With apologies to Kermit the Frog, "It ain't easy buying green." But "green procurement" (the practice of procuring environmentally responsible goods) is increasingly important in today's world--especially in campus cafeterias, where almost everything is purchased and thrown away in bulk.
To "buy green," you must be conscious of a number of issues, such as packaging, waste disposal, resource use, transportation, durability and more. In return, you'll have the satisfaction of knowing that you're effectively increasing energy efficiency, conserving water, preventing pollution and heightening public awareness of the need to protect natural resources. More and more manufacturers are lending their support by providing environmentally sound products.
Here's just one example of what you can do: Use biodegradable plastic bags rather than the more conventional plastic bags to keep things in the cafeteria's à la carte section fresh. Conventional plastic bags can remain in landfills indefinitely. Not only do biodegradable plastic bags contain additives that will enable them to biodegrade in landfills, but they also have the advantage of being relatively inexpensive, and they don't produce any harmful residues.
This section of the tour shows you how you can follow the lead of responsible manufacturers by being proactive and "buying green." In addition, for useful links on green procurement, including step-by-step guidance on how to implement a green purchasing program, click here:
www.epa.gov/oppt/epp
www.p2ric.org/topichubs/toc.cfm?hub=13&subsec=7&nav=7