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ENVIRONMENTALLY PREFERABLE PURCHASING

ENVIRONMENTALLY PREFERABLE PURCHASING. 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.

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ENVIRONMENTALLY PREFERABLE PURCHASING

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  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

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