ART - Enviornmental Purchasing in Canada 2010

The document discusses the green purchasing program implemented by the city of Toronto and other Canadian cities. These cities collaborated with each other and with a group called Governments Incorporating Procurement Policies to Eliminate Refuse (GIPPER) to develop common approaches, policies, and purchasing requirements for environmentally friendly products. The Canadian federal government also implemented a policy in April 2006 to support green purchasing decisions. The cities and GIPPER worked together to publish a directory of greener products, which included a wide range of environmentally friendly options. They also collaborated with the EcoLogo program to ensure that the products listed in the directory met the necessary environmental standards. The document highlights the challenges faced in producing the green products directory, such as the need for ongoing updates and the difficulty of obtaining accurate information from suppliers. The success of the GIPPER's Guide to Environmental Purchasing is also mentioned, which provided guidance to purchasers on how to incorporate environmental considerations into their decision-making process. The Canadian green purchasing policies emphasize the connection between purchasing decisions and environmental challenges, and they encourage the use of environmental labels to guide consumers towards more sustainable choices.