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100 • Green Project Management

remote offices—these things and more can play into the project manager’s
hand for a greener project.

greening the ProjeCt PurChasing
(ProCurement) ProCess

In most cases, the project will require resources other than people. Those
resources sometimes include items to be purchased , like equipment and
services, or raw materials. Here is an opportunity for green thinking
about the suppliers (vendors) supplying the equipment resources. The U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency has produced significant guidelines for
green purchasing. We provide information in Chapter 14. The European
Union has an extensive eco-labeling program—details are available at
http://www.eco-label.com/default.htm.
Again, this is also an opportunity for management to validate their com-
mitment to project greenality. Management should encourage the project
manager and the project team to seek out the greener vendors. That com-
mitment may mean that the cost of the purchasing equipment and services
from greener vendors may be higher in dollars, but when considering the
value of corporate social responsibility (CSR) and how that is viewed by
the stakeholders, the benefit may offset the additional cost. Green think-
ing instilled in management, the project manager, and the project team
means that these kinds of offsets will always be considered.
There are several areas of the purchasing process where green think-
ing can be applied. The first instance is during purchase planning. Using
the scope statement, the work breakdown definition, and the schedule,
the project manager will have a good idea as to what needs to be pur-
chased and when those purchases need to be made. Looking through
their environmental lens, the project manager and team can determine
the green alternatives for the project purchases by further defining the
project needs, seeking green purchasing experts when appropriate, and
particularly using the experience and knowledge of the project team,
selected for those very reasons. Something to keep in mind, though, is
that even with the best plans of what will be needed for the project, if the
vendor cannot supply it when needed, there is a good possibility that the
project will not succeed. So again, price and greenality may not be the
only determinants. At this point, the project manager and team will have