EPP

1. J. Bruce Suits Pollution Prevention Manager City of Cincinnati Office of Environmental Management Environmentally Preferable Purchasing (EPP) First Joint Statewide Pollution Prevention and Environmental Essentials Conference Wednesday, July 31, 2002 Miami Beach, FL EPP

2. PART 1 Borrowed from Eric Friedman, State of MA Center For A New American Dream’s National EPP Conference April 23, 2002 - Philadelphia EPP

3. Designing an Environmental Purchasing Program: Getting Started Karen Hamilton King County, WA Sandra Cannon Battelle Lab. Eric Friedman Massachusetts Alicia Culver INFORM, INC. Karl Bruskotter Santa Monica, WA Center for a New American Dream April 23, 2002

4. Before you Begin…. Establish a definition of EPPs: Environmentally Preferable Productsare products or services that have a lesser or reduced effect on human health and the environment when compared with competing products or services that serve the same purpose. Such products or services may include, but are not limited to, those which contain recycled content, minimize waste, conserve energy or water, and reduce the amount of toxics disposed or consumed.

5. Recycled copy paper, office supplies, toilet paper, toweling, Re-refined oil, antifreeze Remanufactured cartridges, furniture, vehicle parts Recycled trash bags, benches, lumber, carpet Compost, recycled mulch Recycled glass beads, traffic cones, safety vests, tires Energy efficient computers, printers, copiers, faxes, appliances Less toxic cleaners, pool disinfecting systems, parts cleaners Alternative fuel vehicles, hybrids Mercury free thermometers Printing services, fluorescent lamp recycling Before You Begin… Remember that EPPs are already everywhere…

6. Step 1: Assemble a “Green” Team Identify key players and other resources Assign responsibilities Get input early from end-users and other stakeholders Get support from the top Step 2: Establish a process for working together Create a timeline, budget and meeting schedule 10 Steps to Starting an Environmental Purchasing Program

7. Step 3: Define the scope of the EPP initiative Target environmental problems to solve under the program Review existing policy drivers and practices Step 4. Prioritize contracts to change Look for products with greatest impact or low-hanging fruit Determine contract re-bid schedule 10 Steps to Starting an Environmental Purchasing Program

8. Step 5: Research environmentally preferable alternatives Evaluate availability, price, environmental attributes and performance of potential substitutes Conduct pilot tests, if desirable or necessary Step 6. Revise bid specifications Educate and get feedback from vendors about “specs” Develop contract language for information disclosure, product take-back, packaging requirements, development of environmental activities and plans, etc. 10 Steps to Starting an Environmental Purchasing Program

9. Step 7: Evaluate bids Assess both mandatory requirements and desirable attributes Issue new contracts Step 8: Advertise the availability of environmentally preferable products on new contracts Educate using web sites, “list serves”, purchasing bulletins, EPP guides Publicize through Cooperative Purchasing Programs Inform end-users about existing environmental policies and goals Encourage vendors to educate and market environmental goods and services 10 Steps to Starting an Environmental Purchasing Program

10. Step 9: Get feedback from end-users Address problems as soon as they arise Step 10: Track and publicize successes Quantify economic and environmental benefits Celebrate and reward participants! Identify obstacles and additional work to be done 10 Steps to Starting an Environmental Purchasing Program

11. Designing an Environmental Purchasing Program: Overcoming the Obstacles Center for a New American Dream – April 23, 2002 Eric Friedman, Massachusetts Kathy Gerwig, Kaiser Permanente Rob Guillemin, EPA Region I Kevin Lyons, Rutgers Univ. Marcia Deegler, Massachusetts Priscilla Hayes, Rutgers Univ.

12. Obstacles – A Layperson’s View “Sorry but I don’t really have time for this” We can’t afford EPPs, and even if we could, we can’t find them anywhere!” “We always do it this way” “It’s not our decision - we only write what others tells us to write” “We tried that once – it didn’t work.” “I don’t have the authority to make this decision” How hard can it be to buy 100% recycled, chlorine free, tree free paper anyway? “You know, this is really not my job.” What the heck is a PBT, ODC, PCC, PCF, GHG, EPA, anyway?

