“Sustainable purchasing” refers to the acquisition of products that are made from recycled content; that are environmentally preferable, bio-based, or energy- and water-efficient; that use alternate fuel and renewable energy; or that offer alternatives to hazardous or toxic chemicals.
Procurement Services is committed to supporting sustainable initiatives by leveraging its buying power and supplier partnerships. Over the past several years, we’ve developed strong supplier partnerships that support sustainability initiatives.
For a list of sustainable products, visit the Find Products and Services page to search by supplier, by commodity, or by the Sustainable Products attribute.
Sustainable products provide visible benefits to the university. They are reusable, energy-efficient (or have greater efficiencies than industry standards), are made with post-consumer materials, have reduced toxicity properties, are manufactured with minimal environmental impact, and are delivered in eco-responsible packaging.
Examples of the types of sustainable products that university suppliers provide include:
University suppliers provide different types of sustainable services, including:
M-marketsite is the university's online catalog ordering system that allows faculty and staff to securely place orders from multiple suppliers. Read instructions for accessing M-marketsite here.
Supplier catalogs are either punchout or hosted. How you search for sustainable products depends on which type of catalog you are using. Search options are listed below by punchout and hosted.
Punchout supplier catalogs have icons listed in the product search tab. Click on a specific icon to access the supplier's catalog. Use the category field when searching for sustainable products in a punchout supplier catalog. Many M-marketsite punchout suppliers have customized U-M shopping lists, favorite product lists, or hot lists that feature sustainable products.
These suppliers typically have smaller catalogs. When looking for sustainable products from hosted suppliers, select a product category (e.g., Office and Computer or Lab Supplies) and then enter the type of product you’re looking for. The search results page will display suppliers who support green purchasing practices. M-marketsite also gives you the ability to create your own favorites lists for hosted supplier catalogs. My LINC offers step-by-step quick-reference job aids and simulations.
By making small changes to your purchasing approach, your department can:
Ways to Help: