Environmentally Preferable Purchasing
Published: July 2000
Updated: November 2000
Links Last Checked: September 2005
The Pacific Northwest Pollution Prevention Resource Center (PPRC) has compiled information that will assist purchasers in their efforts to establish or maintain an environmental purchasing program. Included is information that can assist in identifying "green" products, setting up an environmental purchasing program, general and specific resources that are available to purchasers, guides for locating green products, and examples of procurement programs that can be used as a guide for purchasers building or improving their own programs. A number of these resources also provide concrete examples identifying the overall cost savings in using environmentally preferable products - achieved due to longer life of the product, reduced operating costs and/or reduced maintenance costs.
What is Environmental Purchasing?
Although different organizations (government, non-profit, or industry) may define environmental purchasing in somewhat different ways, it generally refers to buying products and services with reduced effects on human health and the environment. Also called "Affirmative Procurement," "Environmentally Preferable Purchasing," and "Green Purchasing," this approach means integrating environmental factors into procurement policies, usually using the following tools and/or methods:
- Pollution Prevention: From the start of a process or procedure, reducing or eliminating toxicity, air and water emissions.
- Life-Cycle Perspective: Looking beyond purchase price. Consider costs and environmental impacts over the lifetime of a product or service (manufacturing, packaging, transport, energy consumption, maintenance, disposal).
- Natural Resource Protection: Giving preference to sustainable, reusable content, and recycled materials over virgin materials, as well as to conserving water and energy.
What Are The Benefits of Environmental Purchasing for Companies?
Just as pollution prevention actions often lead to dollar savings, many companies have reduced costs through environmental purchasing. Companies highlighted in the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) report, "Private Sector Pioneers: How Companies Are Incorporating Environmentally Preferable Purchasing," (June 1999, EPA742-R-99-001) have achieved savings that include:
- Reduced material costs for manufacturers.
- Reduced repair and replacement costs when using more durable and repairable equipment.
- Reduced disposal costs by generating less waste.
- Improved product design and performance of the product(s).
- Increased employee safety and health at the facility.
As noted in the EPA report, many companies adopted environmental purchasing policies for traditional business reasons:
- Recognizing market preferences, and serving customers who have a stated interest in "environmentally friendly" products and practices.
- Distinguishing a company and its products from competitors.
- Avoiding hidden costs and pursuing cost savings.
- Increasing operating efficiency.
- Joining an industry or international market trend.
Although these reasons result in intangible benefits, there are specific examples of measurable reduced costs associated with environmentally preferable products. These include a lower purchase price (e.g. remanufactured products), reduced operational costs (e.g. energy efficiency), reduced disposal costs (e.g. more durable products) and reduced hazardous management costs (e.g. less toxic products). In addition, purchasing environmentally preferable products may reduce an organization's potential future liability, improve the work environment and minimize risks to workers.
Why Should Government Agencies Implement Environmental Purchasing?
Government agencies, in addition to all the benefits noted above for business, have an additional reason to implement environmental purchasing programs. Quite simply, government agencies are among the largest buyers of goods and services in the country. And, government purchasing can help build markets for energy efficient equipment, recycled materials, sustainably harvested wood and non-toxic cleaners. The federal government is the single largest consumer in the United States, spending over $500 billion per year on products and services, while state and local agencies spend over $900 billion per year on these purchases (Slater, Courtnay and Cornelia Strawser ed. 1999. Business Statistics of the United States, 1998 Edition. Washington DC: Bernan Press).
Further highlighting the potential impact that environmental purchasing can have on efficiency and environmental protection, the Federal Energy Management Program estimates that $10 billion to $20 billion per year of federal purchases are for energy related products. A similar estimate does not exist for state and local governments, although data are available on purchases of durable and non-durable goods and investments in structures and equipment, which total $262 billion per year (U.S. Bureau of the Census 1998. Statistical Abstract of the United States: 1998. Springfield, Virginia: National Technical Information Service).] General fund expenditures for Northwest states governments total as follows [From The Fiscal Survey of States: 1999, National Association of State Budget Officers]:
- Washington $10.16 billion.
Oregon $4.86 billion; and
Alaska $2.27 billion;
Idaho $1.68 billion;
What is Included in Environmental Purchasing?
It is important to keep in mind that purchasing includes not just products but also services. In fact, many contracts for services also involve products and vice versa, which creates incentives to use durable, reusable products efficiently. For example, Xerox doesn't sell copiers, they sell copying services - they maintain and take back their equipment. Other examples include enlisting in an energy management or chemical management system, both of which allow for a more efficient use of resources, since the vendor is responsible for product use, and no longer makes their money solely on the amount of product sold. In recent years, servicing has extended to specific products including vehicle leasing, HVAC maintenance outsourcing, and landscape maintenance services. One specific example of a service as a product is carpet leasing for an office, rather than purchasing the carpet outright, or requiring carpet vendors to provide recycling services for old carpeting. In both cases, the vendor takes back the carpet and recycles or reuses it. Perhaps the most important part of this service is that the purchaser does not have to find ways to recycle or reuse the carpet on their own - it is taken care by the vendor.
