Green Purchasing

What is Green Purchasing?

Also known as Rebuy, this purchasing technique places preference on products that have a reduced environmental impact throughout their life cycle. Examples of ways in which to buy green include buying products with recycled content, avoiding toxic ingredients, and seeking goods with minimal packaging.  

Why is it important?

Because of their ability to buy large quantities of a product, businesses have a significant amount of purchasing power. By following green purchasing practices, a business can reduce its environmental impact, save money, and help protect the community in which we work and live.

What to look for. . .

• Recycled content
• Minimal or recycled packaging
• The ability to reuse an item
• Chlorine free
• AP certified nontoxic
• Low odor/odorless
• Remanufactured products
• The ability to recycle an item
• Durability and quality
• Produced locally
• Renewable resources

Finger Lakes Buy Green

In order to help establish green purchasing practices in the county, Tompkins County Solid Waste has partnered with Sustainable Tompkins to create the Finger Lakes Buy Green website. This site is designed to offer examples of green products that are available locally, as well as provide explanations of how and why to buy green. For more information, please visit the Finger Lakes Buy Green website.

Local Case Studies

Southern Tier AIDS Program (STAP)