How do you evaluate the environmental impact of your green procurement practices?

1 Set your goals and criteria

The first step is to define your goals and criteria for green procurement. What are the environmental issues that matter most to you and your stakeholders? How do you measure and compare the environmental impacts of different products and services? You may want to use existing standards and certifications, such as the Golf Environment Organization (GEO) Certified label, the Environmental Product Declaration (EPD), or the Green Seal, to guide your criteria. Alternatively, you may want to develop your own criteria based on your specific needs and preferences.

2 Identify your suppliers and products

The next step is to identify your potential suppliers and products that meet your criteria. You may want to conduct a market research, ask for recommendations, or consult online databases and directories of green products and suppliers. You may also want to contact your existing suppliers and ask them about their environmental policies and practices, and whether they can offer you greener alternatives or solutions. You may want to prioritize local, organic, recycled, or renewable products and suppliers, as they tend to have lower environmental impacts.

3 Evaluate and compare your options

The third step is to evaluate and compare your options based on your criteria. You may want to use a life cycle assessment (LCA) tool, such as the Golf Course Environmental Calculator (GCEC), to estimate the environmental impacts of your products and services throughout their life cycle, from extraction to disposal. You may also want to consider other factors, such as quality, performance, availability, price, and customer satisfaction, to make a balanced decision. You may want to use a scoring system, a matrix, or a checklist to rank and select your options.

4 Implement and monitor your practices

The fourth step is to implement and monitor your green procurement practices. You may want to communicate your goals and criteria to your staff, suppliers, and customers, and provide them with training and support. You may also want to establish a green procurement policy, a contract, or a code of conduct, to formalize your commitments and expectations. You may want to monitor and track your purchases, consumption, and savings, and use indicators, such as the GEO OnCourse platform, to measure and report your environmental performance.

5 Review and improve your practices

The final step is to review and improve your green procurement practices. You may want to conduct a periodic audit, a survey, or a feedback session, to evaluate the effectiveness and efficiency of your practices. You may also want to identify the challenges, opportunities, and best practices, and learn from your experience and others. You may want to set new goals and criteria, adjust your strategies and actions, and celebrate your achievements and improvements.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?