Environmentally Preferable
Purchasing
Maggie Theriot
Sustainability Coordinator
Leon County, Florida
What is EPP
EPP – goods and services that have a lesser or
reduced impact on the environment over the
life cycle of the item when compared with
competing goods of the same purpose.
• Environment + Price + Performance = EPP
• Life Cycle = “cradle to grave” assessment
considers materials extraction, production,
transport, use of the product and end-of-life
disposal.
What to look for
Pre-purchase
• Recycled content
• Reconditioned/remanufactured
• Biobased
• Reduced packaging
• Reduced toxins
• Locally sourced or produced
During Use
• Durability
• Energy/Water Efficiency
• Alt Uses
Post-purchase
• Recyclability
• Take-back
• Disassembly potential
Buyer Beware
Greenwashing –
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Product spin
Outwardly environmentally conscious, underlying purpose is profits
More resources spent to market then on environmentally sound
practices
Same product, new nature scene label
Six sins of greenwashing
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Hidden trade off – energy efficient with more haz mats (57%)
No proof – claim certified (26%)
Vagueness – 100% natural, but many hazards are naturally occurring
such as formaldehyde (11%)
Irrelevance – CFC free, banned 20 years ago (4%)
Fibbing – Falsely claim cert (1%)
Lesser of two evils – Environmentally friendly pesticides (1%)
Buyer Beware
• Approximately 300 Eco-labels (any consumer logo
that claims an added environmental or social benefit)
• EcoLabelling.org – provides info on who manages each label,
how it is verified, how long cert lasts, and how frequent recipients are
audited)
• Standards based – product should
undergo testing and verification
• Push for federal standard – EPA or EPD
(Environmental Product Declaration) next generation environ labeling based on life
cycle assessment
• Federal Trade Comm charged Kmart and
two others with false and unsubstantiated
claims in 06/09 (first action in over 10 years)
Where to find it in FL
FL DMS – Climate friendly preferred product list
(10,000 products such as carpet, furniture and office supplies)
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California Energy Commission (CEC) Appliance Efficiency Regulations
California Environmentally Preferred Products Guide
California State Agency Buy Recycled Program (SABRC)
Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool (EPEAT)
Energy Star
EPA Comprehensive Procurement Guidelines (CPG)
EPA SmartWay and SmartWay Elite
EPA WaterSense
Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)
Green Seal
Greenguard
MDBC's Cradle to Cradle Silver Certification (or higher)
Minnesota Green Guardian EPP Guide
NEMA Premium
SCS (Scientific Cert. Sys.) / NSF International
Terra Choice / Ecologo
US Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP)
USDA Organic Label
Where to find it
FL DMS – Climate friendly preferred product list
(10,000 products such as carpet, furniture and office supplies)
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California Energy Commission (CEC) Appliance Efficiency Regulations
California Environmentally Preferred Products Guide
California State Agency Buy Recycled Program (SABRC)
• Electronic Product Environmental Assessment
Tool (EPEAT)
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Energy Star
EPA Comprehensive Procurement Guidelines (CPG)
EPA SmartWay and SmartWay Elite
EPA WaterSense
Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)
Green Seal
Greenguard
MDBC's Cradle to Cradle Silver Certification (or higher)
Minnesota Green Guardian EPP Guide
NEMA Premium
SCS (Scientific Cert. Sys.) / NSF International
Terra Choice / Ecologo
US Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP)
USDA Organic Label
Electronic Product Environmental
Assessment Tool (EPEAT)
• Pertains to Desktops, Integrated Desktop
Computers, Moniters, Notebooks, Thin
Clients, and Workstations.
