Purchasing Power: Harnessing Institutional Procurement for People and the Planet

So-called “mega-purchasers” such as corporations, international organizations, universities, and other large institutions spend billions of dollars annually on goods and services — often more than the gross domestic product of entire countries. This July 2003 study by the Worldwatch Institute examines ways to harness awesome purchasing power to help build an environmentally sustainable world. The report features detailed case studies on pioneers of green purchasing as well as tips for greening contracts with suppliers and overcoming common obstacles toward environmentally preferable procurement.