RAN’s Socially and Environmentally Responsible Purchasing
Guidelines
________________________________________________________________
With the Socially and Environmentally Responsible Purchasing Guidelines, RAN embraces its
role as an organization that works for both social justice and the environment. Therefore, we
pledge to make conscientious purchasing decisions with respect to RAN’s office, staff and event
needs as they relate to our purchasing power, the environment and sustainability.
SCOPE
These guidelines apply to all of RAN’s purchasing needs, including food, supplies and services.
They also include RAN-sponsored events and trainings, regardless of location.
The guidelines apply to any expenditure made by RAN staff members with RAN funds, whether
they are in San Francisco or traveling.
The implementation of the guidelines will be a shared responsibility between the RAN staff,
interns, and volunteers. Implementation will be informed by a number of guiding principles,
which will be reviewed annually by the Diversity Committee and the Operations department. It
is the responsibility of each RAN staff members to make an informed decision in all purchases
based on their judgment of what available option best meets the values expressed in these
guildelines. Should there be questions about the guidelines, please address them to the
Operations Director who is part of the Diversity Committee and the Leadership team.
DEFINITIONS
Purchasing refers to the process of procuring products from restaurants, manufacturers or
vendors for a fee.
Fair Trade certification is a system that seeks to improve the lives of agricultural product
producers in origin countries by ensuring that the owners of farms receive a guaranteed fair
price for their harvest. Transfair and Equal Exchange are recognized certification bodies in
North America. Examples of commodities that may be fair trade certified include coffee, green
and black tea, cocoa products, sugar, rice, bananas and other tropical fruit.
Certified Organic is a certification system that requires agricultural production without the use
of synthetic pesticides, herbicides, or chemical fertilizers, and that contributes to a healthy
environment including clean groundwater. Because we recognize that not all certification
groups use the same principles, any certified products will be considered organic for this
purpose.
Union made describes products made by unionized workers. A union is a legally sanctioned,
formally organized association of waged workers who have united to represent and protect
their welfare, interests, wages, hours, and working conditions, primarily by collective
bargaining.
Worker-owned cooperative is a cooperative owned and operated by its "worker-owners". There
are no outside, or consumer owners, in a worker's cooperative - only the workers own shares of
the business. Only one membership share may be issued to a member. One membership share
RAN’s Socially and Environmentally Responsible Purchasing
Guidelines
________________________________________________________________
= one vote. Membership is not compulsory for employees, but only employees can become
members.
Preferences are the primary way of doing business at RAN; we will purchase necessary goods
and services from the most appropriate, available source.
GUIDING PRINCIPLES
RAN will communicate its commitment to these purchasing guidelines to the Board of
Directors, staff, volunteers, interns, and the public and to all suppliers of goods and
services, if requested.
RAN will make human and financial resources available, as needed, to meet its stated
commitments including regular trainings for relevant staff. The Approved Supplier List
will be updated regularly and will include Approved Suppliers in the Bay Area and in
other locations where RAN staff frequently travel.
RAN will support allied organizations in developing and implementing similar policies.
RAN will annually review the progress of guideline implementation for purchasing
through the Diversity Committee and Ops.
RAN will rely on a combination of approved processes by which those responsible for
purchasing are screening business partners by way of the Approved Supplier List and
reference to other organizations’ certification processes.
RAN will work with suppliers not in full compliance with the policy to assist them to
improve their practices.
RAN will work under a commitment to reduce consumption.
FINANCIAL & GEOGRAPHIC CONSIDERATIONS
RAN recognizes that there may be additional costs associated with the practices detailed within
these guidelines, and that products that meet our preferred standards may not be available in
all geographic areas or within the required timeframe. When adequate funds aren’t available to
obtain a particular product or food that adheres to RAN’s guidelines or when items that meet
RAN’s guideline preferences are not readily available, purchasers will determine the following
three things:
1. Is it necessary to purchase said product?
2. Can quantities of product be reduced in order to meet guideline goals?
3. Are there substitutes that can meet our needs even if said substitutes aren’t preferred?
Staff members may purchase the best available product within the budget when the desired
product is necessary, quantities cannot be reduced, and no adequate substitutes are available.
When choosing among food alternatives that do not satisfy all of RAN’s preferences, RAN will
prioritize Fresh, Local, Organic, Sustainable and Humane products (in that order of preference)
that meet the purchaser’s dietary requirements and other needs.