Numerous governmental agencies in the Pacific Northwest have been leaders for environmental purchasing programs. One recent example is King County's Metro Transit switch to using re-refined motor oil in the entire bus fleet. The bus fleet, one of the largest in the country, is also one of the first major municipal bus fleets in the country to use re-refined motor oil. The switch was made after evaluations showed re-refined oil is equal in both price and performance to virgin oil.
Another recent example is the Environmentally Responsible Cleaning Products contract developed collaboratively by the state Department of Ecology and the Office of State Procurement. The contract is available to all members of the Washington and Oregon state purchasing cooperatives.
The resources below cover the range from individual product or service types to overall policies, so purchasers can put together the best combination for their organization.
Resources for Environmental Procurement/Environmentally Preferable Purchasing
The information that follows is useful for purchasers who are looking to start an environmental purchasing program, or improve the program that is in place. The specific areas covered:
- General Information. Includes resources from:
• federal, state, and local governments
• international sources
• non-profit organizations, trade associations and others
- List Serves for Purchasers
- Case Studies
- Certification Sites
- Green Product Databases
- Specific Product and Services Resources. Includes:
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Please note: some of the resources below are listed in multiple tables — for example, if a resource provides both general purchasing information as well as energy-specific information, it will be found in both tables. This is done to allow the reader to find all the information that relates to the area chosen.
General Information
The following resources provide a general overview of environmentally preferable purchasing, assisting those who are starting their own environmental purchasing program. Much of this information is provided by government, non-profit organizations or trade associations, as noted below. Information that contains specific information about products and services is provided in the section pertaining to that area - found below the general resources.
Federal Resources - general information from different federal agencies. Included are pages on how to set up an environmental purchasing program, different federal programs, and sites that provide resources about products.
| Resource | Where to find it/Contact Information |
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EPA's Environmentally Preferable Purchasing (EPP) site contains good information, including a description of what EPP is, "How to 'Do' EPP" and a list of other resources that can assist with EPP. The Pilot Projects section of the website lists numerous case studies. The EPP Program Updates contains all past issues of the EPA's EPP newsletter issues. Also, as of Earth Day 2003, the EPA announced that it will "green" EPA's purchases through for a variety of products and services per Executive Order 13101. The products and services include EPA's purchase/construction of buildings, janitorial and maintenance services, landscaping products, publications, office supplies, meetings, electronics, fleets, and power. |
EPA's EPP Homepage www.epa.gov/opptintr/epp/ Pilot Projects: Program Updates: www.epa.gov/greeningepa/ practices/eppgoals.htm Contact: epp.pilot@epa.gov |
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Office of the Environmental Executive site. Includes quite a bit of information about environmental purchasing at the federal level. A particularly good resource is Greening the Government: A Guide to Implementing Executive Order 12873, available to download as an Adobe Acrobat file, specifically, Part 4 of this report ("Acquisition Planning and Affirmative Procurement Programs"). |
www.ofee.gov/
Download document at: Office of the Environmental Executive |
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Website that has EPA's "Final Guidance on Environmentally Preferable Purchasing," providing guidance on Executive Order 13101, which replaced Executive Order 12873. |
www.epa.gov/oppt/epp/ guidance/finalguidancetoc.htm |
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U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Sector Notebook, Profile of Local Government Operations, EPA/310-R-99-001, 1999. Section 3.2 in Chapter 3 specifically addresses environmental purchasing for local governments. |
www.epa.gov/compliance/ resources/publications/assistance/ sectors/notebooks/government.html Seth Heminway (2223A) US EPA 401 M St. S.W. Washington, DC 20460 Tel: 202-564-7017 Fax: 202-564-0050 heminway.seth@epa.gov |
State Government Resources - general information from state purchasing programs that are up and running, all of which can help a state government or medium- to large-sized companies set up environmental purchasing programs.
| Resource | Where to find it/Contact Information |
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Home page of the Environmentally Preferable Products (EPP) Procurement Program of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. This web site is provided to address the environmentally preferred products information needs:
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www.magnet.state.ma.us/ osd/enviro/enviro.htm (also found at www.state.ma.us/osd/ enviro/enviro.htm) Produce & Service Information: www.magnet.state.ma.us/ osd/enviro/products.htm Eric Friedman, Environmental Purchasing Coordinator |
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Minnesota Office of Environmental Assistance - Environmental Preferable Purchasing. To reduce the quantity and toxicity of waste in Minnesota, state law requires state agencies and other public entities to purchase recycled, repairable, and durable goods. Purchasers can use the tools and resources on this site to incorporate environmental considerations into standard purchasing practices. |
www.moea.state.mn.us/ lc/purchasing/index.cfm |
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Minnesota Department of Administration - Environmentally Responsible Purchasing. The Materials Management Division is committed to helping state agencies purchase environmentally preferable products. This web site details legislative requirements, vendors and services, and case studies that provide examples of environmentally preferable products: their cost, performance, and availability. |
www.mmd.admin.state. mn.us/envir.htm |
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California Integrated Waste Management Board website. This website has loads of information on many topics, but one of the most pertinent part of the website for purchasers is the Buy Recycled program, and the recycled content products database. |
www.ciwmb.ca.gov/
Buy Recycled: www.ciwmb.ca.gov/BuyRecycled/ Recycled Content Products Database: www.ciwmb.ca.gov/rcp/ CIWMB Sacramento CIWMB Fullerton |
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New Jersey Purchase Bureau, Recycled Products Guide. Another website that could provide some helpful information to purchasers. Provides information about New Jersey's procurement policies. |
www.state.nj.us/ dep/dshw/recyclenj/ |
Local Government Resources - general information that can assist other local government purchasers as well as small businesses.
