Green Purchasing

Norris Bookstore

The Norris Bookstore offers a variety of books, office supplies, gifts, and apparel for the Northwestern community.  They offer students the option to purchase their school books in both printed (new and used) and digital forms.  Starting in 2009, the bookstore became the first Barnes & Noble College Bookstore to offer a package of recycled school supplies at a discounted price.  Since the bookstore orders tons of book each year, they encourage faculty to notify their department of their text book needs well in advance; thereby reducing the cost and carbon footprint of book shipping.  The bookstore also works with the Sustainability Working Action Group on initiatives to lower their carbon footprint. For more information contact The Norris Bookstore at (847) 491-3990.

Green Cleaning

Custodial contractors use Green Seal certified products.  On the Chicago campus, these products represent 80% of cleaners used and include Stride Neutral Cleaner, Alpha HP Multi-Surface Cleaner, Glance Non-Ammoniated Glass Cleaner, and Crew Restroom Cleaner & Scale Remover. On the Evanston campus 50% of cleaning products are Green Seal certified.  All high volume cleaners are Green Seal including Green Solutions All-Purpose, Industrial, Glass & Carpet cleaners and Quik Fill Neutral, General-Purpose, Glass and Bathroom cleaners. Chemicals that are not certified are purchased with environmental consideration in recyclable containers and highly concentrated to minimize packaging waste.  

Contracts established by Purchasing Resource Services on behalf of the University (janitorial supplies, etc.) include environmentally friendly cleaning products that can then be purchased by individual departments and schools.

For more information visit the Facilities Management website:

http://www.northwestern.edu/fm/services/operation-and-maintenance-services/custodial-services.html

Purchasing Resource Services

Northwestern considers environmental impact in purchasing decisions, when appropriate. Purchasing Resource Services considers the use of products and services with less environmental impact than competing products when it is a good best-value decision to do so (based on a thorough total-cost-of-ownership analysis). When establishing contracts and agreements on behalf of the University, Purchasing Resource Services considers the initial price as well as the factors listed below. Northwestern also encourages departments/schools to consider the use of products and services that impact the environment less than competing products, when it is a good best value decision to do so.

For more information visit the Purchasing Resource Services website:
http://www.northwestern.edu/uservices/purchasing/programs_initiatives/sustainability.html