Purchasing

Buying Recycled While recycling has become mainstream in the last decade, it still has a long way to go to curb the amount of waste produced by Americans. With its beginnings as a grassroots movement, it¹s amazing that recycling has survived.

People collected recyclables before the markets were developed. The collection of the materials was a factor in stimulating the use of recycled materials in new consumer products. BUT, recycling will only work if there is a market for the products that come from the recyclables that are collected and reprocessed and that is directly fueled by consumer demand of recycled products.

The symbol that represents recycling, features three arrows chasing each other. This "loop" illustrates how recycling is dependent on people not only recycling what they use, but also purchasing recycled products. This message was broadcast to the public by the Environmental Defense Fund when the group adopted the slogan: "If you¹re not buying recycled products, you're not recycling."

One of the easiest places to start closing the loop is in your home office. One of the widest varieties of recycled content products are available for the home office. In copy paper alone, there are thousands of choices of recycled brands and now there are over 5,000 companies that make products out of recycled materials according to Karyn Kaplan of Campus Recycling at the University of Oregon.
Almost everything in the home office can be purchased from products made from recycled content (or reused). You can easily identify and purchase the following recycled products: file folders, copy/printer paper, notepads, clipboards, notebooks, refillable pens, recycling/waste containers and furniture . to name a few items. Even pencils are now made from many different recycled products, including jeans and money.
The key to buying recycled products is reading labels. Look for the trademark arrows of the recycling symbol and check the percent of post consumer content. Many paper products promote themselves as recycled, but come from industrial surplus (called pre-consumer) that would be recycled anyway. Post consumer means that the material has already been used by another person and it is being recycled to you.
The box that the product comes in can also indicate if it is recycled or not. If paper comes packaged in paperboard it is more likely to be from recycled paper, as paperboard typically is made with high recycled content, according to Kaplan. She added that one should, "buy recycled so you can recycle what you buy". This extends to the packaging of these products. Buying things that are minimally packaged with recyclable materials is another way to reduce the waste stream.
Along with recycling in your home office, it is important to reduce the amount of products you use and reuse all that you can. Reused items can be at garage sales and auctions. The University of Oregon and the State of Oregon both have seasonal auctions that offer desks, file cabinets and many other office necessities. Cost competitive furniture made for reused wood and plastic is now being offered by many stores.

Many office supply catalogs have sections in the back especially for recycled items. There are also many web sites that offer recycled products for your home and office, including www.ecomall.com and www.recyclestore.com Some stores make it easy to find recycled products by marking the shelves. One local store that does so is the University of Oregon Bookstore.

To truly recycle one must not only have their wastes collected, but must support the processing of the material by purchasing the recycled products. One ton of paper made completely from recycled scrap saves 7,000 gallons of water, 4,100 kilowatt hours of energy, three cubic yards of landfill space and 17 trees according to the Californians Against Waste Foundation. The saving of all these things can begin with you and your home office.

