StopWaste's policy template and compliant product lists work together to help public agencies formalize and implement sustainable purchasing practices. The policy establishes your organization's expectations and priorities, while the product lists identify specific items that meet those standards.
The StopWaste Sustainable Procurement Policy Template establishes core agency expectations for purchases that support environmental, social, and economic values. It uses a "Core Strategies" framework for overall direction, with the Sustainable Purchasing Guides handling specific implementation details for each product category.
This structure keeps the policy relevant over time — the high-level strategy remains stable while the supporting guides can be updated as products and standards evolve.
Key features of the template:
- Customizable — designed as a starting point, not a mandatory adoption
- Core Strategies offer a range of sustainability priorities; agencies select those that align with their goals
- Reporting flexibility allows realistic commitments during current policy cycles
- "Minimum Requirements + Leadership Opportunities" model supports continuous improvement at whatever pace works for your organization
The template is available as a downloadable Word document (.docx) that can be adapted to your agency's specific needs and governance structure.