EU:

guideline_en.htm

. Their recommendations are:

Purchase green products (recycled, refurbished, or reconditioned products that

are competitive in price, performance and quality with new ones); rent or lease

equipment instead of buying.

Pursue electricity/energy from renewable sources – checking with energy-supply-

ing companies for “green energy” arrangements.

Green company fleet – purchase or lease vehicles with the highest possible fuel

economy, or that use alternative sources of energy like electricity, fuel cells or

hybrids.

Running all kitchen appliances

for a year (rich countries)