Now that recycling is an everyday activity for many people, it’s time to take a look at the other side of the equation: buying recycled products. Setting materials out for recycling is only the first step.
Once materials are separated and collected, they are remanufactured into new products, such as recycled content paper. In order to complete the recycling loop, consumers have to buy recycled-content products.
Buying recycled creates new markets for recyclable materials. And, as many consumers already know, recycled products are comparable in quality, price and durability. Make your views known. If your store doesn’t have recycled content products, ask the manager to carry them.
“Environmentally Preferable Purchasing”. To protect our environment and our own health, it is important to consider how a product is made and what it’s made with. Beyond recycled content, it is also important to look at other environmental attributes of products, such as energy consumption, toxicity, air and water pollution impact, materials efficiency (such as packaging), and the disposal impact at the end of its useful life.
Resources for buying recycled and environmentally preferable products:
Guidelines for Buying Environmentally Preferable Products: a guide, in table format, that lists various types of products (e.g. paper office supplies, office furnishings, janitorial cleaning products, etc.), the environmental attribute to consider when purchasing, the source of the associated “green” standard or guideline on which the environmental attribute is based, and notes or links for further information about that specific type of product. This resource was developed by StopWaste.Org. Also available in Excel 2007 format.
FACT SHEETS from StopWaste.Org:
The above fact sheets contain resources to help you, as the consumer, business or government agency to buy recycled and environmentally preferable products in those product areas, as well as lists of local vendors or suppliers of the products.
A Guide to Green Maintenance & Operations: Action items, environmentally preferable purchasing strategies and additional resources are provided for lighting, paint, flooring, furniture, energy efficient appliances, water efficient products, mechanical, janitorial cleaning & supply products, and landscaping. This Guide was developed for building managers and maintenance staff to purchase products that increase energy efficiency, conserve natural resources and improve indoor air quality. For more information about recycling and waste prevention in your building, click here.
Metrics for Greenhouse Gas Emissions Savings: This document gives examples of the types of recycled content products that can be purchased to save the equivalent of one ton of carbon dioxide.
StopWaste.Org has also developed an Environmentally Preferable Purchasing Model Policy (updated 12-12-2009) and Environmentally Preferable Purchasing Implementation Guidelines (updated 12-12-2009) that accompany the Model Policy.
See our list of Frequently Asked Questions and answers to those common questions about buying recycled and environmentally preferable purchasing.
Recycled Paper Guide: This document gives a very good overview of the reasons to buy recycled paper and what it is. Sponsored by the Recycled Paper Coalition, Alameda County Waste Management Authority and Recycling Board, Buy Recycled Business Alliance, and Conservatree.
Compostable Food Service and Kitchen Products - This list includes resources for compostable plastic products, such as plates, cutlery, to-go containers, and compostable bags. The list indicates whether products are certified, GMO-free, or heat / moisture resistant, where known.
Bio-based Plastics Product and Distributor List (PDF format)
For additional information on Household, Office, and Consumer Goods, such as where to find green gifts, products with reduced toxins, energy efficient autos and green lodging, Bay-friendly landscaping and green building products, and more, please visit our Environmental Purchasing Links. This document provides dozens of helpful resources to “green” your home and office.
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