Category: The Sustainable Studio
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It’s been quite a while since the last Sustainable Studio column, thanks to a nasty car accident at the end of the summer followed by the inevitable catch-up of client life. Now that I’m in full swing once again, it’s about time we get back to the business of sustainable design practices!
One of the biggest challenges we face as designers is sourcing quality materials and printing that are also cost-competitive. We’re often fighting client budgets as it is, and adding an eco-preferable criterion would seem to limit us even further. But this plays into a myth that not only hamstrings our ability to produce eco-friendlier design, it also limits our ability to really get creative with new materials and printing options.
As businesspeople, we hold a lot of power in these purse strings of ours. And as designers, we fund a wide array of industries. According to Design Can Change, “AIGA members alone specify or purchase $9.1 billion in printing and paper, $650 million in photography and film, and $463 million in computer products.” So if you think your spending habits don’t make a difference, think again. It’s because designers and their clients have started demanding better alternatives that companies like Mohawk Papers and Neenah Paper have implemented carbon offset and renewable energy programs, and industry associations like the Sustainable Green Printing Partnership have sprung up.
Creating a Set of Criteria: Make It Meaningful
So just what makes a vendor sustainable? Is it as simple as finding a printer who stocks recycled paper? There are currently no strict definitions for what makes a business sustainable, unfortunately, so it is up to each of us to find a system that is both meaningful and practical. As a San Francisco-certified Green Business, I have a simple yet stringent purchasing policy in place for Roughstock Studios. I assign a single point for each of the following attributes that a potential vendor meets:
- Vendor is local (within 100 miles).
- Vendor has a formal waste reduction/recycling policy in operation.
- Vendor has a formal energy reduction policy in operation.
- Vendor has a formal toxic reduction/processing policy in operation.
- Vendor has a formal employee benefits program in operation, including living wages and health care.
- Vendor has a formal eco-preferable purchasing policy in operation.
- Vendor is certified by BAGBP, Co-op America, or other viable monitoring group.
- Vendor products are recyclable (1/2 point).
- Vendor products are produced using direct renewable energy.
- Vendor products are made with non-toxic or less toxic materials,
- Vendor products are made from recycled materials.
- Vendor products are minimally packaged (1/2 point).
- Vendor participates in a third-party certified renewable energy or carbon offset program (1/2 point).
- Vendor is independently owned and operated.
- Vendor is union run.
- Vendor donates money, services or products to charitable or community organizations.
Suppliers with at least three points-while still meeting my standards for quality, price and customer service, of course-get purchasing preference. Vendors with higher scores get a heavier preference. This system is easy to implement, and gives me a straightforward way to judge the sustainability of any given vendor. It’s important to note that I don’t make these criteria a requirement; by giving weighted preference to sustainable businesses, I support sustainable enterprise without limiting my (or my clients’) options.
Locating Sustainable Suppliers: Look Beyond the Obvious
Once you’ve determined how you’ll choose your vendors, you’ll need to go out and find a few that can meet your requirements. But remember: we’re not just talking about printers, here. When implementing a sustainable purchasing policy, be sure you look at everything you buy. This includes office equipment, software, supplies, services, subcontractors, and utilities. By expanding our financial reach, we can keep pushing other businesses to take these issues seriously.
If you’re located in a major metropolitan area, your chances are good of being able to find at least one or two vendors that can meet your needs for any given product or service. But if you’re located in a more rural area, you may need to get creative with your search. Try calling your local environmental department to see if they have a list of approved vendors you can use, or check out the resources below to begin your search (hint: bookmark this article so you can return to it anytime you need to buy something),
Paper
Printers
- Waterless Printing Association
- Printing Industries of Northern California (use keyword search for “green” or “sustainable”)
- Sustainable Green Printing Partnership (directory expected to go online in June, 2008)
- Sustainable Forestry Initiative certified printer PDF
- Forest Stewardship Council certified printer PDF
Packaging
- MN Reusable Transport Packaging Directory
- Sustainable Packaging Coalition
- Ecolect
- Materials directory Biodegradable Products Institute
Equipment and Supplies
- Energy Star
- Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool
- Co-op America Office Supplies directory
Utilities
General Business Directories
- National Green Pages
- Recycled Products Directory
- EPA Supplier Database
- Business Alliance for Local Living Economies
Local Government Programs
Building a Relationship: Just Ask
Don’t forget that your local supplier may very well be implementing sustainable practices without advertising them. That’s why it pays to initiate a conversation about these issues when you begin shopping around. The process doesn’t have to be adversarial, or time consuming, In fact, it’s a great opportunity to get to know your suppliers and learn about how they do business in general, which can only serve to strengthen your relationship and improve customer service.
Start by asking general questions about their practices
- Ask if you can follow up with a detailed list of questions (if you so choose).
- Be ready to offer information should the supplier seem unsure or appear interested in learning more about the issues.
- Follow up with a sincere thank you. When suppliers are rewarded for their engagement with the issues, or for their sustainable practices, they will be more likely to expand their efforts. Let them know you appreciate what they do by telling them-and giving them your business.
With these simple steps, you’ll find that implementing a sustainable purchasing policy is simply a matter of paying attention and exploring all your purchasing options. In the end, you’ll benefit from an expanded roster of dedicated suppliers and the ability to offer your clients more and better choices.
Jessica Sand | Principal | Writer and Designer
Small Failures: Sustainability for the Rest of Us | Bar Stories | Roughstock Studios | BoDo Author | The Sustainable Studio
