Responsible (Green) Purchasing Resources
Scot Case Recommends
Responsible (Green) Purchasing Policy Information
• Responsible Purchasing Network website <www.newdream.org/procure/start/develop.php> --
Includes more than 80 environmental purchasing policies and links to several additional
resources
• “Policy Updates Inspire Environmental Purchasing”
<www.responsiblesourcing.net/resources/policies.pdf> -- A February 2004 Government
Procurement article highlighting the key policy considerations contained within green
purchasing policies.
• “Environmental Purchasing Policies 101”
<www.cec.org/files/pdf//NAGPI%20Policy%20Paper2e.pdf> -- A 40-page report that
includes recommended environmental purchasing policy language and extensive excerpts
from 80 different policies.
Popular Eco-Labels
Some of the most frequently cited eco-labels include the following:
; Chlorine Free Products Association <www.chlorinefreeproducts.org> -- CFPA certifies paper
and tissue products meeting its standard.
; EcoLogo <www.ecologo.org> – EcoLogo is North America’s oldest and most widely
known environmental leadership standard. It is the only North American program certified by
the Global Ecolabeling Network. The EcoLogo website includes more than 150
environmental standards and more than 3,000 certified products. Purchasers are using the site
to research or develop purchasing specifications and to put together potential bidder lists.
; Energy Star Program <www.energystar.gov> -- The U.S. Federal Government’s Energy Star
program establishes energy-efficiency criteria for a wide variety of products in more than 40
product categories. The site lists all of the products meeting the efficiency requirements. It
also includes recommended purchasing specifications and online training resources.
; EPEAT <www.epeat.net> -- EPEAT identifies more environmentally preferable computer
desktops, laptops, and monitors. There are currently more than 575 products from 21
manufacturers on the EPEAT registry.
; Forest Stewardship Council <www.fscus.org> -- The Forest Stewardship Council certifies
wood products obtained from sustainably harvested forests. It is also certifying
environmentally preferable papers.
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; Green-e <www.green-e.org> -- Green-e certifies sources of renewable electricity and
renewable energy credits generated from clean energy sources such as wind , solar, or small-
scale hydro-electric. It also certifies products that were manufactured in facilities using
renewable energy.
; GREENGUARD <www.greenguard.org> -- Green Guard focuses exclusively on indoor air
quality issues. Its website includes certified products in more than 15 different categories,
many focus on building materials and interiors.
; Green Seal <www.greenseal.org> -- Green Seal is one of only two North American members
of the Global Ecolabelling Network. Its’ website includes detailed environmental standards
for dozens of commodities. It also includes a list of all of the Green Seal certified products
with links to the manufacturers. Purchasers are using the site to research or develop
purchasing specifications and to put together potential bidder lists.
; LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) <www.usgbc.org/leed> -- LEED
establishes the most widely cited standard for determining the environmental preferability of
buildings. It’s point based system makes it easy for purchasers to specify green buildings.
Additional Labeling Resources
; “Beware of Greenwashing: Not All Environmental Claims are Meannigful” <
www.govpro.com/Issue/Article/68662/Issue> -- A June 2007 Government Procurement
article outlining some of the creative marketing strategies companies are using to mislead
purchasers about the environmental benefits of their products.
; Responsible Purchasing Network <www.newdream.org/procure/start> -- The “Getting
Started” section found includes lots of useful resources, including the June 2004 Government
Procurement article on eco-labels.
; Global Ecolabeling Network <www.gen.gr.jp> -- Its’ website provides links to ecolabeling
programs worldwide, most of which include English websites.
Additional Responsible Sourcing Resources
• EPA’s Environmentally Preferable Purchasing Program <www.epa.gov/oppt/epp> --.
Includes a variety of green purchasing resources, including background reports, training
materials, and an extensive list of additional resources.
• EPA’s Green Purchasing Database < http://yosemite1.epa.gov/oppt/eppstand2.nsf > -- EPA
maintains a database of environmental standards and contract specification language for
environmentally preferable products.
• White House Office of the Federal Environmental Executive <www.ofee.gov/gp/gp.htm> --
Maintains an extensive website on federal green purchasing requirements, activities, and
resources.