13. Obstacles – The Academic View • Institutional behaviors & attitudes • Lack of time and resources • Lack of information/too much information • Complexity of products/specs • High cost, low availability, bad performance • Lack of motivation • Limited communication between purchasing and other stakeholders • Resistance from end users • Past experience

14. EPP PART 2 City of Cincinnati’s EPP Project City of Cincinnati, OH With assistance from U.S. EPA, Region 5, Pollution Prevention Office

15. EPP $40,000 TWO YEAR PROJECT 9/1/2000 – 8/31/2002 APPLYING FOR NO-COST EXTENSION In order to maximize demonstration opportunity!

16. Environmentally Preferable Purchasing (EPP) Project PROJECT ADVISORY COMMITTEE: Debra Jacobson – WMRC (GLRPPR) Becky Lockart – Illinois EPA Phil Kaplan – U.S. EPA, Region 5

17. Environmentally Preferable Purchasing (EPP) Project Karen Hamilton & Eric Nelson, King Co, WA Debbie Raphael, City/County San Francisco Sandy Schubert, City of Santa Monica, CA Lara Sutherland, INFORM, Inc. (MA)

18. Environmentally Preferable Purchasing (EPP) Project Margaret Nover, City of Portland, OR Tom Hersey, Erie County, NY Steve Brachman, University of WI-Extension David Foulkes, Ohio EPA

19. Environmentally Preferable Purchasing (EPP) Project Eric Friedman/Marcia Deegler, MA Kelly Luck & Alicia Culver, INFORM, Inc. Scott Case, Center for a New American Dream

20. Project Goals • The goal of the project is to institutionalize EPP in City of Cincinnati government operations through the development of an EPP tool-kit. • Part of the tool-kit approach will result in an EPP website – City Purchasing Division (now joint project with Hamilton County) • The website will make information regarding EPP easily available to the user.

21. Description • The website will include the what, why, who, and how much in the form of products, environmental benefits, vendor lists and prices. • The project will allow the user to find ways to: • Reduce Workplace Hazards • Consume Less Energy • Protect Natural Resources • Save Money

22. Connection to EMS • Buying “cheaper, cleaner and smarter” products will allow departments to avoid or reduce compliance and cost issues and prevent pollution. • The Website will include EPP alternatives for products with hazardous constituents, including PBT’s (e.g., Mercury), that will improve the City and County economically and environmentally.

23. Organizing the Data • We want a shopping mall approach for the site. The products would be organized into aisles and department stores. • Once you select an aisle it will pull up the products along with a grid of information including: • Environmental Benefits • Cost Analysis • Sample Contract Language/Specifications • Vendor Info

31. Cost Analysis • The cost analysis section will provide cost calculators to project savings over the life of the product. • This will allow the end user to see the economic advantages of certain products.

32. Other Functions Two beneficial Feedback functions: • One to send messages to the administrator of the site concerning suggestions or errors. • Another to evaluate personal experiences with products through a standard form with required fields. Also a Resource page to display other helpful web site links, etc.

33. Efficient Use of Time • The idea is to make EPP information available in one central location for City and County employees. • By organizing the information into a readily accessible database it makes it easier for any purchaser or user to do EPP without lots of research time.

34. Green Products Expo 2002 – Cincinnati: May 16, 2002! • May 16, 2002 the database was introduced at a regional Green Products Expo for local government employees in SW Ohio. • This helped folks learn about operation-specific EPP and allowed buyers and users to interact with vendors offering EPP products.

35. Green Products Expo 2002EPP Training Seminar and Exhibition • City of Cincinnati, OH • Hamilton County, OH • Greater Cincinnati Earth Coalition • Endorsements from regional and national purchasing associations (e.g. NIGP) and others

36. Green Products Expo 2002EPP Training Seminar and Exhibition • Plenary session – Welcome by County Commissioner Portune • Alicia Culver, INFORM – Keynote Speaker • EPP breakouts – panels and training by operations i.e., office, buildings, vehicles & roads, grounds • Exhibition of EPP vendors’ products

37. City of Cincinnati’s EPP Project Other goals of the EPP Project (Beyond the Website and the annual EXPO events): • Additional training of City employees and other local government employees • Continuous Improvement for City (County) • Transfer of the model to other local governments throughout Ohio, the Great Lakes states and beyond (e.g. Miami/Dade County & others in State of Florida!)

38. Environmentally Preferable Purchasing (EPP) Project Protecting the Earth AND improving our communities one purchase at a time! City of Cincinnati, OH

39. Environmentally Preferable Purchasing (EPP) PART 3 OPEN DISCUSSIONS AND INFORMATION SHARING