Center for a New American Dream

The Center for a New American Dream, 6930 Carroll Avenue, Suite 900, Takoma Park, MD 20912, 301-891-3683, helps Americans consume responsibly to protect the environment, enhance quality of life and promote social justice. We offer resources that make it easier for individuals to live consciously and buy wisely. We work with individuals, institutions, communities, and businesses to conserve natural resources, counter the commercialization of our culture, and promote positive changes in the way goods are produced and consumed. The Responsible Purchasing Network (RPN), http://www.responsiblepurchasing.org, is a program of the Center for a New American Dream and is an international membership network of institutions engaged in socially and environmentally responsible purchasing. RPN promotes and practices responsible purchasing by identifying best practices, developing effective purchasing tools, educating the market, and utilizing its collective purchasing power. RPN membership and consulting services provide institutional purchasers with cutting edge procurement tools and resources designed to save money, conserve resources, reduce waste, protect human health, and improve efficiency. RPN produces:

• Responsible Purchasing Guides on high priority product and service categories, including: Bottled Water Alternatives, Carbon Offsets, Cleaners, Food Services, Green Power, Lighting, Office Electronics, Paper, and more.
• Green Products Database - Members only database containing thousands of products conforming to green standards and certifications.
• Free webinars on timely responsible purchasing topics.

The Center for a New American Dream practices a four-day workweek, which reduces its environmental footprint and increases employee quality of life. The Center’s office has undergone a green renovation, complete with cork flooring, low-VOC paints, recycled carpet tiles, Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)-certified wood furniture, and chairs made from post consumer recycled material.