Green Purchasing
Green Purchasing refers to the procurement of products and services that have a reduced effect on human health and the environment when compared with competing products or services that serve the same purpose. Green purchasing is also known as environmentally preferred purchasing (EPP), environmentally responsible purchasing, green procurement, affirmative procurement, eco-procurement, and environmentally responsible purchasing.
Emory University's preferred suppliers actively partner with Procurement to identify ways to reduce product packaging that eventually ends up in the University's waste system.
Procurement works collaboratively with Emory's preferred suppliers to improve Emory's vehicle idling reduction on campus. Major suppliers such as Staples, Fisher, VWR, and FedEx have numerous deliveries on Emory campus and have agreed to support Emory's Idling Reduction Policy while making deliveries. Other suppliers as well are in compliance with this policy. The policy states that each driver will be responsible for ensuring that his/her vehicle does not idle unnecessarily and be turned off when parked and not restarted until loading or unloading is complete. These measures assist in protecting the health of the community from harmful emissions and improve the air quality.
Procurement promotes environmentally preferred purchasing (EPP) for the Emory Campus within the Emory Express Marketplace.
How You Can Support Green Purchasing Initiatives
Before you buy, consider the following:
- Does the product need to be brand new? Consider purchasing used or remanufactured products such as laser toner cartridges and furniture whenever practical and cost effective without compromising safety, quality or performance.
- Does another department have this product that I may use?
- Can the existing product be economically and sustainably refurbished?
Procurement Services follows Federal and State Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations.