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Consider tracking the total purchase of environmentally preferable products in your workplace. Tracking purchases can help you note what has worked well and where problems have been encountered. Benefits include identifying whether suppliers priced the products competitively, made them readily available, and met your expectations.
To assist you in keeping track, you may wish to use a form similar to the one developed by the Minnesota Department of Administration. A list of codes for environmental products follows.
Model Tracking Form
| Buyer's Name |
Agency |
| Phone No. |
Fax No. |
Quarter and Year of Report
(by fiscal year) |
| Environmentally Responsible Acquisitions |
| Order or Contract No. |
Category Code |
Supplier |
Product |
Dollar Amount |
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Environmental Codes for Tracking Purchases
EE = Energy Efficient
A product that uses less energy (either electricity or fossil fuel) to accomplish its task relative to a comparable product by the same manufacturer.
LT = Less Toxic
A product containing a smaller amount of toxic substances relative to a comparable product or a product reformulated to be less toxic.
PB = Plant-Based
A product derived from renewable resources, including fiber crops (such as kenaf); chemical extracts from oilseeds, nuts, fruits and vegetables (such as corn and soybeans); agricultural residues (such as wheat straw and corn stover); and wood wastes generated from processing and manufacturing operations. These products stand in contrast to those made from fossil fuels (such as petroleum) and other less renewable resources (such as virgin timber).
RB = Rebuilt
A product refurbished to a level less than a total remanufacture. The warranty is by the rebuilder, and may be different from the same product when new or remanufactured. Also called reconditioned or refurbished.
RC = Recycled Content
A product containing materials recovered or diverted from the solid waste stream after consumer use ("post-consumer").
RK = Reduced Packaging
A product presented for use with less packaging or alternative methods of packaging or shipping.
EM = Remanufactured
A product restored to its original condition by extensive rebuilding, usually given an equal or better warranty than a new product.
RE = Repair
A product that has had a defect corrected and can again serve its original function. Repairing is a less comprehensive process than either remanufacturing or rebuilding.
US = Used
A product used or owned before without further maintenance.
WC = Water Conserving
A product that requires less water to operate or to manufacture than a comparable product, or a different version of the same product from the same manufacturer.
MU = Multiple Codes
A product that has several significant environmentally responsible characteristics, and could be classified under more than one code, but not one code is predominant
TO = Other
A product having environmentally responsible characteristics that does not fit into any of the categories listed above.
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