| Resource | Where to find it/Contact Information |
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Website for the Chelsea Center for Recycling and Economic Development. The Chelsea Center "was launched by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in 1995 to create jobs, support recycling efforts, and help the economy and the environment by working to increase the use of recyclables by manufacturers." |
Chelsea Center for Recycling and Economic Development |
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King County Environmental Purchasing website. Contains information about Program, Policy and Resources; Construction and Landscaping Materials; Office and Automotive Products; Product Experience; and Environmental/Recycling Links. As part of the Program, Policy and Resources page, there is a link to Environmental Purchasing Bulletins, periodic emails that cover a range of information about environmental purchasing. A wealth of information about environmental purchasing is available here. |
www.metrokc.gov/procure/green/
Environmental Purchasing Bulletins: www.metrokc.gov/procure/ |
King County Department of Natural Resources, Solid Waste Division Waste Prevention Business Programs, Environmentally Preferable Purchasing page. Includes information on product stewardship, and links to other programs around the country (many of which are listed elsewhere in this resource listing). |
www.metrokc.gov/procure/green |
City of Seattle Environmentally Responsible Purchasing Policy, Section 6.14, part of the City's Environmental Management Program. The Policy adopts principles and establishes responsibilities for City Departments, with lead roles in Seattle Public Utilities and Contracting Services. Other related policies on Chemical Use, Sustainable Building, and Waste Reduction and Recycling can be found at the website noted to the right. |
www.cityofseattle.net/environment/ Other policies: |
The City of Santa Monica has a Sustainable City Plan that addresses sustainability issues for numerous topic areas. The web site covers all elements of the Plan, of which purchasing is a guiding principle. |
Sustainable City Program: (santa-monica.org/epd/scp/) |
Information from the Local Government Environmental Assistance Network, "Purchasing Practices That Encourage Regulatory Compliance and Pollution Prevention." This article provides a good overview of environmental purchasing, including a list of products that are often replaced with environmentally preferable alternatives. |
lgean.org:80/html/p2-6.cfm
David George |
National Association of Counties (NACo) Environmental Purchasing page. Available from the website: Local Government Environmental Purchasing Starter Kit, A Guide to Greening Government through Powerful Purchasing Decisions. The Starter Kit includes program implementation strategies; case studies; model resolution; and a resource list. For members, the first two kits are free. Subsequent kits are $5.00 each plus shipping. For non-members, kits are $10 each. For orders of 10 copies or more, kits are discounted to $8 each.
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The National Association of Counties Ordering and Other Information on Starter Kits 440 First Street, N.W., Suite #800 Washington, D.C. 20001 Tel: 202-393-6226 Fax: 202-393-2630 |
| Resource | Where to find it/Contact Information |
DFAIT Sustainable Development greening operations site. Canadian site. This is a specific link to green buying, providing an overview of green purchasing with links to other areas/checklists. |
www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca/ sustain/EnvironMan/ system/greenop/buygrn-e.asp |
Green Procurement Reporting Framework, from Canada. The report has three components: implementation techniques; green product and service evaluation; and specific indicators of green procurement within departmental operations. This report provides a good overview on how to do green procurement. It is geared towards government agencies. |
www.tbs-sct.gc.ca/ pubs_pol/partners/sds-sdd1_e.html |
| European Green Purchasing Network workbook. The Network "is designed to facilitate a joint purchasing initiative of the various stakeholders, involving public and private sectors, governmental and non-governmental organisations." The workbook found at this website provides an overview of environmental purchasing, and how it pertains to Europe. A useful resource for purchasers, it provides information about environmental policy, who is involved in environmental purchasing, and public procurement in Europe. |
www.epe.be/programmes/ egpn/#Workbooks |
Non-profit Organizations, Trade Associations and Others
| Resource | Where to find it/Contact Information |
| PPRC Fall 1999 Newsletter on Green Buying. Information on many different aspects of green purchasing - what it is, how to set up environmental purchasing in an organization. Also included is an article that helps a purchaser determine what are "green products." | www.pprc.org/pubs/ Pacific Northwest Pollution Prevention Resource Center |
| Waste at Work: Prevention Strategies for the Bottom Line, from Inform, Inc. A handbook for businesses and government agencies, with Part II dealing solely with "Purchasing for Waste Prevention." Adobe Acrobat file. | www.informinc.org/wasteatwork.php
INFORM, Inc. |
Website from NYC WasteLe$$, "one of the most comprehensive citywide waste prevention and environmental public awareness programs undertaken to date in the United States." This page provides general tips for any business or organization interested in environmental procurement. |
www.nyc.gov/html/ |
| Website for the National Association of State Procurement Officials (NASPO). A trade association for state purchasers, includes: the NASPO Database of Recycled Commodities, Education, News Briefs, Procurement Reform, Publications, and a Vendor Guide. Much of the infomation on the site is a listing of available resources for members or purchase. The Procurement Reform page provides immediate information that, while not specific to environmental purchasing, can help purchasers lay out ideas and methods of purchasing with the environment in mind. |
Procurement Reform page: www.naspo.org/whitepapers/ National Association of State Procurement Officials |
| Website for the National Association of Purchasing Management, Inc. (NAPM), whose mission is to "...educate, develop, and advance the purchasing and supply management profession." Included on the website is an article index (1965-1999) for The Journal of Supply Chain Management - A Global Review of Purchasing and Supply, which identifies articles by topic area, allowing a purchaser to determine what articles they may want to order or look up.. Also available on the site is Purchasing Today, a monthly publication that has some of the articles in each issue available on-line, and additional purchasing resources in the News and Resources part of the website. |
NAPM |
| Pacific Northwest National Laboratory site (PNL), "Green Guide for Trimming Your Waste." Perhaps the pages most useful to non-PNL employees are "User's Information," "Reduce, Reuse, Recycle and Purchase Recycled Products," and "How to Trim Your Office Waste". Some of the information is geared specifically to Laboratory employees, but generally the information is useful for all. Also, it provides a good overview of what a national laboratory has put in place - which could be used as a template for others. |
www.pnl.gov/esp/ greenguide/index.html |
| Executive Summary of "Environmental Supply Chain Management," by Joseph R. Carter, D.B.A., C.P.M., Arizona State University, and Ram Narasimhan, Ph.D., Michigan State University. Center for Advanced Purchasing Studies, 1998. A significant amount of information that purchasers should find helpful is found in this paper. The full case study is a publication with the ISBN: 0-945968-33-7, and is a PPRC Library Resource. | www.capsresearch.org/ Publications/pdfs-public/ carter1998.htm |
| Kinsella, Susan, "Source Reduction: Using Your Buying Power," August 1996. A good summary article, with quite a few concrete examples from various agencies/companies (e.g., City of Tucson, Pennsylvania' s Allegheny Power Systems, FedEx), that will provide substantial background and ideas to purchasers. Available as an Adobe Acrobat file. Please note: pages 5 and 6 of the on-line file is difficult to read. If you would like to see the full report [Resourceful Purchasing: A Hands-On Buyers Manual] that this article was based on, please see Chapter 13 - Source Reduction Opportunities, a longer discussion of source reduction. PPRC Library Resource |
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| Website from the International Institute for Sustainable Development, "Sustainable Development on Campus - Tools for Campus Decision Makers." Although geared towards campus', a number of the resources and policy statements provided by various universities can provide insight and assistance to other entities interested in implementing an environmental purchasing program. |
iisd1.iisd.ca/educate/ |
| June 16-17, 1999 Northwest Regional Roundtable Report. This link provides a report on the procurement item of the agenda, with information/discussion led by the City of Seattle and King County, WA. | www.pprc.org/networking/ Pacific Northwest Pollution Prevention Resource Center |
| Resource | Where to find it/Contact Information |
Website for the Northeast Recycling Council (NERC) Environmentally Preferable Products Procurement Listserv (EPPNET). As noted, it was "established to link federal, state, local and private procurement and environmental officials charged with purchasing environmentally preferable products and developing policies for the procurement of these products." This is a subscription only listserve, and no vendors are allowed on the listserve. Also on the NERC site is a newsletter that provides a resource listing for purchasers. The list of links (Web Address Directory) can be very useful to the purchaser. |
Newsletter: www.nerc.org/gpn/gpn990604.html Tel: 802-254-3636 info@NERC.org |
| Information about Big Green, a discussion forum for green design and construction. | oikos.com/resources/biggreen.html |
| Resource | Where to find it/Contact Information |
| U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, "Environmental Preferable Purchasing Program - A Study Of State And Local Government Procurement Practices That Consider Environmental Performance Of Goods And Services," EPA742-R096-007, September 1996. Prepared by Abt Associates Inc., Cambridge MA. A case study document that looked at a number of state and local government programs that consider the environmental performance of goods and services in their procurement practices. Available as an Adobe Acrobat file. PPRC Library Resource |
www.p2pays.org/ref/01/00912.pdf |
| U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Sector Notebook, Profile of Local Government Operations, EPA/310-R-99-001, 1999. This document contains overviews of Pollution Prevention and Compliance Assistance as well as Purchasing Practices That Encourage Regulatory Compliance and Pollution Prevention that will assist purchasers. | www.epa.gov/compliance/ Seth Heminway (2223A) Printed copies can be ordered for a fee of between $6 and $25, depending on length, from the Government Printing Office (GPO) by calling (202) 512-1800 or by linking directly to the GPO Sales Product Catalog: bookstore.gpo.gov/ |
| U.S. Environmental Protection Agency case study discussing the City of Santa Monica's environmental purchasing program, The City of Santa Monica's Environmental Purchasing: A Case Study, USEPA, EPA742-R-98-001, March 1998. It is available as an Adobe Acrobat file. PPRC Library Resource |
www.epa.gov/oppt/ epp/pubs/santa.pdf or www.p2pays.org/ref/04/03651.pdf. |
| EPA's Environmentally Preferable Purchasing (EPP) case studies. | www.epa.gov/oppt/epp/ documents/doccase.htm. |
Reputable certification programs allow a purchaser to save some time wading through products that can make some hard-to-believe claims. The sites below have done the verification work for you.
| Resource | Where to find it/Contact Information |
| Website for Green Seal. Green Seal sets environmental standards and awards a 'Green Seal of Approval' to products that cause less harm to the environment than other similar products. Comprehensive standards are provided for the products that qualify for a Green Seal. |
Green Seal |
Canadian Environmental Choice Program site. "Certification of products and services is based on compliance with stringent environmental criteria that are established in consultation with industry, environmental groups, and independent experts and are based on research into the life-cycle impacts of a product or service." Topics/areas covered: Although the specific contact names given are Canadian, the product listing allows a purchaser to know what to look for in the Northwest. |
Environmental Choice Program |
| SmartWood, a forest management certification program. SmartWood certifies forest products that come from "sustainable" or "well-managed" forests ("sources"). SmartWood also certifies companies that process, manufacture or sell products made from certified wood, through "chain of custody" certification. |
SmartWood |
| Website for the Certified Forest Products Council, an "independent, 501(c)(3), not-for-profit, voluntary business initiative established in 1997. It is committed to promoting responsible forest products buying practices throughout North America in an effort to improve forest management practices worldwide." |
Certified Forest Products Council |
| Green E Renewable Electricity Program, run by the non-profit organization Center for Resource Solutions. Certification program developed by environmentalists, consumer advocates and industry participants that helps the general public understand how they can purchase verified, renewable, "green" power from credible companies. |
Tel: 888-63-GREEN |
| Scientific Certification Systems (SCS). "The company's environmental section certifies environmental claims made by manufacturers, regarding qualities such as biodegradability, recycled content, water efficiency and no-smog-producing-ingredients. The staff also conducts life cycle assessments of companies' use of natural resources and develops environmental workplace analyses." Currently the environmental section covers electricity and the certification of environmental claims. |
Scientific Certification Systems |
| Chlorine Free Products Association, a not-for-profit State of Illinois corporation. The primary purpose of the Association is to promote Total Chlorine Free policies, programs, and technologies throughout the world. It has a certification program to certify that papers are either totally chlorine free (TCF) or process chlorine free (PCF). The website includes a list of certified products and endorsed products. |
Chlorine Free Products Association |
Green Product Databases
| Resource | Where to find it/Contact Information |
| The Oikos Green Building Source is a green building information source. Oikos maintains a system to easily search for manufacturers of green building products. | www.oikos.com |
| The GSA Federal Supply Service offers a wide range of environmentally oriented products and services. The GSA serves federal agencies, but you can find out what products are considered "green" or environmentally preferable. | www.gsa.gov/Portal/ gsa/ep/channelView.do? pageTypeId=8207&channelPage=/ep/channel/ gsaOverview.jsp&channelId=-12972 |
| California Integrated Waste Management Board's Recycled-Content Product Database. This database allows you to set parameters for the type of products you seek. Search results provide contact information for manufacturers and/or distributors. | www.ciwmb.ca.gov/RCP/ |
| The Green Building Professionals database will help you locate a green building professional in your area. | www2.greenbuilder.com/greenbuilder/ gbnalive.qry?function=form |
| This Energy Star products database will help you find the most energy efficient electrical equipment. | www.energystar.gov/index.cfm? c=bulk_purchasing.bus_purchasing |
| The Green Pages is the online version of Co-op America's popular National Green Pages directory of thousands of socially and environmentally responsible businesses, products and services. You'll find special offers and discounts on products you need every day. And there are information and tips on "green shopping" and how to support companies which do well by doing good.. | www.greenpages.org |
Specific Product and Services Resources
Don't know where to start to find a product or a vendor? The following sites include information about products and services. Some of the sites are portals and selection guides put together by various organizations to assist purchasers in finding what they need. Specific areas (such as energy) are listed below.
Please note: being listed in the following resources does not constitute an endorsement of any commercial products by PPRC. The listing is provided as a service for those who want to narrow down their searching.
