Sustainable Purchasing

A shelf packed with assorted printer cartridges from brands like HP, Canon, and Samsung, stored in boxes.

Highlights

A row of various office furniture in a warehouse, including a wooden bookshelf, filing cabinets, and office cubicles.

Western operates a surplus store where you can pick up and drop off used items rather than purchasing them new. The surplus store offers everything from office materials and furniture to low-cost computers, printers, and audio/visual equipment. Check out the surplus store’s online site or visit them in person at 781 25th St, room 124 between 8-4:30 on weekdays. Check out the State of Washington’s also has an online surplus store as well.

A red-brick building at a street corner with businesses on the ground floor, including a shoe store, and a clock tower on the corner.

Buying local: Business Services has been working hard to make buying local easier for campus employees. Check out some of the local businesses that are registered WWU venders.

A vibrant multi-colored flag displayed at an outdoor market, with clothing racks and people in the background.

Supporting minority and women-owned businesses: Over the last two years, WWU has partnered with the State Office of Minority & Women’s Business Enterprises to diversify all of its services as a way of supporting and promoting minority and women owned businesses in the state. Learn more about how WWU is doing this.

How to get involved

Purchase less by finding used items. Look for what you need at Western’s surplus store or the State’s online surplus store first.
Buy goods and services that are marked as sustainable, local, or provided by women and minority-owned businesses.
Join the Sustainable Office Certification programto learn more about how to make your office more sustainable.
Join the Sustainable Lab Certification program to learn more about how to make your lab more sustainable.

Did you know?

Scope 3 emissions,

which include purchased goods and services, often make up the majority of an organization's total GHG emissions.

Western is working towards

electrifying all of its vehicles and grounds equipment, and its building the infrastructure needed to charge new electric vehicles and equipment.