This highly achievable prerequisite requires you to create and implement a compliant purchasing policy aimed at increasing procurement of environmentally preferable products. Teams should be able to create purchasing policy with in-house staff at little to no additional cost. While switching to environmentally preferred products may add cost in some cases, you only have to demonstrate actual compliance with the policy if you pursue the related credit.

Policy template

Project teams should definitely use the template created by USGBC as the foundation for the policy (see the Doc Toolkit). Customizing the template is encouraged so that the policy reflects your building’s operational practices. But remember that all prerequisite requirements must be addressed, so take care when removing or adjusting content.

Connection to the purchasing credit

The related purchasing credit outlines all of the product sustainability criteria and compliance thresholds that must be reflected in your purchasing policy. But remember, tracking for your project’s actual purchases is completed under the credit, and not the prerequisite.

Interiors projects

Interiors projects should develop a policy that addresses the products purchased within the project’s control. However, be aware that there is an additional requirement for Interiors projects to recommend environmentally preferred purchasing best practices for procurement activities that are outside of the project’s control. Details are scarce on this additional requirement—we recommend adding a section to your policy that speaks to this requirement. Circulating your policy to other building tenants or the building owner/property manager is potentially another way to demonstrate compliance with this requirement.

What’s New in LEED v4.1

• The prerequisite name has been changed from Ongoing Purchasing and Waste Policy to Purchasing Policy
• All waste-related requirements have been removed, including the requirement to either divert 75% of ongoing waste or perform a waste stream audit
• Food and beverages must be included in your policy
• Durable goods have been renamed electronic equipment (and lamps are now included under this category of purchases)
• Retail requirements have been removed
• New requirements have been added for O+M Interiors projects. The Interiors adaptation is new under LEED v4.1 and can be applied to existing interior spaces within a portion of an existing building.

Should I upgrade?

This prerequisite has been re-focused exclusively on purchasing, making it easier to achieve. Additionally, the requirement to perform a waste stream audit for any building with a waste diversion rate under 75% has been removed in v4.1. This may be a selling point if your project has struggled to meet that 75% threshold.