Solving the Gap in Sustainable Purchasing
BY BILL KASPER, UO FACILITIES PURCHASING MANAGER
Buyers at the University of Oregon have always had the difficult task of finding ways to satisfy departmental needs for quality and affordability while keeping in line with environmental and sustainable programs. Cost, delivery lead times, specifications, research, and negotiation all take a lot of time, compounded with extra efforts to search out recycle content, warranties, energy efficiency, reparability and parts availability, and so on and so on and so on. Keeping all parties involved happy and satisfied is the challenge we face, and it is sometimes a daunting one.
The solutions can be found in the same concepts used in quality purchasing practices. Records, sources, contract language, vendor involvement, research, and educating your customer are all components used in trying to find that best value and still closing the loop to satisfy your recycling and environmental goals. Luckily, here at the University of Oregon we have access to endless resources and quality professionals that understand what we are trying to accomplish. The University has an Environmental Policy that defines our goals and gives everyone a clear picture of where we want to be. We have an award winning Campus Recycling Program that is a leader in educating our community about recycling and life practices. Using these resources, buyers have a clearer direction and a resource to help them find products that are sustainable.
Our buying direction at Facilities Services has centered on finding vendors that can supply us with materials that have less packaging, recyclable packaging, recycled content using post consumer waste and post industrial waste, high energy efficiency, and strong warranties with readily available repair parts sourcing. We have inserted language in our contracts identifying these factors, and have worked with vendors to insure that they not only are supplying us with products that are in line with our goals, but that they are practicing sound sustainable practices, such as recycling and quality controls. Our vendors have been receptive to these requests, with some even unpackaging the goods and taking the packing to the local recycling drop off point for us at no charge. We are also finding new markets to supply us with materials such as recycled carpet. Using linoleum instead of vinyl flooring, recycled building materials, low VOC paints, cleaning products that are friendly to the user and the environment, programs for rebuilding equipment instead of purchasing new, reusing old furniture and office products, and source reduction in all areas to decrease waste and save labor costs.
The secret to our success is our continuing efforts to develop and solidify partnerships with local and regional vendors, customers, and our maintenance staff, keeping our goals clear and attainable, and working with contractors and suppliers to find local solutions for our needs. This takes education, cooperation, and understanding of the hurdles each of us must cross in working in a partnership while satisfying our fiscal responsibilities. Using the recent Executive Order from Governor Kitzhaber on Sustainability as our lead, we will strive to continue our efforts to close the loop and sustain our world.
William Kasper
Purchasing Manager Facilities Services University of Oregon
1295 Franklin Blvd. Eugene, Oregon 97403-1276

Resource Revival - http://www.resourcerevival.com/

Bicycle parts that are beyond repair find new life as artistic and functional pieces.

ENVIRONMENTALLY PREFERABLE PURCHASING
GOES BEYOND THE PRODUCT. THINGS YOU CAN DO:

As a customer, there are many opportunities to direct the purchase through choices. Through environmentally preferable purchasing, many positive outcomes are possible. Here are some things that Purchasing Managers can do:
*add a clause regarding waste generation, in ALL contracts for vendors products and services...request that packaging be minimal and what's left is recyclable, give preference to vendors who take back recyclable packaging waste and also choose products that can last and have replaceable parts
*choose nontoxic products, for a safer work place
*consider life cost accounting in all purchases
*ask questions such as: Is this product made for longevity? Can separate parts be replaced or when something breaks, does it need to be discarded? How much waste is generated in the acquisition of the products or services? Can the product or service, be provided with minimum or no waste generated in the process? Is the packaging recyclable with the University? Will the vendor take the packaging back for recycling? Is the item recyclable and repairable once it has completed it's use?
*spend a little more money at the onset in order to choose quality, longevity and recyclability, which saves us all in the long run!
*choose products that reduce impact on the University and global resources: many choices are available for energy and water conservation. Items such as: energy saver copy machines, computers, printers, lights, washing machines etc...are available sometimes less expensive then items without energy/resource conservation features. As the amount of new products and technology become part of our daily lives, the impact on our energy and water costs are astronomical. Consider purchasing items that reduce the impact on our precious resources and make conservation the rule and not the exception.
*Buy products made from recycled materials so we can continue to recycle the products we buy! There are numerous products on the market now that not only meet the performance standards of virgin products, but are cost competitive. Some items and services are beginning to incorporate waste into the contract.
*Refresh yourself with the Campus Environmental Policy Purchasing section:
  -II. Environmentally Responsible Purchasing Policies. The University recognizes that one of the primary methods of exercising its commitment to environmental responsibility is through its purchasing choices. The University will strive to obtain maximum value for its expenditures and will work towards obtaining the "best value" balancing short and long term costs, maintenance, life cycle, and environmental costs in purchasing goods and services.
   A. The University acknowledges that environmentally responsible purchasing choices will help create and sustain markets for environmentally responsible and recycled content products.
   B. The University commits to the goal of making environmentally and fiscally responsible purchasing choices that consider life cycle costs, long term implications, and relative environmental harm of products.
   C. Purchasing policies will encourage obtaining products that minimize waste products, have high recycled content, use environmental production methods, demonstrate maximum durability or biodegradability, reparability, energy efficiency, non toxicity, and recyclability.