• Evaluates electronic products on 51
environmental criteria - 23 required criteria
and 28 optional criteria
Meets all 23
required criteria
Meets required plus
50% of optional
Meets required plus
75% of optional
Where to find it
FL DMS – Climate friendly preferred product list
(10,000 products such as carpet, furniture and office supplies)
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•
California Energy Commission (CEC) Appliance Efficiency Regulations
California Environmentally Preferred Products Guide
California State Agency Buy Recycled Program (SABRC)
Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool (EPEAT)
• Energy Star
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EPA Comprehensive Procurement Guidelines (CPG)
EPA SmartWay and SmartWay Elite
EPA WaterSense
Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)
Green Seal
Greenguard
MDBC's Cradle to Cradle Silver Certification (or higher)
Minnesota Green Guardian EPP Guide
NEMA Premium
SCS (Scientific Cert. Sys.) / NSF International
Terra Choice / Ecologo
US Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP)
USDA Organic Label
Energy Star
• Joint program with EPA and DOE
• Products are 10-25% more efficient than
required by federal standards
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Appliances
Heating & Cooling
Home Envelope
Home Electronics
Office Equipment (computers, copiers, fax, mail machines, printers)
Lighting
Commercial
Food service
Where to find it
FL DMS – Climate friendly preferred product list
(10,000 products such as carpet, furniture and office supplies)
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
California Energy Commission (CEC) Appliance Efficiency Regulations
California Environmentally Preferred Products Guide
California State Agency Buy Recycled Program (SABRC)
Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool (EPEAT)
Energy Star
EPA Comprehensive Procurement Guidelines (CPG)
EPA SmartWay and SmartWay Elite
EPA WaterSense
• Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)
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Green Seal
Greenguard
MDBC's Cradle to Cradle Silver Certification (or higher)
Minnesota Green Guardian EPP Guide
NEMA Premium
SCS (Scientific Cert. Sys.) / NSF International
Terra Choice / Ecologo
US Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP)
USDA Organic Label
Forest Stewardship Council
• Independent, non-governmental, not-for-profit
organization
• Applies to any product made of pulp or paper with
wood originating from FSC sources
• Intended to shift markets away from companies that
support illegal, unsustainable, unverified logging
activities
• Beyond harvest – employee rights, health & safety,
wildlife protection, bans avoidable toxins
Where to find it
FL DMS – Climate friendly preferred product list
(10,000 products such as carpet, furniture and office supplies)
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
California Energy Commission (CEC) Appliance Efficiency Regulations
California Environmentally Preferred Products Guide
California State Agency Buy Recycled Program (SABRC)
Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool (EPEAT)
Energy Star
EPA Comprehensive Procurement Guidelines (CPG)
EPA SmartWay and SmartWay Elite
EPA WaterSense
Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)
• Green Seal
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•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Greenguard
MDBC's Cradle to Cradle Silver Certification (or higher)
Minnesota Green Guardian EPP Guide
NEMA Premium
SCS (Scientific Cert. Sys.) / NSF International
Terra Choice / Ecologo
US Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP)
USDA Organic Label
Green Seal
• Works to “green” production chain.
• Use life-cycle approach (material extraction,
manufacturing, use, and disposal)
• Certification requires testing, evaluation, and on-site
plant visits and annual monitoring.
• Assistance (for a fee) – institute green purchasing, provide
list of recommended products, contract language,
environmental and financial justification for products
Green Seal – Products & Services
Construction Materials, Equip, Systems
• Chillers
• Paints & coatings
• Windows & doors
Facilities Ops & Maint
• Floor finishes & strippers
• Hand soaps & cleaners
• Industrial cleaners
• Paper towels, napkins, tissue
Food & Food Service Products
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Coffee filters
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Plates
Printed Paper & Newsprint
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Office paper
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Envelopes
Where to find it
FL DMS – Climate friendly preferred product list
(10,000 products such as carpet, furniture and office supplies)
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
California Energy Commission (CEC) Appliance Efficiency Regulations
California Environmentally Preferred Products Guide
California State Agency Buy Recycled Program (SABRC)
Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool (EPEAT)
Energy Star
EPA Comprehensive Procurement Guidelines (CPG)
EPA SmartWay and SmartWay Elite
EPA WaterSense
•
Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)
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Green Seal
• Greenguard
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MDBC's Cradle to Cradle Silver Certification (or higher)
Minnesota Green Guardian EPP Guide
NEMA Premium
SCS (Scientific Cert. Sys.) / NSF International
Terra Choice / Ecologo
US Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP)
USDA Organic Label
GreenGuard
• Product certification program for low emitting
interior building materials, cleaning products,
furnishings, and finish systems.
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Adhesives
Air filters
Ceiling systems
Cleaning products
Maintenance products
Doors
Electronics
Flooring
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Insulation
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Office equipment
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Furniture
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Paints & coatings
• Textiles
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Window treatments
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Visual display boards
Where to find it
FL DMS – Climate friendly preferred product list
(10,000 products such as carpet, furniture and office supplies)
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
California Energy Commission (CEC) Appliance Efficiency Regulations
California Environmentally Preferred Products Guide
California State Agency Buy Recycled Program (SABRC)
Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool (EPEAT)
Energy Star
EPA Comprehensive Procurement Guidelines (CPG)
EPA SmartWay and SmartWay Elite
EPA WaterSense
•
Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)
•
•
Green Seal
Greenguard
• MDBC's Cradle to Cradle Silver Cert (or higher)
•
•
Minnesota Green Guardian EPP Guide
NEMA Premium
•
SCS (Scientific Cert. Sys.) / NSF International
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•
•
Terra Choice / Ecologo
US Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP)
USDA Organic Label
Cradle to Cradle
• Measure achievement in environmentally-intelligent design
• Materials - ID all ingredients, assess all for health impacts (carcinogen, endocrine
disruption etc), can only contains FSC wood
• Material Reutilization – product recovery plan (different than recycling)
• Energy – energy use in manufacturing, incorporate solar income for
production
• Water – adopt water stewardship principals, asses water flows in
manufacture, water conservation measures, quality of water discharge
• Social Responsibility – adopt cooperate ethics statement, conduct 3rd
party assessment
• Building Exteriors, Carpet Fiber, Cleaning Products, Floor Coverings, Food
Packaging, Gutters/Downspouts, Office Seating/ Workstations/ Tables/
Desks, Whiteboards
• Basic, silver, gold, platinum…doing well just to be basic
Where to find it
FL DMS – Climate friendly preferred product list
(10,000 products such as carpet, furniture and office supplies)
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
California Energy Commission (CEC) Appliance Efficiency Regulations
California Environmentally Preferred Products Guide
California State Agency Buy Recycled Program (SABRC)
Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool (EPEAT)
Energy Star
EPA Comprehensive Procurement Guidelines (CPG)
EPA SmartWay and SmartWay Elite
EPA WaterSense
•
Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)
•
•
•
•
•
Green Seal
Greenguard
MDBC's Cradle to Cradle Silver Certification (or higher)
Minnesota Green Guardian EPP Guide
NEMA Premium
• SCS (Scientific Cert. Sys.) / NSF International
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•
•
Terra Choice / Ecologo
US Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP)
USDA Organic Label
SCS – Scientific Certification Systems
• Independent 3rd party certification of environmental, sustainability, food
quality and food purity claims
→ the greenwashing police
• Management system certification, product certification, inspection,
validation and verification in accordance with the applicable certification
standards
• Freedom from commercial, financial and other pressures that might
influence the findings
• Logo display, chain of custody, Fed Trade Comm, EPA’s EPP, FSC…you
choose the standard and they verify it
• Agricultural production, food processing and handling, forestry, fisheries,
flowers and plants, energy, green building, consumer and business
product manufacturing, and corporate social responsibility.
