Sustainable Purchasing
To support the 2025 Ann Arbor campus sustainability goals, Procurement Services is committed to fostering a culture of sustainability in all purchasing decisions.
Mission
U-M Procurement Services is focused on building a pipeline of socially impactful supplier options to procure sustainable products and services.
Program Objectives
- Serve as an advocate for U-M’s sustainability goals
- Encourage the development of environmentally friendly practices within our supplier and campus communities
- Promote suppliers whose businesses provide environmentally sustainable products or services
- Reflect our commitment to be an economic partner to the communities in which we conduct business
Sustainable Procurement
U-M recognizes the importance of sustainable—and socially responsible—procurement and its economic and environmental impact to the community. Sustainable procurement refers to the purchasing of products and services that have a reduced effect on human health and the environment when compared with competing products or services.
This comparison considers a variety of factors, including raw materials acquisition, production, manufacturing, packaging, distribution, reuse, operation, maintenance, or disposal. Examples of sustainable products include—but are not limited to—products that:
- Are made from recycled or environmentally preferable content.
- Are able to be recycled or composted in U-M waste programs.
- Contribute less overall greenhouse gas emissions than alternatives.
- Offer alternatives to hazardous or toxic chemicals.
- Use energy- and water-efficient manufacturing processes.
- Use alternate fuel and renewable energy.
- Use minimal or eco-responsible packaging.
Sustainable Purchasing Best Practices
Buy green in Marketsite+
Marketsite+ is U-M’s online catalog ordering system that allows employees to securely place orders from multiple suppliers.
- Read instructions for accessing Marketsite+ here.
- You can access step-by-step job aids and simulations via the My Learning & Information Center (My LINC). Supplier catalogs are either punchout or hosted. How you search for sustainable products may vary from supplier to supplier and which type of catalog you are using.
For more information on U-M’s sustainability initiatives and goals, please visit the Planet Blue and Office of Campus Sustainability websites.
Seek reputable certifications
| BIFMA |
| Blue Angel |
| Certified Humane Raised and Handled |
| Cradle to Cradle |
| ENERGY STAR |
| EPA Safer Choice |
| EPEAT |
| e-Stewards |
| Fair Trade |
| Food Alliance |
| Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) |
| Green Seal |
| GreenGuard Gold |
| Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) |
| Protected Harvest |
| Rainforest Alliance |
| Restriction of Hazardous Substances |
| Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) |
| Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center (SMBC) |
| TCO |
| UL Ecologo |
| USDA Certified Organic |
| WaterSense |
Extend product life
Property Disposition
The University of Michigan Property Disposition handles the sale, recycling, or disposal of surplus university property to maximize returns and ensure environmentally responsible disposal.
UManage Program
The UManage Facilities Services program, created by Business and Finance and academic units, offers campus-wide facilities services, giving users more supplier choices and management tools while complying with university policies and safety regulations.
Lab Reuse Program
The Lab Reuse Program is a program ran by the Office of Campus Sustainability that helps U-M-Ann Arbor labs reduce waste by sharing surplus chemicals, lab equipment, and materials with other campus labs rather than resorting to disposal.
Resources for businesses
- MConnect – Apply to become a supplier with U-M
- U-M Sourcing website – View U-M public bid opportunities
Resources for departments, units, & research groups
- Socially Responsible Procurement Guidelines – These guidelines at U-M provide a framework to promote social responsibility in procurement by considering ethical, environmental, and community factors, and outlining criteria for qualifying sustainable, diverse, and local suppliers.
- Sustainable Purchasing Leadership Council – Learn more about the non-profit organization that champions sustainable purchasing best practices and provides tools and resources to guide sustainable procurement behaviors.
- Supplier.io – Procurement users at U-M can leverage this system to enhance their supplier diversity initiatives by accessing comprehensive and verified data on minority, women, veteran, and other diverse-owned businesses.