Buying Guide
Many people would like to consider the health and environmental impacts of the products they buy, but might not have time to research green alternatives to the products we use every day or discover where to find these products locally.
Finger Lakes Buy Green has tackled these issues on your behalf. Working in partnership with local suppliers, we have identified examples of green products available locally and assessed their environmental impact according to green attributes such as recycled content and/or the amount of harmful chemicals they contain.
For office supplies we have primarily focused on the amount of recycled content they contain as well as quality and durability. Due to the complexity of cleaning supplies, we have created a separate product criteria. Likewise, specific maintenance supplies criteria have been generated to encompass the range of products in this category. The focus of yard and garden products has been on items that are organic, non-toxic, more durable, biodegradable, or avoid the use of fossil fuels. Whether a product has one or a combination of these features, the result is a product with a lessened negative impact on the environment than that of its non-green equivalent.
Environmentally Preferred Procurement (EPP) Resource Guide
This Environmentally Preferable Procurement (EPP) Resource Guide has been developed by the Tompkins County EPP Sub-Committee, in collaboration with the Finger Lakes EPP Consortium, to facilitate "green" purchasing practices in the County. The goal of this guide is to expand the purchase of products that are made with recycled content, or that are characteristic of other EPP attributes. Individual agencies interested in using this guide are welcome to do so. Future editions of this guide will include additional environmentally preferable products and services as they become available.