RAN’s Socially and Environmentally Responsible Purchasing
Guidelines
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POLICY STATEMENT
RAN commits to the following socially and environmentally responsible practices:
RAN will not purchase goods produced through child or forced labor.
RAN will not purchase products from companies listed by Coop America, Sweatshop Watch
or other reliable sources as employing or supporting sweatshop labor.
RAN prefers products not made by companies currently subject to a RAN campaign.
RAN prefers companies that have taken the Palm Oil pledge.
RAN prefers Union-made products or those made by worker-owned cooperatives.
RAN prefers companies that pay employees a living wage and offer health benefits.
RAN prefers companies with policies against discrimination in the workplace on the basis of
race, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, physical or mental ability, age, class, or
heritage.
RAN prefers companies that protect their employees from exposure to hazardous working
conditions, such as toxic chemicals.
RAN prefers Fair Trade certified products that ensure fair prices to family farmers and fair
wages to farm workers.
RAN will only offer vegetarian and vegan food at RAN meetings or events when food is
served. In limited circumstances, where it would be culturally inappropriate to not serve
meat products, exceptions can be made.
RAN prefers certified Organic products from sustainable, local, and when applicable, cage-
free sources.
RAN prefers companies that do not engage in animal testing and will rely on certification by
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (http://search.caringconsumer.com/), the
Humane Cosmetics Standard (http://www.gocrueltyfree.org), or other reliable certification.
RAN prefers non-genetically modified produce and other foods that do not contain GMO’s.
RAN prefers buying local and seasonal products.
RAN prefers post-consumer recycled paper and non-paper products are favored over
products created from virgin materials.
RAN prefers the reuse of materials and the minimization and recycling of waste.
RAN’s Socially and Environmentally Responsible Purchasing
Guidelines
________________________________________________________________
RAN avoids undue and unnecessary use of packaging and paper materials.
RAN prefers companies involved with monitoring and modification of processes and
activities that are wasteful and damaging to scarce resources.
RAN employs conservation efforts to ensure that all production and delivery processes,
including the use of heating, ventilation, lighting, IT systems and transportation, are based
on the need to maximize efficient energy use and to minimize harmful emissions.
RAN prefers fully biodegradable cleaning and toiletry products.
RAN uses low- or zero-volatile organic compounds (VOCs) paint for banners and decoration
of the office space; wastefulness is avoided by caring for tools and brushes.
RAN prefers soy-based inks for all publications, brochures and educational posters.
RAN prefers to purchase in bulk when available.
RAN avoids products that are current targets of campaigns or boycotts by groups working
for social or environmental justice.
RAN will not cross labor picket-lines.
RAN prefers free/open source software solutions over proprietary software when practical.
RAN’s Socially and Environmentally Responsible Purchasing
Guidelines
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Approved Supplier List
For institutional purchases:
Copy paper: 100% PCW from New Leaf, Mohawk or Evergreen
Stationery: 100% PCW, union label, soy-based ink
Direct Mail pieces: 100% PCW New Leaf 60#, envelopes are 100%PCW (through mailhouse)
Newsletters: New Leaf Imagination 80#, 100% post-consumer recycled paper
Toilet paper: Bath Marcal 100% recycled (60% PCW)
Office supplies: Give Something Back
T-shrts: check out http://www.cfomaquiladoras.org/english%20site/dj.en.html
For individual purchases:
Bay Area restaurants:
Bulk
meat options
Sustainable
food/
Delivery
options
large
Vegan
Restaurant
orders Organic/
& for local/
Contact pick sustaina
Info up ble Packaging Notes
Mixt Online ordering
fish, turkey)
Yes (steak,
minimum)
Yes available. Same
chicken,
Greens
($200
($45 day orders must be
Yes
Yes
www.mixtgree
ns.com mini received by 10:30
415-433- mum almost recyclable & am and availability
6498 ) entirely compostable is not guaranteed.
Soup
Yes (sirloin,
Freaks Online ordering
chicken,
turkey)
available. Platter
Yes
Yes
www.soupfrea
ks.com re-usable; they orders require 24
415-433- almost pick up trays hour notice.
7687 Yes entirely after use Breakfast & lunch.
Online ordering
($50 minimum + 10%
Yes (chicken, steak,
available. 5 person
delivery charge)
minimum with each
entree category
minimal
turkey)
selection. All parties
Yes
Sellers
Market larger than 20
www.sellersm require a minimum
arkets.com of 24-hour notice.
