Councils buy 'green' through ECO-Buy

ECO-Buy, an award-winning environmental purchasing program, has driven significant changes in the buying patterns of Victorian local government, and more recently as an environmental legacy of the Melbourne Commonwealth Games, started working with business.

ECO-Buy began its life as the Local Government Buy Recycled Alliance in May 2000 with the mandate of working with councils to increase purchasing of products with recycled content. EcoRecycle (now Sustainability Victoria) and the Municipal Association of Victoria initiated the program to harness local government purchasing power and create stronger markets for the material councils collect in kerbside recycling programs.

In November 2002, the Victorian Greenhouse Strategy provided additional funding to extend the program. This funding provided resources to work more closely with councils to increase the purchasing of products that were greenhouse friendly, energy and fuel efficient, water saving and less toxic.

What started simply as a 'buy recycled' initiative now supports councils and businesses in prioritising the purchase of all products that maximise resources and efficiency, and are less damaging to the environment and human health. ECO-Buy's success lies not only in the demonstrated increase in expenditure (in 2005 Victorian councils purchased almost $82 million in 'green' products) but also in the growing awareness of the link between purchasing and sustainability.

ECO-Buy objectives are to: motivate environmental purchasing; encourage the sustainable use of resources to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, reduce water consumption, reduce the use of toxic chemicals and improve indoor air quality; increase awareness of the range and quality of 'green' products; support sustainable long-term markets for 'green' products; create networks committed to 'green' purchasing.

Currently, the local government program has 61 Victorian councils and 16 Regional Waste Management Group members. The Business Program's nine members include Foundation Member Toyota Australia and 17 SME members. ECO-Buy defines 'green' or 'environmentally preferred products' as those that are less damaging to the environment and/or human health than similar competing products.

This is the standard definition used throughout Europe and North America and facilitates the 'green continuum' paradigm - you don't have to buy the 'greenest' to be engaged in 'green' purchasing. It is rather about continuous improvement and integrating environmental considerations into purchasing decisions in a way that is sustainable for the organisation.

ECO-Buy categorises 'green' products into recycled content, water saving, energy and fuel efficient, greenhouse friendly and less toxic. When choosing a 'greener' product an organisation might consider the: source of raw materials; production and manufacturing; packaging; distribution; potential for reuse and recycling; operation; maintenance; disposal of the product.

Membership to ECO-Buy is free but organisations are required to make a formal commitment to establishing and developing a 'green' purchasing program. Members agree to working with ECO-Buy and provide the necessary resources to ensure 'green' purchasing efforts are systematically developed and enhanced.

In return they receive a range of resources and support including support from ECO-Buy staff, access to an extensive database of 'green' products and suppliers, a guide to developing a 'green' purchasing program including model policy, action plan and environmental specifications for 18 product areas.

ECO-Buy also organises the ECO-Buy Awards for Excellence acknowledging members' 'green' purchasing efforts.

Integrating 'green' purchasing initiatives can be a long-term and staged proposition - it can also be a surprisingly creative process limited only by the energy, optimism and imagination of the organisation. It supports people within the organisation to facilitate improvements to 'green' purchasing within the organisation.