Purchasing is a powerful tool to influence change and it’s led by the consumer. Just as your customers demand sustainable business practices from you, so you in turn have to look for that commitment from your suppliers. The ultimate aim is to green the whole supply chain. In the meantime you can make many purchasing decisions to help your business become more sustainable. The measures covered in this section range from supporting purely environmental goals to social equity as well as a combination of both. The key to sustainable purchasing is to assess each option individually and go for the least damaging. Examples of purchasing assessment criteria includes:

• Supplier screening
• Products made from recycled materials
• Local food and drink
• Organic food and drink
• Sustainably sourced fish
• Vegetarian food
• Fair trade
• Local crafts and traditional techniques
• Sustainable sourced timber
• Eco-building and decorating products
• Natural-based products
• Green Energy tariff
• Ethical financial services