• Reduce any negative and unintended impacts on the environment (like pollution of the Great Lakes or deterioration of local air quality);
• Support companies that provide products and services that have fewer environmental impacts and stimulate ”green,” innovative product development and business development;
• Save the amount of money spent on cleaning up pollution, by preventing it in the first place;
• Send a message to manufacturers and service providers that consumers will recognize their environmental efforts;
• Create a scale effect, thus reducing production costs by the sheer scale of demand for green products; and
• Fulfill OECD agreements to take greater account of environmental considerations in public procurement of products and services (OECD member countries are to demonstrate their progress by 2005).

For private companies, Green Procurement can help to:

• Avoid costs by eliminating or lowering fees for waste management or hazardous material management (like special training, handling and storage), reducing time and costs for reporting and receiving fewer fines;
• Save money by conserving energy, water, fuel and other resources;
• Simplify compliance with environmental regulations;
• Demonstrate due diligence;
• Reduce risk of accidents, reduce liability and lower health and safety costs;
• Improve image, brand and goodwill;
• Improve health of employees and communities, through cleaner air and water, less hazardous wastes to handle and dispose; and
• Increase shareholder value.