Facilities Management

Environmentally preferred purchasing

 


What you can do to 'green' your purchasing

1. Reduce unnecessary purchasing.
2. Increase the purchase of products with recycled content.
3. Purchasing products that are energy, water and fuel efficient with low greenhouse gas emissions in production and use.
4. Create awareness of the environmental and health issues associated with purchases.
5. Purchase photocopiers, printers, faxes and multifunction devices that have the capacity to duplex print, scan and have energy management features.
6. Buy recycled paper.

Consider these questions BEFORE purchasing:
1. Do I really need it?
2. Can I borrow it?
3. Can I share it?
4. Can I rent or lease it?
5. Can I buy it second hand?

Consider these questions WHEN making a purchase:

1. What is it made from?

  • % of recycled content (paper products)
  • Unbleached (paper products)
  • Made from recycled plastic
  • Made from sustainably managed timber
  • Recycled content

2. How was it produced?

  • ISO 14001 certification on product labels
  • Manufacturer has improved production process to use less energy, water, materials and create less waste

3. How is it packaged?

  • Choose a product with minimal packaging.
  • Choose product packaging that can be recycled.

4. Where was it produced?

  • Transporting a product has an environmental impact contributing to air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.
  • Buy local environmentally preferred products where possible.

5. How efficiently does it work?

  • Check the efficiency of products using electricity, gas, water, petrol and diesel (the more efficient the more $$$ you save).

6. Can it be repaired?

  • Choose long-lasting and easy repair products.
  • Choose products that come with a guarantee.

7. How will it be disposed of?

  • Consider if the product is still useable. Can it be given away to a non-profit group?
  • Find out if it can be remanufactured or recycled.

(Source: Shop Smart Buy Green - A consumers guide to saving money and reducing environmental impacts, Environment Australia, 2001)

 

Corporate Express Earthsaver Stationery

Corporate Express EarthSaver products - Includes toner cartridges, writing pads, post-it notes, envelopes, general stationery and janitorial paper products. To view the complete range go to “Product Search” in the top left hand corner of NetXpress www.netxpress.biz type in Earthsaver. The list is updated on a regular basis.

The Earthsaver range are:

  • Products that contain a specific percentage of recycled materials in the original manufacture.
  • Products that are manufactured using environmentally friendly practices and procedures.
  • Products that do not harm or denigrate the environment while in use.
  • Products that, when they reach the end of their life, are specifically environmentally friendly (e.g. biodegradable)
     

Recycled Paper

Fuji Xerox - high quality Fuji Xerox Green Wrap (60% recycled) and Supreme (100% recycled) copy paper is available in A4, A3, cardstock and folio sheets. There are also a range of quality recycled coloured papers available. For a sample pack of Green Wrap or Supreme please contact Environmental Services. Fuji Xerox is the preferred supplier for copy paper at UWA and recycled paper is available at a very competitive price. For the online ordering procedure visit the Strategic Procurement website.


Resources to help 'green' your purchasing

Energy Efficient Products

  • Energy Allstars - find and compare the most energy efficient appliances for sale in Australia.
  • Energy Rating (Star rating appliances) - guide to choosing energy efficient appliances.
  • Energy Star - reduces the amount of energy consumed by a product by switching it into a 'sleep' mode or reducing the amount power used when in 'standby' mode.

Water Efficient Products

Water Efficiency Labelling Scheme - assists purchasers of water-using products to compare the relative water efficiency of the available models.

Green Procurement

Australian Green Procurement - database providing an evaluation of a range of product's environmental performance as well as contact details and technical information.

Good Environmental Choice Label Australia - over 300 environmentally preferable products have been certified with the GEC label, the national environmental assurance certification for consumer, industrial and building products and services.

ECO-buy - Australia's leading environmental purchasing organisation with a range of resources designed to assist the integration of environmental considerations into purchasing decisions.

Building and Interior Products

Ecospecifier - eco-materials and technologies knowledge base and products database. Provides information on how to design and deliver buildings, interiors and surrounds using environmentally preferable products and materials available in Australia.

Replas Recycled Plastic Products - made in Australia using waste plastic from the domestic waste stream. Examples of products available include park seating, bollards, track markers, speedhumps, wheelstops, signage and boardwalks.

Bauwerk Paints - natural paint that is entirely minerals based with no fumes and containing no harmful substances.

Catering & Events

Environmentally preferred food service products for catering and events fact sheet - information about biodegradable, compostable and recyclable one-use catering products such as plates, cutlery and cups.

Fuel efficient vehicles

Green Vehicle Guide - Australian Federal Government star rating system that takes into account air pollution, greenhouse emissions and fuel consumption of vehicles. Helps you assess the environmental impact of any new vehicle sold in Australia.

Shopping Green in Western Australia

Environment House - Perth eco-shop and sustainability advisory service.

Planet Ark - located in Fremantle (37 Cantonment St) and sells a range of environmentally friendly household and personal products.