Purchasing
Purchasing decisions have a direct impact not only on the environment and human health, but also on the quantity of waste your business produces, your customer base and your company image.
Thoughtful procurement strategies can transform your business and help you meet CSR objectives while also having a positive impact on our communities and environment.
- Beginner
Just Getting Started - Intermediate
Going a Little Deeper - Advanced
Transforming Your Organization
- Purchase FSC Certified or 100% post consumer recycled paper
- Purchase eco friendly bulk cleaning supplies
- Purchase used items whenever possible
- Purchase long life, re-fillable and re-usable products
- Purchase organic, fair trade coffee and tea
- Choose green eco friendly printers
- Choose products that don’t produce a lot of waste
- Introduce a policy that supports green and sustainable products
- Support the local economy by buying local
- Create a policy to support Fair Trade products
- Choose products that reduce or eliminate pollution and toxins
- Support products and services that reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions
- Consider biodiversity maintenance or improvement when producing or acquiring products and services
- Consider wages and working conditions from suppliers when making purchasing decisions
- Consider employee health and safety when choosing suppliers
- Reduce, Reuse and Recycle when making purchasing decisions
- Create 5-year or 10-year ambitious sustainability vision, goals and targets of success
- Set and implement bold goals to reduce waste, emissions, water and resource use
- Engage employees at all levels in greening the workplace, their homes and communities
- Embed your green goals into your products and services – help your customers “go green”!
- Engage suppliers and business customers in collaborative projects to help achieve your mutual green goals
- Champion green initiatives to your industry association and solve eco-problems together
- Measure and report your progress, share your efforts with others
Purchasing Resources
Industry Canada – Sustainability Roadmap
Living Wage Employer
Fair Trade Canada
Ethical Purchasing | The Government of Canada
Buy Social Canada
Forest Stewardship Council
BBOT Sustainable Purchasing Guide
Purchasing tips brought to you by:
