Green Procurement in 1-2-3!

How environmentally responsible is your current procurement process?

Green is on the move. According to a report from AMR Research, 37% of large US companies plan deployment of some type of supporting technology for green procurement in 2008*. One of the reasons for this increase in adoption is that there is currently a global movement underway that is pressuring companies to reduce their environmental footprint.

But in the case of green procurement, there is an even stronger underlying current that draws in companies searching for innovative ways to reduce waste, cut pollution and improve sustainable processes within their organization. Sustainable procurement simply delivers robust cost savings, making it one of the most attractive eco-initiatives in terms of ROI.

According to a 2009 benchmark study from the Aberdeen Group, top performers use their sustainability program to drive:

• 9% reduction in carbon footprint
• 6% reduction in energy costs
• 7% reduction in facilities costs
• 10% reduction in paper costs
• 7% reduction in transportation/logistics costs

*Aberdeen Group Benchmark Report: The ROI of Sustainability (May 2009)

Green Procurement Resources

Learn more about green and sustainable procurement by visiting the links below.

National Association of State Procurement Officers
Green procurement guide

National Association of Educational Procurement
Green procurement microsite

Responsible Purchasing Network website
Green procurement best practices

Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education

U.S. Green Building Council