Areas covered:
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| Resource | Where to find it/Contact Information |
| Re-refined Oil website, sponsored by the California Integrated Waste Management Board. A comprehensive site providing loads of information about re-refined oil and the safe use of it in motor vehicles. | |
| Website for the Tire Retread Information Bureau (TRIB). The site provides information about tire retreading and a searchable database that identifies tire retreaders in specific states. This site is likely to be most useful for fleet managers, and those who have to purchase tires for larger vehicles. |
The Tire Retread Information Bureau |
| PPRC Topical Report: "Alternative Fuels for Fleet Vehicles," May 1999. The report includes brief case studies of Northwest companies and agencies that use alternative fuel vehicles, guides to the various fuels, and a comprehensive directory of contacts and web sites with additional information. Fuels covered in the report include compressed natural gas, liquefied natural gas, propane, methanol, ethanol, electricity (batteries), fuel cells, hydrogen, and biodiesel. | www.pprc.org/pubs/altfuels.cfm Pacific Northwest Pollution Prevention Resource Center |
| Resource | Where to find it/Contact Information |
| New Jersey Bureau of Recycling and Planning links page. Identifies recycled content building products and furnishings. | |
| OIKOS maintains a listing of products in numerous categories, geared mainly for building products. | oikos.com/green_products |
| King County's Environmental Purchasing Program lists many categories of environment friendly construction materials. Each material category offers an introduction to the materials, usage history and experience, bid and contract specifications and where to find more Information, including vendors. | www.metrokc.gov/procure/ green/const.htm |
| Pierce County's Recycling Construction, Demolition & Landclearing Debris (CDL) site. This site features information for both the residential and commercial sectors. Residential information includes recycling home remodeling debris and landclearing debris (grass clippings, branches, shrub trimmings). Commercial information discusses establishing a CDL recycling program at a job site and CDL recycling locations. A free Reusable Building Materials Exchange is also highlighted. | www.co.pierce.wa.us/services/ home/environ/waste/recycle/cdl.htm |
| Environmental Building News. General newsletter for environmentally responsible building. Contains articles, resources, links, and product information. |
Environmental Building News |
| US Green Building Council, a nonprofit, consensus coalition promoting the understanding, development, and accelerated implementation of "Green Building" policies, programs, technologies, standards and design practices. Information available includes the LEED™ version 2.0 Rating System, "a self-assessing system designed for rating new and existing commercial, institutional, and high-rise residential buildings." |
US Green Building Council |
| New Jersey Bureau of Recycling and Planning links page. Identifies recycled content building products and furnishings. | www.state.nj.us/dep/ dshw/recyclenj/material.htm |
| Resource | Where to find it/Contact Information |
| EPA Cleaning Products Pilot Project (CPPP) website. This site provides information related to biodegradable cleaners and degreasers offered in the General Services Administration Commercial Cleaning Supplies Catalog. Also available are "Purchasing Decision Wizards," which assists purchasers in choosing an environmentally preferable cleaning product. | www.epa.gov/opptintr/epp/cleaners/select/ |
| Website for the Janitorial Products Pollution Prevention Project, a compilation of two different projects that took place in the San Francisco Bay area in 1998-1999. One of the best parts of the site is the tools section, which has information on Cleaning Product Ingredient Data, High Risk Products, and Product Risk Evaluation. | www.westp2net.org/Janitorial/jp4.htm John Katz |
| City of Seattle Environmentally Responsible Janitorial Services Contract and Janitorial Commodities Team. The City has incorporated chemical criteria into its janitorial services contracting. The interdepartmental team is part of a larger program examining City purchasing. Environmentally Responsible Purchasing guidelines or criteria are being incorporated in procurement of computer equipment, office equipment and supplies, furniture, and building materials. | Shirli Axelrod Senior Environment Analyst: Seattle Public Utilities Solid Waste 710 2nd Avenue, 11th Floor Seattle, WA 98104-1709 Tel: 206-684-7804 shirli.axelrod@ci.seattle.wa.us |
| Resource | Where to find it/Contact Information |
| Energy Star page. "ENERGY STAR® is a voluntary partnership among the U.S. Department of Energy, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, product manufacturers, local utilities, and retailers. Partners help promote efficient products by labeling with the ENERGY STAR® logo and educating consumers about the benefits of energy efficiency." Includes information about products that have the Energy Star label, which can be used as a guide for purchasers. Products listed include lights, office equipment, appliances and other equipment. |
Tel: 888-STAR-YES |
Energy Star Purchasing Initiative site. Specific information for purchasing includes:Also found on the website: "Savings Calculators," which can be used to compare Energy Star products with non-Energy Star products. |
www.energystar.gov/index.cfm? c=bulk_purchasing.bus_purchasing |
| State and Local Government Purchasing Initiative, a fact sheet describing a project from the Consortium for Energy Efficiency, Inc. The Consortium is "a non-profit, public benefit corporation that uses the power of mass markets to advance super energy-efficient technologies that benefit consumers and the environment." Other initiatives and projects can be found on the "about" page. | www.cee1.org/gov/ About page: www.cee1.org/cee/about.php3 |
| Energy Star Purchasing Tool Kit: A Guide to Buying Energy-Efficient Products, US Environmental Protection Agency, US Department of Energy, 1999. A guide that includes information for governments and organizations on: product specifications, energy efficiency criteria, sample procurement language for contracts, a simple savings calculator, a comprehensive listing of resources for specific products, and information about additional savings opportunities. PPRC Library Resource |
