Every organization, public and private, no matter what its size, purchases goods and services. Large organizations also have considerable influence over the practices of their suppliers. As greener purchasing practices have become more common in large organisations, the implications for companies in the supply chain have similarly increased. Yet greener purchasing policies remain the exception rather than the norm in large organizations. Why is this? And how can environmental purchasing practices that have produced tangible business benefits for a number of companies worldwide receive wider take-up?

Greener Purchasing: Opportunities and Innovations has been published to facilitate the development and dissemination of best practice in environmental supply chain and procurement management worldwide. Divided into four sections, covering "The Public Sector", "The Private Sector", "Innovations" and "Case Studies", this book brings together international expertise from four continents, including contributions from organisations such as the US EPA, Environment Canada, Procter & Gamble, Xerox and The Body Shop, as well as describing burgeoning new initiatives such as the Japanese and European Green Purchasing Networks. It provides a number of checklists and examples on how to establish and maintain successful greener purchasing and supply chain practices in order to bring not only environmental, but business value to organisations of all sizes.

The book is essential reading for purchasing officers, environmental managers, CEOs, consultants, academics and students interested in the topic around the world.