Environmentally Preferable Purchasing (EPP) involves procuring products or services that have a reduced impact on human health and/or the environment. Such products or services may include those which contain recycled content, minimize waste, conserve energy or water, or reduce the amount of toxic substances disposed or consumed by the user. Green purchasing puts into practice the ideals of the Waste Reduction Hierarchy (priority in this order: reduce, reuse, recycle, dispose).
Why Should Your Business Buy EPP Products?
Environmentally preferable purchasing devotes procurement dollars toward products and services that hold fewer negative consequences for human health and the environment. This means they're safer to use and help protect the environment. A business might find that an EPP product works just as well as a product that has environmental drawbacks and it may actually save them money. It is important that purchasing agents “Ask the Question”, to find out if the products they order are available with Post Consumer Recycled content and other environmentally friend attributes.
By engaging in "Green Purchasing," your company may benefit from:
Improved worker health and safety from less toxic/hazardous alternatives
Reduced health, operating, and maintenance costs (including hazardous material handling and disposal costs)
Reduced liabilities by using safer, less hazardous products
Improved company image, by conserving limited natural resources and closing the recycling loop.
