Green Procurement

Green procurement or environmentally preferable purchasing (EPP) is the practice of procuring products and services that are less harmful to the environment (land, air and water) and all species including humans that depend on environment for survival. Green products are those that are made with less harmful materials or which when produced or used/consumed would have a minimal impact on the environment.

Environment-centric procurement (green procurement) is sometimes seen to stand alone from sustainable procurement. The most straightforward justification for green procurement is as a tool with which to address climate change, but it offers the broader capacity to mitigate over-exploitation of any and all scarce resources. Examples of green procurement range from the purchase of energy-saving light bulbs to the commissioning of a new building from renewably-sourced timber via organic food being served in a workplace canteen. The ultimate green procurement is the avoidance of the purchase altogether.