Ensure products are sustainable by looking for the following labels and certifications:
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.