Sustainable Products, Inc. is offering two workshops in March that cover the relationship of purchasing sustainable products with market transformation and environmental restoration. Held in Portland, OR. and Seattle, WA. the seminars focus on using the market to aid salmon recovery.
The workshops are very comprehensive. Participants will learn to use life cycle analysis tools to determine whether a given product is indeed sustainable, as well how to use this information in designing products. Companies like Norm Thompson Outfitters and Nike and the municipalities of Portland and Seattle will present case studies looking at how to integrate green building products and processes and sustainable energy systems into procurement policy.
Some other tools for green procurement are from The National Association of Counties (NACo’s) and EPA’s Environmentally Preferable Purchasing program (EPP). People working at the level of local government can use (NACo’s) “Environmental Purchasing Starter Kit” to set up a cost effective environmental purchasing program. It includes case studies on energy efficiency and pest control, a sample purchasing policy and a guide for establishing benchmarks.
EPP is developing a number of tools to assist federal agencies in greening their purchasing practices. Check the website for new resources. Currently, it includes a rather thin database on environmental products and services and interactive tools (the Choosing a Cleaning Product Wizard is an interesting concept).
NACo’s Starter Kit: [sorry this link is no longer available]
EPP: [sorry this link is no longer available]
Sustainable Products, Inc.: http://www.sustainableproducts.com
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