Environmentally Preferable Purchasing

Maggie TheriotSustainability CoordinatorLeon County, Florida

What is EPPEPP – 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 forPre-purchase• Recycled content• Reconditioned/remanufactured• Biobased• Reduced packaging• Reduced toxins• Locally sourced or producedDuring Use• Durability• Energy/Water Efficiency• Alt Uses Post-purchase• Recyclability• Take-back• Disassembly potential

Buyer BewareGreenwashing – • 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• 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 FLFL 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 • Terra Choice / Ecologo • US Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP) • USDA Organic Label

Where to find itFL 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 • 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 itFL 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 • 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• Appliances• Heating & Cooling• Home Envelope• Home Electronics• Office Equipment (computers, copiers, fax, mail machines, printers)

• Lighting• Commercial• Food service

Where to find itFL 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 • 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 itFL 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 • 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• Coffee filters• Plates

Printed Paper & Newsprint• Office paper• Envelopes

Where to find itFL 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 • 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.

• Adhesives• Air filters• Ceiling systems• Cleaning products• Maintenance products• Doors• Electronics• Flooring

• Insulation

• Office equipment

• Furniture

• Paints & coatings

• Textiles

• Window treatments

• Visual display boards

Where to find itFL 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 • 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 itFL 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 • 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• Janitorial services• Landscaping services• Administration• Material/Waste Mngt• Copier/ Office equipment• Printing• Construction• Renovation• Building Maintenance• Fleet Maintenance

How to apply EPP1. Do an Environmental Audit or collect

baseline information2. Set policy or pass resolution on EPP3. Establish up an EPP team4. Adopt specific goals5. Gather broad support

How to apply EPP1. Do an Environmental Audit or collect

baseline information• Assess current procurement practices• Identify in use products to eliminate or

substitute

2. Set policy or pass resolution on EPP3. Establish up an EPP team4. Adopt specific goals5. Gather broad support

How to apply EPP1. Do an Environmental Audit or collect

baseline information

2. Set policy or pass resolution on EPP• Provide direction to purchasing decisions• Assume responsibility for better purchasing

3. Establish up an EPP team4. Adopt specific goals5. Gather broad support

How to apply EPP1. Do an Environmental Audit or collect

baseline information2. Set policy or pass resolution on EPP

3. Establish up an EPP team• Assign responsibilities involving both

purchasing and environmental expertise• Coordinate efforts through team approach

4. Adopt specific goals5. Gather broad support

How to apply EPP1. Do an Environmental Audit or collect

baseline information2. Set policy or pass resolution on EPP3. Establish up an EPP team

4. Adopt specific goals• Start with simple changes• Target environmental standards without

sacrificing performance and costs

5. Gather broad support

How to apply EPP1. Do an Environmental Audit or collect

baseline information2. Set policy or pass resolution on EPP3. Establish up an EPP team4. Adopt specific goals

5. Gather broad support• 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 information3. Integrate environmental aspects of purchasing

documents4. Communicate EPP needs to suppliers

Implementing an EPP Program

1. Create procedure to apply environmental criteria

• Evaluate products and alternatives using eco-labels & guidebooks• Consider reduction in primary usage at the outset

2. Train staff and disseminate information3. Integrate environmental aspects of purchasing

documents4. Communicate EPP needs to suppliers

Implementing an EPP Program

1. Create procedure to apply environmental criteria

2. Train staff and disseminate information• 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 information3. Integrate environmental aspects of purchasing

documents• 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 information3. Integrate environmental aspects of purchasing

documents4. Communicate EPP needs to suppliers/vendors

• Establish clear lines of communication• Ask suppliers for information and suggestions

Experience

Industry is changing quickly• Ink cartridges - leak• Paper – jams• Cups – cost too much

Eco-label with single product attribute – IAQ, recycled content, biodegradability = limited perspective

Validation of standards – FurnitureGood product with no cert – allowable, but proof neededPerform trial tests - Often free sampleDo not recreate the wheel- Reference existing standardsHave the vendor do the work- product certification sheets