Where to apply it
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Janitorial services
Landscaping services
Administration
Material/Waste Mngt
Copier/ Office equipment
Printing
Construction
Renovation
Building Maintenance
Fleet Maintenance
How to apply EPP
1. Do an Environmental Audit or collect
baseline information
2. Set policy or pass resolution on EPP
3. Establish up an EPP team
4. Adopt specific goals
5. Gather broad support
How to apply EPP
1. Do an Environmental Audit or collect
baseline information
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Assess current procurement practices
Identify in use products to eliminate or
substitute
Set policy or pass resolution on EPP
Establish up an EPP team
Adopt specific goals
Gather broad support
How to apply EPP
1. Do an Environmental Audit or collect
baseline information
2. Set policy or pass resolution on EPP
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Provide direction to purchasing decisions
Assume responsibility for better purchasing
3. Establish up an EPP team
4. Adopt specific goals
5. Gather broad support
How to apply EPP
1. Do an Environmental Audit or collect
baseline information
2. Set policy or pass resolution on EPP
3. Establish up an EPP team
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Assign responsibilities involving both
purchasing and environmental expertise
Coordinate efforts through team approach
4. Adopt specific goals
5. Gather broad support
How to apply EPP
1.
Do an Environmental Audit or collect
baseline information
Set policy or pass resolution on EPP
Establish up an EPP team
2.
3.
4. Adopt specific goals
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5.
Start with simple changes
Target environmental standards without
sacrificing performance and costs
Gather broad support
How to apply EPP
1.
Do an Environmental Audit or collect
baseline information
Set policy or pass resolution on EPP
Establish up an EPP team
Adopt specific goals
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3.
4.
5. Gather broad support
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Ensure management “buy-in”
Encourage participation of and feedback from
everyone concerned (at all levels)
Implementing an EPP Program
1. Create procedure to apply environmental
criteria
2. Train staff and disseminate information
3. Integrate environmental aspects of purchasing
documents
4. Communicate EPP needs to suppliers
Implementing an EPP Program
1. Create procedure to apply environmental
criteria
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Evaluate products and alternatives using eco-labels & guidebooks
Consider reduction in primary usage at the outset
2. Train staff and disseminate information
3. Integrate environmental aspects of purchasing
documents
4. Communicate EPP needs to suppliers
Implementing an EPP Program
1. Create procedure to apply environmental
criteria
2. Train staff and disseminate information
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Hold regular environmental training on EPP guidelines
Provide appropriate information support
3. Integrate environmental aspects of purchasing
documents
4. Communicate EPP needs to suppliers
Implementing an EPP Program
1. Create procedure to apply environmental
criteria
2. Train staff and disseminate information
3. Integrate environmental aspects of purchasing
documents
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Review legal instruments
Modify bidding process/standard specifications & add lifecycle
costing (if legally feasible)
4. Communicate EPP needs to suppliers
Implementing an EPP Program
1. Create procedure to apply environmental
criteria
2. Train staff and disseminate information
3. Integrate environmental aspects of purchasing
documents
4. Communicate EPP needs to suppliers/vendors
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Establish clear lines of communication
Ask suppliers for information and suggestions
Experience
Industry is changing quickly
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Ink cartridges - leak
Paper – jams
Cups – cost too much
Eco-label with single product attribute – IAQ, recycled content,
biodegradability = limited perspective
Validation of standards – Furniture
Good product with no cert – allowable, but proof needed
Perform trial tests - Often free sample
Do not recreate the wheel- Reference existing standards
Have the vendor do the work- product certification sheets