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Convenient On-line Training
for Certification in Green Purchasing |
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Why Do I Need Green Purchasing Training?
Arthur D. Little Global Consultants reports that over 60% of the annual operating budget of most companies is spent on the procurement of goods and services. There are over 300 eco-labels currently being used in the US. Product designers, supply chain managers, procurement professionals and consumers are confused by the associated marketing "greenwash" that accompanies them. What is needed is core knowledge on how Type 1, Type 2 and Type 3 eco-lables are developed, what they measure and a systematic approach for green product evaluation and selection.
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Why Do I Need Green Purchasing Accreditation? |
Overcoming the lack of green purchasing knowledge is a key factor in the advancement of responsible, sustainable purchasing. Procurement professionals specify and purchase thousands of goods on a daily basis. And everyday, requests for green products increase as agencies endeavor to achieve mandated sustainability goals to protect the environment, and as organizations strive for LEED or Green Globes certification in building construction or renovation. As this demand grows, purchasing professionals are expected to distinguish between green and green-washed products, providing documentation of how these choices reduce an entity’s carbon footprint, improves indoor air quality, or generally benefits its environmental health and safety directives. |
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| In an industry characterized by 10,000 building product manufacturers selling more than 61,000 distinct products, a systems approach to green purchasing is a must. Architects, engineers, contractors, interior designers, facility managers, governmental and educational procurement professionals must understand the systems behind their green purchasing and describe what metrics and tools have been used to document their green and sustainable attributes. |
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| Looking beyond the building field, there are millions of Americans responsible for purchasing in their businesses, churches, community groups, educational institutions and other organizations. In the aggregate, they are spending billions of dollars on products of all types each week, month and year. So they can benefit from knowledge of best practices in green purchasing and an opportunity to be a contribution to a BRIGHT GREEN, BRIGHT FUTURE. The learning modules in the Green Purchasing Accredited Professional Training will be useful to all individuals and institutions as they will offer a systems approach that is applicable to many types of products and services. |
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| As a Green Purchasing Accredited Professional, you will be able to efficiently and effectively navigate today's environmentally-sensitive business landscape, while building value, competitive advantage and social responsibility.
Green Purchasing AP certification will help you:
- Create consistency and transparency in your purchasing strategies
- Position your firm as a leader in the green economy that is advancing green production & consumption
- Provide your staff, stakeholders and clients with science-based documentation of your improvements
Moreover, the training helps you relate green product specification to the LEED Green Building Rating System
- LEED credits in Indoor Environmental Quality for Low-emitting Materials
- LEED credits in Materials & Resources for Recycled Content, Local/Regional Materials Use, Rapidly Renewable Materials, Construction Waste
- LEED credits in Innovation for Product LCAs
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The Green Standard’s goal is to have purchasing professionals look more holistically at products by educating them on third-party certifications, life cycle assessments and environmental product declarations. Doing so enables you to ask and answer more demanding questions such as where a product was made, what finishes were used and their impact on air quality and human health, or how the product was transported to the retailer and how much global warming that created. Our sessions provide actionable ways to green the supply chain and empower you to make the best possible choice of products using scientifically robust and third party verified information. |
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| By becoming knowledgeable about best practices in product evaluation, certification and selection, certified Green Purchasing professionals can take action to maximize products’ environmental performance while maintaining quality and value. This responsible, sustainable purchasing approach benefits employers, and customers/clients, as well as the general public. |
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To overcome the tsunami of green-wash, a system is needed featuring a framework within which all types of product evaluation and selection tools can be viewed with a clear sense of what each covers and contributes to a scientifically robust and user-friendly green/sustainable purchasing program. This module covers:
- Introduction to Green Purchasing
- Discussion of Best Practices
- Principles and Essentials of a successful green purchasing program
- Sustainability vs. Green
- Single vs. Multi-attribute
- Life Cycle Considerations
- Standards, Certifications and Ecolabels overview
Time: 1.15 hours
Cost: $150
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Module 2:
Understanding Comprehensive Standards, Certification Programs and EcoLabels
In order to succeed at Green Purchasing, an understanding of the comprehensive programs, or “umbrella programs”, that are marketed everyday is required. This module details four major certification programs and/or ecolabels in order to provide a thorough understanding of what they mean and how to use them:
- C2C – from McDonough-Braungart Design Chemistry
- SMART Sustainable Product Standard – from the Market for the Transformation to Sustainability
- Green Seal – from Green Seal
- EcoLogo – from TerraChoice
Time: 1.15 hours
Cost: $150
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Module 3:
Understanding Industry-specific Standards and Programs for Various Product Categories
Like the “umbrella standards”, utilizing category specific standards as a means of assisting in green purchasing is a great way to simply the decision making process. However, it is still crucial to understand what is behind these standards and programs in order to ensure that values, principles and achievements are all in line. This module covers:
- Floor Covering
- Carpet – NSF 140 & California Platinum, Sustainable Choice , MTS v2, C2C
- Resilient Flooring – NSF 332 draft & trial use, SMART
- Wood Flooring – FSC, SFI
- Furniture – BIFMA e3-2008 & LEVEL, SMART, C2C
Time: 1.15 hours
Cost: $150
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Module 4:
Looking at Green Purchasing Tools and Programs
As green purchasing has become more of an area of focus, many various tools and programs have been created in order to assist a purchaser with their decision making process. This module will highlight the major programs covering other product categories. As well it will discuss in a general manner how all of the eco-labels can be applied conceptually to complement Green Globes and LEED green building rating systems.
Time: 1.15 hours
Cost: $150 |
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Module 5:
Deeper Understanding: Life Cycle Assessment and Environmental Product Declarations
Utilizing tools as described in Module 4 can be very beneficial when the attributes and issues are already defined and recognized as a part of the tool or program. However, manufacturers are looking towards Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) as a means of transparency in with their environmental attributes and impacts. This module covers the necessary principles in order to understand what each is, what to look for and how to use them as a part of your decision making efforts.
Time: 1.15 hours
Cost: $150
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Module 6:
Creating Your Own Green Purchasing Policy
Building on the knowledge of the previous modules, this session will demonstrate how to create a green purchasing policy for your organization that is based on core concepts of sustainability, best practices and incorporates the specific values of your organization. As well this module will discuss strategies to use in enrolling associates in your firm in shaping and implementing a company-wide green purchasing policy.
Time: 1.15 hours
Cost: $150
Module 7:
Accreditation Exam & Certification
Exam consists of 52 multiple choice questions. Certification will be awarded upon achievement of a 75% correct score on the exam.
(Prerequisite Modules 1-6)
Time: 1 hour
Cost: $100 |
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