Green Purchasing Resources

How you can support being green in the office

• Inkjet cartridge refill service: Refill your inkjet cartridges at The Cornell Store and save 60% versus buying new. See pricing and FAQ.
• Look for and purchase multifunction devices that can print double-sided (duplex printing). Set printer function defaults to duplex printing.
• Consolidate your print efforts to one departmental multifunction device rather than using multiple solutions.
• Look for recycled logos and other green logos on products that you purchase.
• Purchase recycled copier paper.
• Consolidate orders: Order supplies one time per week or less often rather than multiple times a week.
• Utilize WebEx conferencing services rather than traveling to meetings.
• Recycle by using the recycle bins for paper.
• Rent hybrid vehicles for trips over 100 miles.

ENERGY STAR is a government-backed program that helps businesses and consumers protect the environment through energy efficiency. ENERGY STAR provides a trustworthy label on thousands of products. Also see our page on Purchasing ENERGY STAR Products.

Green Seal is a non-profit organization that identifies and promotes products and services that cause less toxic pollution and waste, conserve resources and habitats, and minimize ozone depletion. All preferred janitorial vendors have preference to supply Green Seal™ and EcoLogo® products in our operations.

Recycled Content: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) publishes the Comprehensive Procurement Guideline (CPG) to encourage the use of materials through recycling, with the goal of reducing the amount of disposed waste. Our suppliers make conscious efforts every day to address environmental concerns. Cornell prefers to purchase recycled content office paper. Procurement Services and W.B. Mason encourage you to select recycled copy paper, either 30% or 100%, when placing your paper orders. Visit the punch-out site in e-SHOP to select recycled copy paper products. 

Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool (EPEAT®) is a system that helps purchasers in the public and private sectors to evaluate, compare, and select computers and peripherals based on their environmental attributes. EPEAT also provides a clear and consistent set of performance criteria for the design of products, and provides an opportunity for manufacturers to secure market recognition for efforts to reduce the environmental impact of its products.

The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) is an international organization that brings people together to find solutions that promote responsible stewardship of the world's forests.

TIP: Using e-SHOP, the university's e-procurement system, reduces paper usage by electronically delivering purchase orders, and many of these orders are also electronically invoiced, as well. Currently more than 50 percent of Cornell's invoices are processed electronically.