Available from EPA: 1-888-STAR-YES |
| Energy Star Purchasing: Communications Starter Kit, US Environmental Protection Agency, US Department of Energy, 1999. A guide for developing a step-by-step communications program about the importance of energy efficient products to your agency/organization. PPRC Library Resource |
Available from EPA: 1-888-STAR-YES |
| Market Research Report: "Public Procurement and Energy Efficiency in the Pacific Northwest." Prepared by: WSU Cooperative Extension Energy Program, WSU Departments of Sociology and Rural Sociology, Dethman & Associates, MACRO International. Report # 99-036. August 1999. PPRC Library Resource |
Washington State University Cooperative Extension Energy Program |
| State of Oregon Office of Energy information about energy efficient residential appliances | egov.oregon.gov/ENERGY/ State of Oregon Office of Energy |
| California Energy Commission Appliance Efficiency Database. Identifies High-Efficiency Central Air Conditioners, Heat Pumps, Central Gas Furnaces, Room Air Conditioners, Refrigerators, Refrigerator-Freezers, Freezers and Wine Chillers | www.energy.ca.gov/efficiency/ appliances/index.html |
| Resource | Where to find it/Contact Information |
| New Jersey Bureau of Recycling and Planning links page. Identifies recycled content carpet vendors. | www.state.nj.us/dep/ dshw/recyclenj/carpet.htm |
| Resource | Where to find it/Contact Information |
| New Jersey Bureau of Recycling and Planning links page. Identifies recycled content building products and furnishings. | www.state.nj.us/dep/ dshw/recyclenj/material.htm |
| Resource | Where to find it/Contact Information |
| Inform, Inc. - "Mercury-free Products Fact Sheet". Covers price, performance, and availability of non-mercury manometers, thermometers, switches, and thermostats. It also includes recommended specifications for purchasing contracts. Massachusetts awarded a contract for "Industrial Supplies" restricting the sale of these items when they contain mercury, and a link to their specifications and other contract information is available. | www.informinc.org/ fact_P3industrialmeters.php |
| Lowell Center for Sustainable Production, for the State of Maine, published "An Investigation of Alternatives to Mercury Containing Products", 2003. The report provides comprehensive product and vendor information, as well as feasibility of replacement for: non-mercury alternatives to sphygmomanometers, dilators, manometers, thermometers, barometers, psychrometers, flow meters, hydrometers, pyrometers, various switches and relays, thermostats, and flame sensors. | www.state.me.us/dep/ mercury/lcspfinal.pdf |
| Resource | Where to find it/Contact Information |
| Environmental Defense “Tips for a Greener Office” includes tips on purchasing paper, office equipment, and specifying print jobs | www.environmentaldefense.org/ alliance/Officetips.html |
| EnviroWindows – Environmental Information for Businesses and Local Authorities “Green Procurement for the Office” includes several publications on office products and supplies, appliances, furnishings, cleaning contracts, and buildings. | www.ewindows.eu.org/ ManagementConcepts/Greenp/ F1056727684/F1075911075 |
| Minnesota Office of Environmental Assistance. Reducing Waste in the Workplace – See “Buying Green for your Office” | www.moea.state.mn.us/ campaign/workplace/ index.html#purchasing |
| Resource | Where to find it/Contact Information |
| Canadian Government site on Greener Procurement. | www.greeninggovernment.gc.ca/ default.asp?lang=En&n=256986C5-1 |
| Website for ReThink Paper, providing information about paper, including how to reduce the use of paper, tree-free paper and recycled papers. One particularly useful area of the website is the Paper Selector database, where you can find vendors that meet your paper needs. The site does ask for a free registration, but if the user is not comfortable with this, you can use the database without it. The site is a project of Earth Island Institute. |
ReThink Paper |
| Conservatree, a nonprofit organization "dedicated to providing information, tools and technical assistance to enable purchasers to switch to environmentally sustainable paper options." This site has information on recycled, tree-free, chlorine-free and writing papers, as well as primers on how paper is made. |
The NEW Conservatree |
| New Jersey Bureau of Recycling and Planning links page. Identifies recycled content paper and paper products vendors. | www.state.nj.us/dep/dshw/ recyclenj/paper.htm |
| Products for a Better World website, specifically a discussion on considering factors for choosing an environmentally friendly paper -- based upon recycled content, bleaching, the use of acids, and how it affects the growing scarcity of wood pulp | www.betterworld.com/ BWZ/9512/product.htm |
| Environmental Defense Fund publication, Action Guide for Greener Paper, which includes 22 purchasing recommendations, practical implementation options, answers to frequently asked questions, and supporting technical analysis. Available at the website in Adobe Acrobat, or it can be purchased for $25 - contact information provided. | www.environmentaldefense.org/ EDF Publications/Paper Task Force |
| Resource | Where to find it/Contact Information |
| Website from the American Plastics Council. This site provides information about products made or packaged with recycled plastics. The products listed contain at least 10 percent post-consumer content. APC's Recycled Plastic Products Source Book contains more than 1,400 products. Note: this was last updated in Fall 1998. |
sourcebook.plasticsresource.com/ For a free copy of the Source Book, call 800-2-HELP-90 |
| National Recycling Coalition's PET waste exchange. The Recycler's Exchange is a free internet e-commerce marketplace designed to assist companies and individuals who buy, sell, or trade secondary / recyclable commodities and waste related materials. There are over a dozen categories of PET listed in the Exchange. | www.recycle.net/Plastic/PET |
| Resource | Where to find it/Contact Information |
