Although Americans make up only 5% of the world's population, we consume approximately one-quarter of the planet's resources. A sustainable purchasing policy that considers the full lifecycle impact of the products and services your organization consumes can help reduce over-extraction of the Earth's resources.

Sustainable purchasing, also known as environmentally preferred purchasing, is defined by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as "the selection of products and services that have a reduced effect on human health and the environment when compared with competing products that serve the same purpose." It means considering the environmental and health impacts of products, supplies, and services when making purchasing decisions.

Many companies are finding that sustainable purchasing has a positive impact on the bottom line. In addition to reducing costs, sustainable purchasing can improve your company's "green" credentials and boost employee morale.