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Utilizing 100% recycled paper janitorial products

CLEANING AND JANITORIAL SUPPLIES

Level of Effort

1

Determining Scale

1 -Quick Wins: solution involves adding criteria for the good or service being purchased (ex: certifications), minimal internal process changes.

2 -Long Term Adoption: solution requires some changes to internal processes and/or more capital investment (ex: digital transformation to reduce paper use).

3 – Disruptive Opportunities: requires significant investment and changes to internal processes (ex: retrofitting building)

UNSPC Code

Global Goal Alignment

47

13

0

SDG Target:

9.4

By 2030, upgrade infrastructure and retrofit industries to make them sustainable, with increased resource-use efficiency and greater adoption of clean and environmentally sound technologies and industrial processes, with all countries taking action in accordance with their respective capabilities

9. Build Resilient Infrastructure, Promote Inclusive and Sustainable Industrialization and Foster Innovation

Check out our
 collaborated blueprints

Lululemon

Lululemon a leader in sustainable procurement within the apparel industry. Committed to ethical sourcing and environmental responsibility, Lululemon integrates sustainability into every aspect of its supply chain, including the use of bio-based alternatives.

Future Fields

Awarded the highest level of certification (Green) by My Green Lab in 2023, Future Fields has emerged as a leading innovator in sustainable procurement for lab equipment, particularly by reducing reliance on single-use plastics. 

The Unscented Company

at the forefront of sustainable procurement by sourcing biodegradable ingredients for its personal care products. Their commitment to environmentally friendly practices ensures that their products are as kind to the planet as they are to their customers.

Got an idea to collaborate for the next blueprint?
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Project Blueprint Steps

Our category blueprints are designed to break down each step in the six-stage procurement process, empowering users to manage and execute sustainable projects seamlessly.

Assessment

• Evaluate the market for different types of recycled paper alternatives for the paper towel roll (the link to Canopy Planet in the resource section has a list with all the globally available eco papers information.)

• Analyze the existing or new suppliers who will provide these choices. Preference to suppliers with a green seal of UL/ECOLOGO certification.

• Conduct a cost analysis between the current paper rolls and recyclable alternatives (include processed chlorine-free options) to appraise the switch's viability. Use the link in the resources section to learn more about harmful chemicals from the Chlorine Free Products Association (CFPA).

Opportunity Identification

Business:
Cost savings on switching from non-recycled tissues and paper towels to recycled-content materials. Additional cost savings can be achieved by purchasing in bulk will result in savings.

Sustainability:
Jumbo rolls and bulk purchases could drastically reduce packing waste, and the use of processed chlorine-free paper reduces harmful chlorine chemicals disposed into nature. Green janitorial products are recyclable, which keeps paper out of landfills and help save rain forests and our ecosystems.

Strategy Build & Execution

• Finalize on the right paper choices for the purchase based on the analysis. For example, look for “coreless” products; coreless paper towels have no cardboard core to dispose and tissue are readily available and offer an opportunity to reduce waste after the products are used.

• Select a supplier or check if the existing supplier has the option to provide these cloth materials and seek out a suitable supplier using an RFI.

• Decide on the suppliers to reach out to based on the type of paper roll to proceed.

• Align company stakeholders (affected by this change) to make aware of the benefits of this change. ie) who are the decisions makers and is there an inventory manager that needs to be part of the decision making process.

Supplier Negotiation 
& Contract

• The inclusion of a warranty clause with guaranteed quality during the contract establishment, as the alternative, might fail to meet the standard requirements.

• Ensure that suppliers apply and qualify for the ECOLOGO or Green Seal certification, and this confirmation needs to be monitored. See links in resources for guides to choosing the certifications appropriate to your organization.

Supplier Performance 
& Management

• On an annual basis, record the different janitorial paper products purchased during regular inventory stock checks.

• Maintain records of purchases, inventory costs, usage rates, and average inventory levels. Track the savings from the use of jumbo rolls instead of folded paper towels as well. Track usage rates to ensure the quality of paper products procured.

• Perform an annual reviews with internal stakeholders after the program has been implemented to discuss benefits and challenges. Evaluate the commercial impact of switch to recycled paper and purchases in larger quantities and compare with historical data and report cost savings.

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