Environmental sustainability is important to some consumers. A purchasing policy that embraces is often easier than you think.
There are many things a business can do to make good on its commitments to the environment. Improving energy efficiency and switching to more renewable fuels are great ways to go green in business, but for some businesses, it's going to be hard to make radical alterations to their business model. Buying more eco-friendly supplies, however, can sometimes be a short-term strategy for environmental sustainability--and like investments in energy efficiency and changing business practices, they also can pay off in the long run.
What Is a Sustainable Purchasing Policy?
Sustainability usually means more than being eco-friendly: it often means future-oriented.
An obvious question that arises when considering a sustainable purchasing policy is the question of what exactly is meant by "sustainable." In most cases, environmentalists use the term sustainability to refer to any practice that is undertaken in such a way that it does not threaten the ability of future generations to provide for their needs. In the case of forestry, it might mean replanting clear cuts, or harvesting in a way that maintains the health of the ecosystems that provide for marketable timber. In agriculture, it means using practices that maintain the health of the soil so that future farmers can benefit from a decent crop. In other fields, it might mean investing in the future of a workforce or moving beyond non-renewable sources of energy. Luckily, a number of certifications exist to easily distinguish sustainably-produced materials.
Certification Organizations
Third-party certifications can be important in formulating a sustainable purchasing policy.
When assembling a sustainable purchasing policy, it can be helpful to consult the criteria and advice of organizations that certify different suppliers as "sustainable." Environmental groups and business organizations have teamed up in recent years to develop achievable standards for long-term sustainability, and the ability to measure its progress toward environmental goals is often very important to business managers. Today, a number of raw materials producers have been pursuing certification under the standards of some of these organizations. Buying from organizations that have been certified on these third-party ratings systems can be valuable because it saves a business the time of developing its own sustainability criteria. Also, third-party organizations help to lend credibility to a purchasing policy, assuring that sustainable practices are actually hitting environmental benchmarks.
Forest Stewardship Council
The Forest Stewardship Council is one certification for paper, office products, and lumber goods that are produced responsibly.
One major certification initiative is the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), which develops standards for sustainable harvesting in the timber industry. Formed in 1993, the FSC has developed a rigorous and comprehensive set of standards for forestry practices over the years. Increasingly, they are considered one of the important organizations for certification of paper and timber products, as their standards for environmental sustainability are high compared to other forestry ratings systems. Because many office supplies and building materials use timber products, developing a purchasing policy that requires FSC certification of purchasing can be one critical component of a comprehensive strategy.
Organic Certifications
Organic certifications are widespread, so they're often easy to adopt.
Sustainable food purchasing policies can sometimes be the easiest to develop. This is because a number of organizations, including the USDA, certify the sustainability of agricultural practices. Often, a purchasing policy for food can mean simply adopting organic standards and relying on the certifications of other organizations. Before working organics into a purchasing policy, however, consider the differences between various standards and find one that is rigorous enough to be consistent with your organization's environmental goals while still being flexible enough to allow for the producers who make the products your business might need. Of course, organizations can also develop their own purchasing policies around food, and simply draw on organic certifications for guidance.
LEED for Operations and Maintenance
The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), which typically develops ratings systems for facilities and construction, has also created standards for the daily operations of buildings. Leaders in Environmental and Energy Design (LEED) for Operations and Maintenance requires the sustainable sourcing of business materials, and helps to provide guidance on ways to operate a business in an environmentally responsible way. These standards definitely go beyond purchasing, but referring to those elements which focus on sourcing requirements might offer valuable direction for devising a set of standards.
Pulling It All Together
Sustainable purchasing policies have to fit with the business adopting them.
While certification organizations will likely be important to any purchasing policy, remember the industry-specific requirements of your business. A purchasing policy should focus on the materials used by the business which will make the biggest business impact. For example, it's not as worthwhile for a company that purchases raw aluminum to certify its office supplies and leave its aluminum purchasing practices alone, as those are clearly the most critical to the larger business operation. Not all raw materials used by a business will have workable certification regimes in existence, so consulting environmental groups and trade organizations might be essential in developing standards that are specific to the business.
