🔎 Impact Report #5: Curiosity done well ✨

Environmental / Local Purchasing

Harvey has developed this environmental purchasing policy to encourage the purchase and use of materials, products, and services that incorporate environmental, social, community, and performance goals.

Last reviewed:
November 6, 2023

Scope

Preference will be given to suppliers that meet robust third-party social and environmental certification criteria. Where reasonable, all significant suppliers should meet one or more of the following standards:

  • Certified B Corporation
  • Other rigorous and independent third-party certifications will be considered on a case by case basis.

When price and quality are equal, preference will also be given to independent, woman, or minority-owned suppliers physically located within 250km of Harvey’s location in Melbourne. Refer to our preferred supplier list here for ideas.

Harvey actively assesses our needs for purchasing consumable printed items (e.g. business cards, printer paper, envelopes, files, etc.). First we ask ourselves can this be shared or shown digitally. If not, can we borrow it, or buy it second hand.? If no we assess if it meets one or more of the following criteria:

  • At least 50% post-consumer recycled material
  • At least 50% rapidly renewable materials
  • At least 50% materials harvested or extracted and processed within 250km
  • At least 50% FSC certified paper products

In addition, Harvey must only procure necessary equipment.  Of those necessities, Harvey must encourage the purchase of sustainable durable goods. These include:

  • Environmentally sustainable, electric-powered equipment, including office equipment, appliances, external power adapters, televisions, and other audio-visual equipment, must be ENERGY STAR certified, when feasible.
  • Secondhand electronics and equipment will be purchased when possible.
  • Environmentally preferable or secondhand furniture should be purchased, where feasible.

Goals

Harvey must maintain sustainable purchasing that adheres to the criteria above for at least 80% of the total annual purchase of applicable ongoing consumable materials and durable goods, as deemed feasible.

Procedures and Strategies

Harvey will be responsible for working with vendors to identify environmentally preferable products that meet the needs of the facility and operations.