Sustainable purchasing involves procuring products and services that provide environmental, social, and economic benefits while protecting public health and the environment throughout their lifecycle. This START metric emphasizes considering the entire lifecycle of items—from the extraction of raw materials to production, use, and final disposal—when making purchasing decisions. This approach applies to everything a school uses, including food, furniture, stationery, cleaning products, clothing, transport, and electricity.
Globally, consumption patterns significantly contribute to environmental degradation and social inequities. By prioritizing sustainable procurement, schools can reduce their environmental impact, support ethical labor practices, and save costs over time through resource efficiency and durability. Sustainable purchasing is a practical way for schools to align their operations with their values while setting an example for students and the community.
Strategies for Implementing Sustainable Purchasing
NOTE: This is not a prescriptive list; it just offers ideas to inspire action and can be tailored to fit the unique needs of each school.
Develop a Sustainable Purchasing Policy
Create guidelines that prioritize eco-friendly, socially responsible, and economically sustainable products.
Include specific criteria, such as certifications, recycled content, or ethical sourcing, for different product categories.
Prioritize Lifecycle Analysis
Evaluate the environmental and social impacts of products throughout their lifecycle.
Choose items that are durable, repairable, and recyclable to reduce waste and replacement costs.
Opt for Certified Products
Look for certifications such as Energy Star, Fair Trade, Green Seal, FSC (Forest Stewardship Council), or USDA Organic.
Use these labels to ensure that products meet recognized sustainability standards.
Source Local and Ethical Products
Procure items from local suppliers to reduce transportation emissions and support the local economy.
Ensure that suppliers adhere to fair labor practices and ethical standards.
Purchase Recycled or Upcycled Materials
Choose products made from recycled content, such as paper, furniture, or building materials.
Opt for upcycled goods when available to give new life to waste materials.
Reduce Single-Use Items
Replace single-use items, such as plastic utensils or disposable trays, with reusable or compostable alternatives.
Work with vendors to minimize unnecessary packaging.
Choose Energy-Efficient and Water-Saving Equipment
Select appliances, electronics, and HVAC systems with high energy and water efficiency ratings.
Use procurement policies to prioritize equipment that lowers operational costs over time.
Engage in Green Food Procurement
Source food from local, organic, or sustainably certified producers.
Prioritize plant-based options to reduce the environmental footprint of school meals.
Work with Eco-Friendly Vendors
Partner with vendors who share sustainability values and practices.
Include sustainability criteria in contracts and purchasing agreements.
Involve Students in Purchasing Decisions
Use student input to choose sustainable school supplies or uniforms.
Educate students about the impacts of consumer choices and engage them in sustainability projects.
Train Staff on Sustainable Purchasing Practices
Provide professional development on identifying and sourcing sustainable products.
Use tools or guides to help staff evaluate options and make informed decisions.
Track and Report Purchases
Monitor the percentage of sustainable products purchased and share progress with the school community.
Use data to identify areas for improvement and celebrate successes.
Incorporate Circular Economy Principles
Procure products that can be reused, refurbished, or recycled at the end of their lifecycle.
Explore leasing options for items like electronics or furniture to extend their usability.
Minimize Toxicity
Avoid products with harmful chemicals, such as VOCs (volatile organic compounds) or non-biodegradable materials.
Opt for green cleaning products and non-toxic paints, adhesives, or building materials.
Collaborate with Other Schools or Districts
Pool resources with other schools to negotiate bulk purchases of sustainable products.
Share best practices and tools for implementing sustainable purchasing policies.
Communicate the Importance of Sustainable Purchasing
Highlight the environmental, social, and economic benefits of sustainable purchasing through newsletters, events, or social media.
Use procurement practices as a teaching tool to educate students about responsible consumption.
Resources
-
Green Purchasing Guide
A fantastic Green Purchasing Guide that includes product lists of products that meet ESF Environmentally-Preferred and/ or Certified Sustainable specifications.
-
Example District Green Purchasing Policy
From Berkeley Unified School District, a sample school board resolution establishing a green procurement and sustainable procedures policy.
-
EPA's Greener Products Recommendations
From the EPA, summaries by category of greener products, including recommendations of standards and ecolabels.
-
10 Reasons to Choose Healthier, Sustainable Flooring
From the Center for Environmental Health, a guide to help understanding the wide-ranging benefits of sustainable carpeting and flooring.
Additional Resources
-
Carpet Comparison Guide
From the Center for Environmental Health, a guide to help you compare criteria of the most chemically rigorous multi-attribute eco-labels for carpet in the U.S.
-
Flooring Comparison Guide
From the Center for Environmental Health, a guide to help choose flooring options through criteria of the most chemically rigorous eco-labels for resilient flooring in the U.S
-
Resilient Flooring Options
From the Center for Environmental Health, a list of Silver- and Gold- level products to help you choose resilient flooring and carpeting without chemicals of concern.
Catalogues: Greener Products
-
New List Item
Description goes here
Schools hold the key to a healthy, sustainable and regenerative future.
They are role-models and incubators that that nurture, educate and prepare each generation for adult life.
Schools have a unique opportunity and profound responsibility to become part the transition to a sustainable, regenerative future in which people and planet can thrive.
But how do we get there?
START: Sustainability Tracking, Analytics & Roadmap Tool was created by schools, for schools, to help them develop comprehensive programs for step-by-step progress towards sustainability, regenerative practice, and student empowerment.
START provides a Roadmap for School Sustainability:
It breaks down school sustainability into clear actions (‘metrics’), such as Minimizing Waste, Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions, and supporting Sustainable Transportation options.
However, research shows it’s not enough for a school to simply reduce its environmental impact.
Students and staff also need to learn about sustainability, and practice it in day-to-day activities, because this impacts their attitudes and behaviors when they leave school. That’s why START includes metrics like Sustainability Events for Students, Sustainability Course Content, and Sustainable Purchasing Practices.
How sustainable is our school now?
Schools use START to measure how sustainable they are now. A school’s START team investigates how their school currently operates to find their ‘sustainability baseline’ for each metric. For example, is our school a beginner, intermediate or advanced in sustainable water use? START enables schools to benchmark, track and visualize their current sustainability levels, as well as hard data around their waste, water, energy and greenhouse gas emissions.
Where should we go next, and do we collaborate for success?
What do we need to do to ‘level up’ in each metric? Once schools have their baselines, START helps them to set goals and plan for progress. START provides a central hub for school members to collaborate, document, and plan their school’s sustainability journey.
START is a subscription-based Whole School Sustainability dashboard.
It requires at least one adult school member to create a school’s START account, but it will need a team (students, teachers and staff) to grow a Whole School Sustainability program.
Interested schools can sign up for a demo or apply to set up an account.
Learn more about START here, and consider sharing the brochure with your school.
Let’s create a better future, one school at a time.
Contact us at guides@greenschoolsalliance.org if you have a free resource to contribute or recommend that can help schools take action around this specific sustainability metric.