What would help your organization increase green purchasing?
The Challenges Facing Green Purchasing Remain
Price concerns remain the number one challenge for organizations interested in increasing green purchasing, followed by a desire for a better selection of greener products and greater focus on total cost of ownership. Purchasers prioritized the challenges almost exactly the same way in 2009.
What It All Means
Green purchasing clearly remains an important, although imperfect, policy tool. There are many opportunities to improve its effectiveness through better training, better access to information and expanded use of environmental standards, certifications and labels.
Its further expansion is also dependent on addressing concerns about the cost and availability of greener products, which, ironically, are issues that can be addressed by the free market if more government purchasers increase their green purchasing practices.
Scot Case has been researching and promoting responsible purchasing since 1993. He is the Market Development Director for UL Environment and serves on the board of the International Green Purchasing Network. Contact him via Twitter @scotcase, email at [email protected] or in Reading, Pa., at 610-781-1684. This article represents the views of the author only and do not necessarily reflect the views of UL Environment or its affiliates or subsidiaries. This article is for general information purposes only and is not meant to convey legal or other professional advice.
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