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Policies and Initiatives
Environmental Purchasing Guide
Environmental purchasing refers to those goods and services, which promote a healthier community and environment. The Environmental Purchasing Guide was designed to assist municipal staff select products and services that promote a healthy environment and foster demand for products that promote environmental sustainability.
Environmental Purchasing Guide (Full Document)
- Introduction/Table of Contents
- Environment Purchasing Matters
- Using This Guide
- The Environmental Purchasing Policy
- Considerations Before You Buy
- Guidelines For Purchasing Specific Kinds of Products
- Sample Specifications
- Recycled Products Listing, GVRD
- Reference Materials
- Appendices
What Can You Do?
There are many ways to purchase products that are better for the environment and for the health of our community.
Quick tips include:
- reduce consumption - buy only what you need
- give preference to products that are re-useable and/or contain maximum recycled content
- give preference to products that are energy efficient
- give preference to products that reduce or eliminate toxicity and minimize emissions
- adopt a life-cycle perspective - consider costs and environmental impacts over the lifetime of a product
Learn More
- Environmental Choice Program
- Buy Green
- Canadian Centre for Pollution Prevention
- Environment Canada's Green Lane
- Green Building Information Council
- Designing Green
For other ways to get involved in preserving Richmond's environment visit Individual and Community Involvement.
