GENERAL GUIDELINES The University of Cambridge is committed to reducing its environmental impact. Our Environmental Policy promotes ‘a purchasing policy which will give preference, so far as practicable, to those products and services which cause the least harm to the environment.’ Accordingly, this guide provides both general guidance to identify environmentally-friendly stationery products as well as specific examples of such products for commonly used items. Why Should I Bother? Our Environmental Policy: the University has made a commitment to sustainable procurement in its official Environmental Policy. This requires staff to purchase environmentally-friendly products as far as possible. Save money: even where eco-friendly products are more expensive to purchase, they can be cheaper over the long-run when factoring in life-cycle costs. For example, non-recyclables will cost significantly more to dispose of due to high landfill taxes. Conserve finite resources: if resources are not conserved now there will be major scarcity issues in years to come. Protect the environment: many products use substances that degrade the environment and endanger the communities and species that depend on it. Purchasing Power: the University has significant purchasing power. Our purchasing practices present a significant opportunity to cultivate a more sustainable supplier culture. Set an example: the University also wields a great deal of ‘soft’ power as a world-leading institution. We should and can set an example for others to follow. How to Use this Guide Listed Items For commonly used items, the guide gives examples of specific environmentally-friendly products available on iProc, with *starred items being especially eco-friendly. NB: these lists are not intended to be comprehensive. To find a listed item, simply insert the catalogue number (Cat No.) into the iProc search function. Alternatively, search for the specific product name given. In many cases, as for pens or envelopes, products listed will be available in several sizes and numbers. It may therefore be preferable to search for the product series name rather than the catalogue number so as to be able to browse through the various options available for the same good.
GENERAL GUIDELINES The University of Cambridge is committed to reducing its environmental impact. Our Environmental Policy promotes ‘a purchasing policy which will give preference, so far as practicable, to those products and services which cause the least harm to the environment.’ Accordingly, this guide provides both general guidance to identify environmentally-friendly stationery products as well as specific examples of such products for commonly used items. Why Should I Bother? Our Environmental Policy: the University has made a commitment to sustainable procurement in its official Environmental Policy. This requires staff to purchase environmentally-friendly products as far as possible. Save money: even where eco-friendly products are more expensive to purchase, they can be cheaper over the long-run when factoring in life-cycle costs. For example, non-recyclables will cost significantly more to dispose of due to high landfill taxes. Conserve finite resources: if resources are not conserved now there will be major scarcity issues in years to come. Protect the environment: many products use substances that degrade the environment and endanger the communities and species that depend on it. Purchasing Power: the University has significant purchasing power. Our purchasing practices present a significant opportunity to cultivate a more sustainable supplier culture. Set an example: the University also wields a great deal of ‘soft’ power as a world-leading institution. We should and can set an example for others to follow. How to Use this Guide Listed Items For commonly used items, the guide gives examples of specific environmentally-friendly products available on iProc, with *starred items being especially eco-friendly. NB: these lists are not intended to be comprehensive. To find a listed item, simply insert the catalogue number (Cat No.) into the iProc search function. Alternatively, search for the specific product name given. In many cases, as for pens or envelopes, products listed will be available in several sizes and numbers. It may therefore be preferable to search for the product series name rather than the catalogue number so as to be able to browse through the various options available for the same good.
green_procurement_-_stationery.docx