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Welcome to the www.CanadianEnvironmental.com
Newsletter.
This is a 100% opt in Newsletter that provides environmental professionals
with a Canadian perspective on environmental resources that are
available and other topics of interest. This month's topic is Green
Procurement. The June Newsletter will highlight some of the latest
programs, products, and news related to Energy Efficiency and Conservation.
Green Procurement
- Introduction
- Practicing Green Procurement
- Certification Programs
- Sourcing Green Products and Services
Sponsor
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JETRO's Environment Japan is for foreign companies and organizations in the waste control and recycling technology sector. It is a trade fair within Japan�s largest environmental trade fair called WASTEC. Please note: The application deadline for exhibiting at Environment Japan is July 30, 2004.
Introduction
Green procurement (also known as green purchasing, eco-procurement, environmentally responsible purchasing, etc.) involves integrating environmental considerations into all aspects of the procurement process. It also requires the assessment and comparison of products and services in order to make selections that are the least harmful to the environment while still meeting other criteria for cost, performance, etc. Products are often described as 'green' if they are less harmful than the next best alternative.
Practicing Green Procurement
Practicing green procurement is one way an organization can minimize the negative environmental impacts of its activities. Other potential benefits include:
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Cost savings (e.g., lower energy costs, reduced waste disposal costs, etc.)
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Reduced liability
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Improved corporate image
A summary of the basics for integrating environmental considerations into an organization's
existing procurement processes is provided below. Visit the Green
Procurement section of CanadianEnvironmental.com to access
further resources regarding all aspects of the development and implementation
of a Green Procurement program.
Steps for Developing a Successful Green Procurement Program:
- Obtain management support
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Involve other employees (management,
environment, purchasing, etc.)
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Evaluate current purchasing practices
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Develop policies/priorities/goals
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Develop an implementation plan that includes specific responsibilities
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Test the program using a specific product/service
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Review and revise the program
Factors to Consider when Evaluating Products and Services:
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Is the product re-used / repaired?
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Product Packaging (quantity of packaging; recycled/recyclable content; returnable/reusable containers)
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Recycled content of the product
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Recyclability / reusability of the product
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Durability of the product
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Toxic/hazardous materials used/generated
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Energy efficiency
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Conservation of water and other resources
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The environmental standards of suppliers
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Has the product been certified by a recognized Organization
All stages of the product
life cycle should be reviewed when evaluating the environmental
impacts of a product or service (i.e., product design; extraction
and processing of raw materials; manufacture; packaging; transport;
installation; storage; use; maintenance; reuse; recycling; final
disposal, etc.).
Sponsor
CleanEARTH Solutions Inc. |
CleanEARTH Solutions Inc. delivers environmentally safe industrial cleaning products and disaster relief solutions. Use aggressive cleaners and degreasers, while addressing occupational health, safety and environmental concerns. Clean up your hydrocarbon contaminated soil without costly soil removal.
Certification Programs
Environmental Certification programs are intended to make the green
procurement process easier for consumers by identifying environmentally
preferable products and services. However, Certification should
not be the only criteria used when evaluating products and services
as there may be environmentally preferable alternatives on the market
that have not been reviewed.
Note: Some Certification programs do not review all products and
services that are available, only the ones that have been submitted
for review. Each Certification program has its own label to identify
the products and services that have been certified. The evaluation
criteria differs for each program so it is important to review each
certification program independently. The websites for the main Canadian
Certification and Rating Programs are listed below and additional
links can be found in the Green
Procurement section of www.CanadianEnvironmental.com.
Sourcing Green Products and Services
Databases of Certified products and services can be found on the
respective websites for the Certification programs listed above.
The CanadianEnvironmental.com
Marketplace can also be used for sourcing Green Products
and Services. The 'Green Products', 'Energy Efficiency', and 'Pollution
Prevention' Categories are just a few of the Categories of products
and services listed in the Marketplace.
Sponsor
Career Advancement Employment Services Inc |
We are third party, executive search and permanent placement specialists
focusing on the Environmental, Manufacturingand Consulting Industries. We place qualified candidates in management,
engineering, technical, financial, sales and marketing, quality
assurance and administrative positions. We source and provide top
talent creating long-term relationships with our clients. Find out
more at www.careeradvancement.on.ca
Interested in marketing your products and services through
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or in sponsoring this newsletter? Contact us at sales@CanadianEnvironmental.com
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