By Hugh Wareham

It is very important in these financially constrained and uncertain times to increase the focus on buying efficiently, and all levels of government have a responsibility to show leadership in managing our resources more effectively and sustainably.

This is exactly what green purchasing is all about. By purchasing green products organisations are reducing their costs by buying energy and water efficient products; reducing their environmental impacts; stimulating the demand for green products; supporting innovation and green job creation; and helping to create a more sustainable future for their organisation and setting the standard for their communities.

ECO-Buy publishes an annual State of Local Government Green Purchasing report, providing detailed information on Victorian local governments’ green purchasing achievements and expenditure on green products for the previous financial year.

The latest report found that in the 2007/08 financial year spend on green products increased by 15 per cent. There was a particular emphasis on products which reduce greenhouse gas emissions (including Green Power), save water or are low toxicity.

Since 2000, members of ECO-Buy’s local government program in Victorian have invested over $380 million in green products.

Local governments across the state purchase more than 400 types of green products, which deliver real environmental benefits.

In 2007/08, for example, through their purchasing of recycled content asphalt, compost, recycled content mobile garbage bins and recycled paper, local governments saved 1900 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions, 63.5 hectares of land use and nearly 900,000 litres of water.

This perhaps more than anything shows the potential for organisations to have a real and positive impact through green purchasing.

Winners of the ECO-Buy Excellence in Green Purchasing Awards 2009 believe it is essential for government to lead by example.

As Mayor of Hepburn Shire Council, Cr Bill McClenaghan, says, “If we don’t set the example, how can we expect our local community and staff to do the right thing by the world they live in?”

Hugh Wareham is chief executive officer of ECO-Buy, a not-for-profit company which helps public and private organisations buy goods and services which are less damaging to the environment and human health.