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Responsible (Green) Purchasing Resources
Carl Bruskotter Recommends
California Department of General Services The state’s environmentally preferable purchasing
homepage. <www.green.ca.gov/EPP/>
Santa Monica Environmental Programs Division The city’s home page for environmental
and sustainable city program activities. <www.smepd.org>
California Integrated Waste Management (CIWMB), Cal/EPA This is the CIWMB’s
environmentally preferable purchasing homepage and includes a link to the EPP Best Practices Manual. <www.ciwmb.ca.gov/epp/>
State Agency Buy Recycled Campaign (SABRC). The SABRC is a joint effort between the
California Integrated Waste Management Board (CIWMB) and DGS to implement State law requiring State agencies and the Legislature to purchase products with recycled content. <www.ciwmb.ca.gov/BuyRecycled/StateAgency/>
Recycled-Content Product (RCP) Database. The RCP database provides access to information
on RCPs as well as the manufacturers, distributors, reprocessors, mills, and converters that manufacture or supply these products or the recycled materials to make them. <www.ciwmb.ca.gov/RCP/>
Green Building. Governor's Executive Order D-16-00 sets forth California's sustainable building
goals. The CIWMB is a leader in supporting green and/or sustainable building practices, seeking opportunities to use our resources efficiently while creating healthier buildings that improve human health, foster a more productive and comfortable indoor environment, and provide cost savings. <www.ciwmb.ca.gov/GreenBuilding/>
Newsprint Program. California’s newsprint law mandates the use of a specified amount of recycled-content newsprint by printers and publishers located in California. These newsprint consumers must certify the amount of recycled-content newsprint consumed annually to the CIWMB. <www.ciwmb.ca.gov/BuyRecycled/Newsprint/>
Plastic Trash Bag Program. California’s trash bag law requires plastic trash bag manufacturers
to use a specific amount of plastic postconsumer material to produce the trash bags sold in California. <www.ciwmb.ca.gov/BuyRecycled/TrashBags/>
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Other Buy Recycled Activities
RecycleStore showcases innovative recycled-content products manufactured in the Recycling Market Development Zones, and puts users in touch directly with their manufacturers.
<www.ciwmb.ca.gov/RecycleStore/>
Rigid Plastic Packaging Containers (RPPC). The Board oversees the Rigid Plastic Packaging
Container Act of 1991, which requires that RPPCs meet one of several criteria designed to reduce the amount of plastic being landfilled. The Board maintains a manufacturers’ certification program, encourages market development, and conducts outreach activities promoting recycling of plastics. <www.ciwmb.ca.gov/Plastic/RPPC/>
Organics/Composting. The Board supports outreach and education efforts promoting
composting, mulching, grasscycling, and other actions relating to the management and use of organic resources. <www.ciwmb.ca.gov/Organics/default.htm>
Construction and Demolition Debris Recycling. The Board works with the industry to identify
ways to reduce building construction and demolition debris going to landfills and meet California’s mandated diversion goal of 50 percent. <www.ciwmb.ca.gov/ConDemo/>
Cooperative Recycled Paper Purchasing. The Board supports activities to disseminate
information about this coalition, which provides opportunities to purchase recycled paper at a discounted cost through cooperative purchase agreements.
<www.ciwmb.ca.gov/BuyRecycled/CRPP.htm>
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Responsible (Green) Purchasing Resources
Chris O’Brien Recommends
Responsible Purchasing Network
Resource List: www.ResponsiblePurchasing.org/publications
Responsible Purchasing Guides for Cleaners
Our guide to purchasing responsible cleaners covers all the basics needed to procure cleaners that are less damaging to the environment and safer for people.
Responsible Purchasing Guide for Computers
Our guide to purchasing responsible computers covers everything you need to know about how to procure socially and environmentally responsible computers that are made with fewer toxic materials, operate more energy efficiently, and are designed for responsible disposal.
Responsible Purchasing Guide for Office Electronics
Our guide to purchasing responsible printers, copiers and fax machines covers everything you need to know about how to procure socially and environmentally responsible office electronics that are made with fewer toxic materials, operate more energy efficiently, improve air quality and produce less waste.
Responsible Purchasing Guide: Paint
Our guide to purchasing responsible paint covers everything you need to know about how to procure socially and environmentally responsible paints that are made with fewer toxic materials, improve air quality and produce less waste.
Responsible Purchasing Guide: Light-Duty Fleet Vehicles
Our guide to purchasing responsible light-duty fleet vehicles covers everything you need to know about how to procure socially and environmentally responsible light-duty fleet vehicles that are made with fewer toxic materials, operate more energy efficiently, improve air quality and produce less waste
Responsible Purchasing Guide for Faith Communities
The Guide provides key steps congregations can take, outlines ways to undertake each action, and calculates the positive impact of those actions.
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The Competitive Advantage: EcoPurchasing by Sandra Cannon
This book is a persuasive primer on environmentally preferable purchasing for CEOs, directors and purchasers in the public and private sphere.
Environmentally Preferable Purchasing Video
Our video introduces environmentally preferable purchasing as an innovative market-based strategy that is saving money, protecting human health, creating jobs, and reducing adverse environmental impacts.
Graffiti Remover Research and Field Test Report:
The Search for Safer Products
This report, a collaborative effort of the Center for a New American Dream and the City of Portland Office of Sustainable Development, describes test methodology in detail, identifies safer products, includes performance results and recommends development of national
standards on graffiti removal products.
Harnessing the Power of Advanced Fleet Vehicles
This fact sheet for government officials, a collaborative effort of the Center for a New American Dream and the National Association of Counties, includes information on hybrid technology, applications for fleets, costs, benefits, and model availability.
The Quick & Easy Guide to Green Cleaning in Schools
This booklet and CD-ROM from our partner, the Healthy Schools Campaign, will help your school develop and implement a Green Cleaning Program.
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