REMEMBER ASK QUESTIONS: -LET VENDORS KNOW OF YOUR INTEREST IN THESE ITEMS AND PRACTICES! -MORE AND MORE COMPANIES ARE INCORPORATING LIFE COST ACCOUNTING INTO THEIR PRODUCTS. THIS INCLUDES: PRODUCER RESPONSIBILITY FOR WASTE, BUILDING PRODUCTS TO LAST, INCORPORATING RECYCLED MATERIALS INTO PRODUCTS AND PRODUCTS THAT PROMOTE RESOURCE CONSERVATION!!

Cooperative purchasing
The BRBA's web site (Buy Recycled Business Alliance)
http://www.brba.com.au/
"The Recycled Products Purchasing Cooperative (RPPC) is expanding nationwide on October 1st, 2000. The purchasing cooperative is a collaborative non-profit effort which is aimed at increasing amount of recycled paper used by businesses and public entities. The RPPC is accomplishing this goal by providing recycled paper at prices which oftentimes meet or beat the price of non-recycled or virgin fiber paper.
This year member purchases are expected to reach over 50,000 cases - saving water, energy, and the equivalent of 10,000 full grown trees. Hundreds of members purchase through the RPPC including: Union Bank of California, the City of San Diego, AFG Industries, Sea World, JFK University, Aloha Printing, Mountaineers Books, and many others. Solana Recyclers, a non-profit organization, coordinates the RPPC nationally and is partnering with WasteCap of Massachusetts to promote the RPPC in the New England region.
Membership in the purchasing cooperative is FREE and the paper available is tested and performance recommended by the U.S. Government Printing Office. Currently the RPPC provides 30% postconsumer recycled copy paper and plans to carry higher postconsumer papers in the near future.
Every 40 cases (one ton) purchased saves the equivalent of eight full grown trees. So tell your friends and neighbors about this opportunity to buy recycled and make a difference!
For more information about the Co-op visit http://www.recycledproducts.org or call (800) 694-8355.
The RPPC is coordinated nationally by Solana Recyclers, a non-profit organization. The RPPC is sponsored by the U.S. EPA Region 9, Union Bank of California, the San Diego Foundation, and the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection."

RETAILER TRAINING PROGRAM REPORT
Increasing Sales of Recycled Content Products Through Training and Partnerships with Retail Buyers and Recycled Product Vendors Abstract The Recycling Association of Minnesota (RAM), EcoSource, and the Minnesota Office of Environmental Assistance (OEA) developed a unique training program from 1998 to 1999. The program was a response to the desire to see more recycled content products on retailers' shelves in Minnesota, which in turn would drive demand for recycled content material. The training was successful in educating buyers and in resulting in sales of recycled products. Based on feedback from the initial training, the organizers changed the work plan to reflect the best way to achieve the project's desired outcomes. The organizers are making the findings available in this document so that others might not "reinvent the wheel". Templates for a new work plan and budget have been included so that other states might begin work at their earliest convenience.
Goal
The overall goal of the project was to gain meaningful commitment from at least three major retailers in Minnesota to carry and promote more recycled content products by the end of 1999. The organizers intended to achieve this goal through researching past experiences with retailers, conducting "training of trainers" sessions, and completing follow-up evaluation of buying patterns. RAM would first gain commitment by at least eight retailers to participate in the program. The goal was achieved in part, and the work plan changed to reflect what was achievable. To read the entire report, please click here to download the full 27 page .pdf version
Copyright © 2000 National Recycling Coalition Updated February 2, 2000

The Recycled Trash Company has become EcoWeave
They continue to offer Environmental Apparel and Bags from Recycled Cotton and EcoSpun
· T-shirts
· Tote Bags
· Polo Shirts
· Custom items
their products are perfect for events, volunteers, or employees.
View our new product sheet at this link:
http://www.ecobags.com/

For more information about EcoWeave and our environmental products please read on . . . .
EcoWeave is the Nation's largest manufacturer of recycled cotton apparel. They manufacture apparel using pre-consumer cotton that would typically be wasted during the spinning, weaving and cutting processes, achieving quality equal to, or greater than, using virgin cotton. They are committed to the environment, social responsibility, quality apparel, and creating awareness about resource conservation and limiting chemical environmental impacts.