Duke University Greening Initiative (DUGI) Purchasing Committee: Fall 2009 Update
DUGI's Green Purchasing committee has teamed up with Andrea Myrick, Duke's green purchasing and supplier diversity program coordinator, to encourage environmentally responsible procurement across the university. The committee has begun by evaluating new green cleaning products and production company practices to highlight environmentally preferable options that might be appealing to the Duke community. A number of products from various companies, both local and national, have already been evaluated and we are hoping to test the effectiveness of these products versus traditional cleaners. We would also like to perform a similar evaluation for green office supplies. Once completed, Duke's procurement and supply chain management office will use this information to advise university purchasers of the most sustainable options for their needs. Following the evaluation and testing phases of the project, the committee intends to develop an educational plan for encouraging green purchasing across Duke departments. By working directly with individual purchasers on campus, we hope to raise awareness of the advantages and affordability of more environmentally preferable products.