ENVIRONMENTALLY PREFERABLE PURCHASING

1. ENVIRONMENTALLY PREFERABLE PURCHASING

2. WHAT IS ENVIRONMENTALLY PREFERABLE PURCHASING? • Defined as purchasing products and services that minimize (bad) environmental impacts • Also called environmentally preferable procurement (EPP), buying green, and green purchasing

3. WHAT IS ENVIRONMENTALLY PREFERABLE PURCHASING? • Source reduction procurement • Reuse • Buying recycled content products

4. WHAT IT REALLY IS… • Being smart!

5. IS EPP MANDATORY? • Yes and no • It is required for federal government agencies under Executive Order 13101 • Many state and local governments have adopted similar policies • States and local governments that receive federal grants must buy recycled content products under Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) • Public may expect it

6. SOURCE REDUCTION PROCUREMENT • Purchasing products that are reusable, refillable, or returnable • Purchasing products in bulk • Purchasing products with less packaging • Sharing resources with others in your organization • Purchasing less toxic products

7. REUSE • Goal is to conserve resources by reusing a product or part of a product in it’s original form • Using refillable containers • Using office paper twice • Using shipping containers/packaging more than once • Reusing mailing supplies such as envelopes

8. BUYING RECYCLED CONTENT PRODUCTS • Buying recycled content products helps conserve natural resources and landfill space & also helps stimulate market for recycled products • Federal buy recycled initiatives began in the 1970’s under the Resource Conservation Recovery Act (RCRA) to reduce the amount of materials going into landfills

9. EPP MYTHS, HALF-TRUTHS AND HURDLES • Costs too much: Myth & Half-truth • Central Purchasing won’t allow it: Myth • Doesn’t make a difference: Myth • Not my job/not my responsibility: Myth • Lack of time: Half-truth • Lack of direction/guidance/training: Hurdle • Habit: Hurdle

10. WHY SHOULD WE PRACTICE EPP? • It protects the environment • It protects employees-if it’s less toxic it’s better for employee’s health • It can save money/labor/time • It can help you comply with environmental laws • It is good for public relations (it’s good PR) • Reduces environmental liabilities • It helps persuade vendors to deliver products that are more environmentally friendly

11. HOW DO YOU IMPLEMENT EPP? • Need to take a look at the big picture and try to see how your purchasing practices impact the environment and employee health in addition to your bottom line • Look at total “costs” & not just purchase price- it’s probably not a bargain if you have to dispose of it as a hazardous waste • Buy less toxic products • Buy what makes sense

12. HOW DO YOU IMPLEMENT EPP? • Look for source reduction, reuse, and buy recycled opportunities • Don’t reinvent the wheel- use existing data and “calculators” • Take small steps & don’t get frustrated • Buy local to reduce transportation

13. HOW DO YOU IMPLEMENT EPP? • Begin by taking a look at what you are buying now & focus on items you buy a lot of and items that are most toxic • Talk to the end users and ask them if they like or dislike particular products and why • Review MSDS for “warning” words- if it is toxic try & find less hazardous replacement

14. HOW DO YOU IMPLEMENT EPP? • Communicate your (operational) needs to Central Purchasing • Use boiler plate procurement language • Let folks know about your successes • Train others (particularly your replacement)

15. HOW DO YOU IMPLEMENT EPP? • Use Life Cycle Costing to determine true costs of a product • See if someone can use your “waste” through“surplus” or waste exchanges

16. EPP ECONOMIC BENEFITS • Can reduce costs for products and services • Can improve operational efficiency (sometimes significantly) • Can reduce employee exposure to hazardous materials • Can reduce worker comp costs and medical costs • Can reduce transportation costs

17. EPP ECONOMIC BENEFITS • Can reduce losses from spoilage • Can reduce energy costs • Can reduce waste storage and handling costs • Can reduce waste disposal costs

18. EPP ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS • Can reduce environmental impacts from waste disposal • Can reduce warehouse and storage costs and free up space • Can conserve natural resources

19. EPP ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS • Can reduce pollution from manufacturing process • Can reduce pollution from transporting products • Can reduce environmental liabilities

20. EPP ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS • Helps paint your organization as being green in eyes of public “It ain’t easy being green”

21. EPP RESOURCES • EPA has numerous websites on EPP and related topics. Most can be accessed at www.epa.gov/opptintr/epp • EPA “Database of Environmental Information on Products” is at http://yosemite1.epa.gov/oppt/eppstand2.nsf/pages/search.html?open • EPA has Comprehensive Procurement Guidelines web site for buying recycled content materials @ http://www.epa.gov/cpg/products.htm

22. EPP RESOURCES • EPA has info on buying energy efficient products @ www.energystar.gov/ • The Federal Energy Management Program has info on energy efficient products @ www.eere.energy.gov/femp/

23. EPP RESOURCES • The Kentucky Pollution Prevention Center has info on waste minimization and pollution prevention and coordinates a statewide waste exchange. Web site is http://kppc.org • The Kentucky Office of Energy Policy has info on energy efficient products http://www.energy.ky.gov/

24. EPP RESOURCES • The National Recycling Coalition (NRC) is at www.nrc-recycling.org/resources/resources.htm • “Greenseal” is a third party organization that certifies environmental products. Their URL is www.greenseal.org

25. EPP RESOURCES • King County Washington has EPP info www.metrokc.gov/procure/green • EPA WasteWise web site http://www.epa.gov/wastewise/ has tons of good info on Pollution Prevention.

26. EPP RESOURCES • LFUCG Environmental Links Web Page http://www.lfucg.com/Environment/

27. EPP RESOURCES • EPA’s Definitions of Environmental Marketing Claims is helpful when evaluating green claims

28. Discussion/Questions • “We didn’t inherit the earth from our parents. We’re borrowing it from our children.” - Chief Seattle (1788-1866) Suquamish Duwamish Chief