| U.S. Department of the Interior, "Pollution Prevention Handbook, Shipping and Receiving Operations." A fact sheet that provides a quick overview of what purchasers can look for in the shipping and receiving aspects of environmental purchasing. Available as an Adobe Acrobat file. PPRC Library Resource |
www.p2pays.org/ref/01/00587.pdf |
| Resource | Where to find it/Contact Information |
| EPA's Database of Environmental Information for Products and Services A searchable database of product-specific information (e.g., environmental standards and guidelines or contract language) developed by government programs, both domestic and international, as well as third parties. yosemite1.epa.gov/oppt/eppstand2.nsf |
Environmentally Preferable Purchasing Program (EPP) U.S. EPA 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW Mail Code 7409-M Washington, DC 20460 e-mail: epp.pilot@epa.gov |
EPA's Comprehensive Procurement Guidelines (CPG) site. The Comprehensive Procurement Guidelines (CPG) program is part of EPA's continuing effort to promote the use of materials recovered from solid waste. This site has information about products in the following categories:There are also fact sheets for each category listed above. The related links page has information about general buy-recycled sites, government sites and product information. Please note: many of the related links are also listed elsewhere in this resource listing. |
www.epa.gov/cpg/ [also found at www.epa.gov/epaoswer/ non-hw/procure/index.htm] |
| For Federal Government Employees: The General Services Administration (GSA) website for its Environmental Products Guide (EPG). This site contains information about a wide range of environmentally preferable products and services. It is explicitly designed for federal government purchasers (and local law enforcement agencies), and federal employees registered with a password can perform a product search and find out what products and vendors are under GSA contract. |
www.fss.gsa.gov/environ/ |
The State of Washington's Office of State Procurement (OSP) offers many items through state contract or Central Stores that meet EPA's "recycled content criteria." Any member of the purchasing cooperative (which includes political subdivisions) can purchase through OSP. Many items are available to the Oregon's purchasing cooperative as well. OSP is actively pursuing incorporating other environmental criteria into their bid specifications. Some of the items available include:OSP will be contracting for alternative fuels and for hybrid gas/electric vehicles this summer. They are looking into process chlorine free paper and strawboard building materials. |
Mark Gaffney Tel: (360) 902-7424 www.ga.wa.gov/centralstores/ |
| Home page of the Environmentally Preferable Products (EPP) Procurement Program of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. This web site is provided to address the environmentally preferred products information needs:
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www.magnet.state.ma.us/ Operational Services Division 1 Ashburton Place, 10th Floor Boston, MA 02108-1552 Tel: 617-720-3351 Fax: 617-727-4527 eric.friedman@state.ma.us additional MA contacts can be found on the contacts page (www.magnet.state.ma.us/osd/ enviro/contacts.htm) |
| Environmental Purchasing Business Assistance website from the Minnesota office of Environmental Assistance. The local government assistance page has information about Minnesota's Recycled Products Directory, cleaning supplies, purchasing recycled copy paper, "Waste? Not!," and a list of websites specific to local government purchasing. The business information provides a listing of resources that is not Minnesota-specific. The local government page has information that is more Minnesota-specific, but could still provide some assistance to Northwest purchasers. |
www.moea.state.mn.us/ berc/purchase.cfm Local Government Assistance Page: www.moea.state.mn.us/ |
| California Integrated Waste Management Board website. This website has loads of information on many topics, but one of the most pertinent part of the website for purchasers is the Buy Recycled program, and the recycled content products database. |
Buy Recycled: www.ciwmb.ca.gov/BuyRecycled/ Recycled Content Products Database: www.ciwmb.ca.gov/rcp/ CIWMB Sacramento CIWMB Fullerton |
| King County Environmental Purchasing website. Contains information about Program, Policy and Resources; Construction and Landscaping Materials; Office and Automotive Products; Product Experience; and Environmental/Recycling Links. As part of the Program, Policy and Resources page, there is a link to Environmental Purchasing Bulletins, periodic emails that over a range of information about environmental purchasing. A wealth of information about environmental purchasing is available here. |
www.metrokc.gov/procure/green/ Environmental Purchasing Bulletins: www.metrokc.gov/procure/ |
| Global Recycling Network. Most useful part of site to purchaser may be the GRN Company Directories, where you can do a vendor search in a number of areas, and can narrow down the search to product types and location. |
GRN Company Directories: (www.grn.com/directo/directo.htm) |
| Co-op America's Green Pages Online. A database listing of socially and environmentally responsible products and services, with buttons on the side to take the user directly to a specific topic area (for example, greener cleaning). Co-op America is a nonprofit organization that "links individuals with progressive businesses to address today's social and environmental problems." |
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| The Pacific Northwest Pollution Prevention Resource Center (PPRC) webpage that focuses on pollution prevention for individuals. It is a listing of resources for a number of different topics with information about P2 things to do around the house and in the yard, plus the Official PPRC P2 Quiz. Some of the information available can assist purchasers looking for ideas and products. |
Pacific Northwest Pollution Prevention Resource Center |
Our thanks to the following for their generous assistance:
- Shirli Axelrod, City of Seattle
Hsia Choong, Hewlett-Packard
Eric Friedman, Massachusetts Operational Services Division
Karen Hamilton, King County Purchasing
Patricia Jatczak, Washington State Department of Ecology
Rich Kunkle, Washington State University Energy Program
Curt Nichols, Portland Energy Office