Buy, Borrow, Share: Sustainable Purchasing at Stanford

At Stanford, so many things get purchased, brought to campus, and used every single day. When it comes to the thousands of people who live and work on Stanford’s campus, all of these items add up to a significant amount! So when we choose a locally-owned print shop or reuse office supplies instead of buying new, we’re doing more than simply saving money: we’re modeling what it means to purchase with purpose. 

This ethos was front and center at Stanford’s Responsible Purchasing information session this May, where over 100 staff gathered virtually to explore how everyday decisions – whether ordering lab gear or booking travel – can support the university’s sustainability goals.

Participants walked away with actionable tips: slow your shipping to cut emissions; use catalogs such as SmartMart to identify greener products; ensure competitive markets and support local businesses; reuse where you can. A full suite of tips is available on the Responsible Purchasing website.

The core message? Sustainability isn’t a separate step – it’s baked into how we live our lives. When hundreds of people make small, mindful decisions, the cumulative impact is huge. Stanford’s path to net zero greenhouse gas emissions relies on what we buy, borrow, and share every single day. You can access the session recording and slides, as well as a guide for planet-friendly purchasing.