415-956- almost Breakfast, lunch &
3825 Yes entirely recyclable dinner.
Orders must be
salads or sandwiches
Yes (chicken, beef &
Yes (minimum of 10
placed by 4pm the
+ $5 - 10 charge)
day before delivery.
Boxed Orders of 25+
bacon)
Foods
some
sandwiches or
Company salads must be
www.boxedfoo
dscompany.co placed by 10am 1
m day prior to
415-981- almost delivery. Breakfast
9376 Yes entirely compostable & lunch.
RAN’s Socially and Environmentally Responsible Purchasing
Guidelines
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Online & fax
($15 charge)
ordering available.
Yes (turkey,
roast beef,
Harvest &
chicken)
24 hr notice
some
Rowe
Yes
www.harvesta appreciated; can try
ndrowe.com/ re-usable; they to accommodate
415-541- almost pick up trays same day orders.
7771 Yes entirely after use Breakfast & lunch.
Whole
Yes (all meats &
Foods Allow 48 hour
www.wholefoo notice on all
seafood)
dsmarket.com
catering orders.
Yes
Yes
/stores/caterin
g/NC/SOM.ht Have many
ml different,
415-618- recyclable & international
0066 Yes mostly compostable cuisines.
All catering is
Yes (chicken &
gluten and dairy
free. Organic food
Possibly
many
Balanced beef) is used for
Bites everything with only
www.balanced
very rare
bites.com
diane@balanc almost recyclable & exceptions as
edbites.com Yes entirely compostable noted.
Very few
Fulton
Beef
Zebulon
Yes
www.zebulons
When
f.com possibl
975-5705 Yes e SF standard
Birley's
"natural &
Yes (free
for $30+
minimal
artisan"
orders)
www.birleys.c Place breakfast or
om large orders the day
415-318- prior to delivery.
1800 Yes some recyclable Breakfast & lunch.
Lettüs
Yes (chicken)
Café
Organic 48 hours is needed
many
No
www.lettusorg for most orders.
anic.com Located at Steiner
415-931- almost & Chestnut in the
2777 Yes entirely recyclable Marina.
Orders delivered
Yes ($10 with $50+
anytime before
San noon. Place orders
by 3:00p the prior
order)
some
Francisco
no
Soup Co Yes day. Make every
www.sfsoupco ($20 all effort to
.com mini salad; accommodate
415-788- mum some recyclable & orders placed by
7687 ) soup compostable 9:00a the day of.
Alive!
Restaurant
no meat
entirely
Yes
www.aliveveg
gie.com/ Entirely raw menu.
415-923- Closed Mondays &
1052 Yes entirely Tuesdays.
RAN’s Socially and Environmentally Responsible Purchasing
Guidelines
________________________________________________________________
Yes
Yes
No
Rico's
(415) 928- SF
5404 Yes No requirement
Mijita 20 people is a lot -
www.mijitasf.c need advanced
Yes
Yes
No
om/ notice and order by
(415) 399- SF noon or after
0914 Yes Yes requirement 1:30pm
Regalito
www.regalitosf
Yes
Yes
No
.com/
(415) SF
503.0650 Yes Yes requirement
Green
Chile
Kitchen
Yes
Yes
No
www.greenchil
ekitchen.com/
(415) 614- SF
9411 Yes Yes requirement
all
almost entire menu
Medicine organic
yes (fish)
Eat Station &
www.medicine
No
restaurant.co biodyn
m/ amic; Need to receive the
(415) mostly recyclable & order at least one
677.4405 Yes local compostable day in advance.
Osha Thai
minimum)
Some
($400
www.oshathai.
Yes
Yes
com/
415.788.67
42 Yes Some
Yes ($100
minimum)
Banana
Local
No
House
(415) 981-
9090 Yes None
?- in CA
Yes
Yes
Siam
Kitchen
(415) 391-
8988 Yes ?
Yes
No
No
Bangkok
Best Thai
(415) 362-
2216 Yes None Order before 12pm
TonYong
Yes
Yes
No
Thai Café
(415) 986-
6218 Yes Some
RAN’s Socially and Environmentally Responsible Purchasing
Guidelines
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No
No
No
Tara
(415) 348-
9977 Yes None
Penang
Yes
Garden
No
No
(415) 296- Some? Order before 12pm
7878 Yes ? and after 2pm