Living Green Main Page

Goods and Services

Purchasing power could also be called "green power" because goods and services in demand are the things manufacturers want to produce. If your purchases are for environmentally responsible products and services, companies will work to fill this need for sustainable and sustainably produced items.

On Campus
At Home
In the Office

On Campus

Quick Tips

• Use re-usable mugs and water bottles
• Learn where the product came from (Is it local?)
• Recycle packaging if possible
• Can you find it used? (ie printer or books)
• Are you sending a message to suppliers that "green" products are in demand?
• Be wary of "green washing"- Read labels!

More Resources

Excess packaging uses up valuable resources, contributes to the waste stream and often costs more. Consider using some Green Shopping Tips.

Pack your lunch in reusable containers and bags. Reusable coffee mugs will save you money and reduce waste and can be used anywhere on campus, and most coffee shops downtown. The same is true of refillable water bottles. Drinking tap water reduces garbage, has higher quality standards and saves money. Check out Take Back the Tap or the winning video clip for the campaign.

Bring a reusable bag when you shop. The bag can be a stylish canvas tote or just a plain old duffle bag. Why? Between 500 billion and one trillion plastic bags are consumed throughout the world each year. An estimated 8 billion pounds of plastic bags, wraps and sacks enter the waste stream every year in the U.S. alone. All of those plastic bags require petroleum to produce. An estimated 12 million barrels of oil is required to support the annual consumption of plastic bags in the U.S. When tossed, plastic bags contaminate soil and waterways, and are among the most common debris found in coastal cleanups. For more information see Reusable Bags

At Home

Quick Tips

• Buy Energy Star products like CFL bulbs, that are most energy efficient.
• Look for items made with recycled content, non-toxic materials and organic fibers.
• Look for items that are durable and will last longer.
• Consider the source. Buy local products whenever possible to reduce the impacts of transportation.
• Can you find it gently used? Shop for used books and CDs. Frequent thrift shores and vintage clothing shops.
• Look for third party certification to ensure your purchase is truly green and not just green washed." (USDA Certified Organic, Green Seal, Forest Stewardship Certification, Greenguard Indoor Air Quality, Scientific Certification Systems, LEED, Cradle to Cradle (C2C) Certification, etc.)

More Resources

Green up your lifestyle by improving the kind of clothing you're purchasing and eliminating!
Some things to look for when buying clothing are as follows:

Organic Clothing - Non-organic cotton farming is one of agriculture's most environmentally destructive activities. In the U.S. in 2000, 84 million pounds of pesticides were sprayed on the 14.4 million acres of conventionally cotton grown in the country, ranking cotton second behind corn in total amount of pesticides sprayed. The Environmental Protection Agency considers seven of the top 15 pesticides used on cotton in 2000 in the United States as "possible," "likely," "probable," or "known" human carcinogens.

Second-hand clothing -

Check out a couple of second-hand clothing stores in Lawrence. All sell higher-end clothes that are sold in gently used to new condition.
Plato's Closet: 3514 Clinton Parkway Suite I-6, Lawrence, KS 66047 785-832-2274
Arizona Trading Company: 736 Massachusetts St., Lawrence, KS 66044 (785) 749-2377
Wild Man Vintage: 939 Massachusetts St., Lawrence, KS 66044 (785) 856-0303

Sweatshop free clothing -

Purchasing sweatshop free and union made clothing supports the growth of companies who maintain fair labor standards for its workers here and abroad, and contributes to a more just and equitable global society.

Donate -

If your closet is overflowing with clothes and shoes you no longer wear bring it to a Planet Aid station or to your closest second-hand store for money. Check with your local second-hand store for their purchasing terms. Planet Aid is a non-profit organization dedicated to protecting the environment and creating sustainable development in Africa and Asia. They collect and recycle used clothing and shoes in 19 states in the USA. Items donated to Planet Aid are resold and proceeds are used to support education, community development and HIV/AIDS programs in Africa and Asia. Call Planet Aid for the nearest drop-off location (816) 472 1518, or just look for the yellow drop-off stations at locations throughout Lawrence.

Invest wisely -

Social Security is meant only to supplement our retirement, so each of us needs to put aside some funds for our future. We all would like to see a satisfactory rate of return on our investments. However, it is also important to know that when we are investing in companies we are essentially supporting their entrepreneurial endeavors and becoming part-owners in their enterprise. By investing in socially and environmentally responsible companies we can "put our money where our mouth is", so to speak. Socially responsible investing is becoming more popular. To learn more about how you can invest responsibly go to: Socially Responsible Investing, or Social Funds.

Top of Page

In the Office

Quick Tips

• When you need something, see if your office has used items that can be repurposed and reused and ask colleagues if they have surplus supplies before purchasing new ones.
• When ordering new supplies, see if the supply catalog has an option for supplies made of recycled content or other "eco-friendly" materials. Corporate Express labels a variety of "Ecoffice" and recycled products, including everything from paper to pens to scissors.
• Make use of the Environmental Stewardship surplus furniture program when you need or are getting rid of furniture.

More Resources

The average office worker consumes approximately 10,000 sheets of paper per year. It takes more than one-and-a-half cups of water to produce one sheet of paper, which means that the average office worker is using over 15,000 cups of water, or 938 gallons of water, just for paper!

Urge your department to buy paper with these three qualities: Paper with the highest post-consumer recycled content, chlorine free or totally-chlorine free paper, and products made from sustainably managed forests or from alternative 'tree-free' fibers.

Urge your department to purchase Energy Star products such as compact fluorescent light bulbs, copy machines, or computers. If you're purchasing office supplies in bulk, solicit bids that contain environmentally and socially responsible requirements. For more information on the bidding process go to the KU's purchasing website.

Also See
New American Dream
Responsible Purchasing Network
The Green Work Place