To participate in Environmentally Preferable Purchasing(EPP), consider the following steps:
Write an EPP policy
A policy to purchase environmentally friendly products goes a long way towards gaining “buy-in”, acceptance and participation throughout your organization. For examples of EPP policies, visit the CIWMB Laws and Policies page.
Create and prioritize a list of products
Make a list of the products you regularly purchase, and prioritize them based on volume, usage and cost. You will find that environmentally friendly alternatives in all categories are becoming more available and cost competitive.
Research the availability of those products
One helpful tool is the CIWMB's Recycled-Content Product Database or "RCP Directory." This database lists thousands of recycled-content products, as well as manufacturers, distributors, and reprocessors who produce the products or process the materials used to make them.
For more information on how to buy recycled, download the Take the Next Step: Buy Recycled (PDF) brochure available from the CIWMB.
