Procurement with Purpose: Building Financial and Environmental Sustainability in K-12

When I first stepped into the role of district CTO in Virginia more than a decade ago, sustainability wasn’t exactly on the radar when it came to technology procurement. Budgets were tight, priorities were urgent, and devices were largely seen as disposable tools; buy them, use them, replace them.

Fast forward to today, and the picture has changed dramatically. Technology is at the center of teaching and learning, especially as schools increasingly adopt AI-powered digital tools, and every technology we purchase carries with it a hidden environmental and financial footprint.

That’s why I’m so proud to have been part of the Consortium for School Networking (CoSN) team, working in partnership with the SETDA (also known as the State Educational Technology Directors Association) and UDT (United Data Technologies), to develop the Sustainable Procurement Guidelines released this fall. These guidelines are not about checking a box; they’re about helping districts make smarter choices that serve students, communities, and the planet.

Why Sustainability Belongs in the CTO’s Office

When people ask me, “Why should a technology leader care about sustainability?” my answer is simple: because it’s already part of our job.

Every device a district purchases consumes finite resources like lithium and rare earth metals, many of which are toxic and difficult to recycle. If we ignore that reality, we not only deplete resources but also create e-waste that ends up harming the very communities our students live in.

But sustainability isn’t just about being green; it’s also about being smart with our resources. I like to think of it under three umbrellas:

• Device sustainability: Choosing durability, repairability, and longer lifespans.

• Financial sustainability: What’s good for the environment is often good for the budget.

• Environmental sustainability: Reducing e-waste, energy use, and reliance on raw materials.

Sustainability, then, isn’t separate from IT priorities. It’s directly tied to reliability, cost savings, security, and student success.

Why Focus on EdTech Sustainability Now?

Districts are spending billions annually on technology, a number that will nearly double by the end of this decade. Without a framework, that spending risks driving up costs and creating mountains of e-waste. According to SETDA’s 2025 State Trends Report, we already see leaders expressing concern about being able to keep up with rising costs. At the same time, local communities are asking schools to model environmental responsibility, and vendors themselves are responding; Google, for instance, recently extended Chromebook lifespans from five to ten years, while Apple and Lenovo are using more recycled content in their devices.

In other words, the timing is right. The CoSN, SETDA, and UDT guidelines provide a menu of options, not a rigid checklist, for districts to incorporate into their decision-making.

Six Areas of Sustainable EdTech Procurement

The guidelines outline six areas where schools can make a measurable impact:

1. Energy efficiency

2. Recyclable and sustainable materials

3. Long product lifespans

4. E-waste reduction

5. Modularity and repairability

6. Vendor sustainability practices

The key is flexibility. Districts don’t need to tackle everything at once. Start with what aligns with your priorities today; maybe that’s requiring energy-efficient devices, maybe it’s prioritizing take-back programs with vendors, or maybe it’s investing in durability to cut repair costs. Think of it as the “elephant” analogy: you eat it one bite at a time.

Making EdTech Vendors Part of the Solution

One of the biggest challenges districts face is separating genuine sustainability from marketing buzzwords. That’s why procurement language matters. Don’t just accept “sustainable” at face value; instead, require documentation. If a vendor claims their devices use recycled materials, ask how much. If they advertise ENERGY STAR certification, request proof.

By setting clear expectations, districts help vendors step up, and many are eager to. Some have reduced packaging waste, others are extending lifespans. With the CoSN, SETDA, and UDT guidelines, districts have the tools to make sustainability part of the RFP process.

IT Collaboration with Finance and Procurement Is Key

For sustainable procurement to stick, it can’t be just IT’s responsibility. Finance and procurement also need a seat at the table. IT knows the devices. Finance ensures investments pay off. Procurement turns sustainability goals into real contracts. It’s about building relationships that are collaborative, not adversarial.

What Success Looks Like

If districts commit to sustainability, here’s what I believe we’ll see in five years:

• Cost savings from longer device lifespans.

• Lower damage rates thanks to protective strategies.

• Reduced e-waste through recycling and take-back programs.

And most importantly, students will begin to understand the value of responsible decision-making by watching it modeled at scale.

My Advice to District Leaders

If I could leave one thought with district leaders, it’s this: every purchase tells a story about your priorities.

The acquisitions of goods and services, big and small, shape the world we live in. Every device you buy, every contract you sign, is an opportunity to save money, reduce waste, and model responsibility for the next generation.

Sustainable procurement isn’t just about buying green. It’s about buying smart.

👉 Learn More

Explore the new CoSN, SETDA, & UDT Sustainable Procurement Guidelines.

Listen

NGLC is grateful for our collaboration and partnership with EDU Café Podcast that brings fresh voices and insights to the blog. Listen to the full episode of the podcast that inspired this article.

Photo at top by Liza Summer on Pexels.