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Introduction to Green Purchasing: Federal Sustainability Efforts

Explore the legal basis, goals, and objectives of green purchasing in federal agencies to reduce environmental impact and promote sustainability through the acquisition of green products and services. Learn about the statutory requirements and categories of designated products.

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Introduction to Green Purchasing: Federal Sustainability Efforts

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  1. Introduction to Green Purchasing and GHGs Dana Arnold, DirectorProgram Analysis Division, Office of Acquisition Management VISA Government Forum, May 2, 2012

  2. What Do We Mean By “Green’? • Federal agencies are required by statutes and executive orders to purchase certain products with specific environmental or energy attributes. • “Green purchasing” or “sustainable acquisition” refers to purchasing products with these attributes and purchasing services under which these products will be supplied or used. • For example, janitorial services contracts usually require the contractor to supply replacement paper towels, toilet paper, and plastic trash can lines, all of which can be made from recycled materials.

  3. “Sustainable” To create and maintain conditions, under which humans and nature can exist in productive harmony, that permit fulfilling the social, economic, and other requirements of present and future generations of Americans.

  4. The Federal Footprint Spent $459 billion on goods and services in FY 2011 Owns or leases more than 645,000 vehicles worldwide Manages or owns nearly 1 in every 5 acres in the U.S. Single largest domestic buyer and user of energy Real property portfolio of 893,381 assets, including 399,000 buildings (2010) Spends $3.5 billion annually to provide energy to its facilities Released 132.2 million MTCE in FY2010

  5. What Are We Trying to Accomplish? • All Federal agencies purchase goods and services, operate buildings, own or lease fleet vehicles, and use IT equipment. • These four activities create significant environmental and energy impacts. • As part of Federal sustainability efforts, Federal agencies are reducing their energy and environmental footprint, including through acquisition.

  6. Legal Basis of Green Purchasing • The requirements for Federal agencies to purchase products with specific environmental and energy attributes are found in laws and executive orders.

  7. What Are We Trying to Accomplish? • The statutes and executive orders have a range of goals and objectives: • Create markets for recovered materials and biobased materials • Increase building and vehicle energy efficiency • Increase building water efficiency • Reduce pollution • Reduce greenhouse gas emissions • Improve worker safety • Improve building indoor air quality • Demonstrate the viability of green products

  8. Executive Order 13423 E.O. 13423, Strengthening Federal Environmental, Energy, and Transportation Management, sets acquisition-related goals for: • Purchasing green products (products with specific energy and environmental attributes) • Sustainable Federal buildings • EPEAT-registered products • Non- or low-toxic or hazardous products

  9. E.O. 13514 Sustainable Acquisition Goal E.O. 13514 requires agencies to ensure that 95% of all new contracts, including contract modifications, for products and services specify: • Energy-efficient products • Water-efficient products • Biobased products • Environmentally preferable products and services • Non-ozone depleting substances • Recycled content products • Non-toxic or less-toxic alternatives

  10. Statutory Requirements • Recycled content: Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), Section 6002 • Biobased content: Farm Security and Rural Investment Act (2002 Farm Bill), Section 9002; and 2008 Farm Bill • Energy efficient products and alternative fuel vehicles: Energy Policy Act of 1992 and 2005 • Building energy efficiency: Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 • Alternatives to ozone depleting substances: Clean Air Act • Chemicals: Pollution Prevention Act of 1990

  11. Program Scope • Recycled content products • Energy Star, FEMP-designated, and other energy efficient products and electricity from renewable sources • WaterSense and other water efficient products • Alternative fuel vehicles/alternative fuels • Biobased products • Environmentally preferable products and services • Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool (EPEAT)-registered products • Alternatives to ozone depleting substances • Non- or less-toxic and hazardous chemicals

  12. Categories of Products Typically Designated • Office products (paper and non-paper) • Building construction, maintenance, and operations products • Cafeteriaware • Personal and institutional cleaning products • Landscaping materials • Park and recreation products • Fleet maintenance products

  13. Single Attribute vs Multiple Attributes • Most of the green product requirements for a single attribute: recycled content, biobased content, energy efficiency, water efficiency, alternatives to ozone depleting substances. • The environmentally preferable purchasing component of the Federal green purchasing program looks at multiple attributes. • The trend for the future will be to require multiple attributes and will look at life cycle or sustainability issues.

  14. FAR Provisions • Key provisions for purchase cards: - Part 13, section 13.201(f) – FAR sections 23.1, 23,2, 23.4, and 23.7 apply to micro-purchases - Part 23, Environment, Energy and Water Efficiency, Renewable Energy Technologies, Occupational Safety, and Drug-Free Workplace

  15. New FAR Provisions -- Policy Ensure that 95% of new contract actions for the supply of products and for the acquisition of services require green products.

  16. New FAR Provisions • Definition of sustainable acquisition: acquiring goods and services in order to create and maintain conditions – • Under which humans and nature can exist in product harmony, and • That permit fulfilling the social, economic, and other requirements of present and future generations • Synopses of contract actions must include sustainable acquisition requirements. • Contractor compliance with Federal environmental requirements when operating government-owned facilities or vehicles

  17. Where Can I Find the List of Designated Products? • The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Department of Energy (DOE), and Department of Agriculture (USDA) designate products with environmental and energy for Federal agencies to purchase. • GSA consolidates the EPA, DOE, and USDA lists into the Green Products Compilation. • This tool contains 19 categories, organized by the way agencies purchase products or services (e.g., office products, office electronics)

  18. Where Can I Find the List of Designated Products? • The Green Products Compilation provides in one place: • The designated items • Recommend recycled content and biobased content percentages or, for energy efficient products, indications if the energy efficiency requirement is Energy Star, Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP), or Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool (EPEAT) • Sources – AbilityOne, UNICOR, GSA Schedules, GSA Global Supply • URLs for the EPA, DOE, and USDA programs for further information www.sftool.gov/greenprocurement

  19. Start searching for a specific product Step-by-step instructions Browse through the 18 product categories Descriptions of each environmental program

  20. Search bar enables users to quickly identify requirements New GPC Expandable information allows users to explore various levels of data Links direct users to purchasing resources Links to applicable environmental programs and FAR clauses

  21. Shows options for Where to Buy through GSA and select acquisition vehicles Lists minimum content levels, where applicable Displays applicable GSA Schedules, but links to GSA Advantage Green Aisle *Indicates optional programs Lists the products’ applicable FAR subparts

  22. GSA Advantage!

  23. FAS Greening The Supply Chain Activities • Continuing on-going efforts to increase our green offerings through: • Multiple Award Schedules • Global Supply • GWACs • Studying eco-labeling • Assessing how to incorporate greenhouse gases and sustainability into the supply chain

  24. Increasing Green Offerings • Hot-spots Study • Green-only offerings in Multiple Award Schedules • IT Commodities BPAs • Defining “green” services • Alternatives to products containing toxic or hazardous constituents, especially lead, cadmium, mercury, and hexavalent chromium

  25. Trends • Multiple attribute vs. single attribute • Consideration of other attributes • Take back programs • Green distribution networks • Supplier and/or product GHG considerations • Green-only requirements on the GSA Multiple Award Schedules • Federal Strategic Sourcing Initiative

  26. GHGs and Purchasing • One of the key goals of E.O. 13514 is the reduction of GHG emissions. Scope 3, or indirect emissions, can include emissions related to the products and services we purchase and the emissions associated with transit, travel, meetings, and conferences. • GSA has the lead for developing tools and resources for reducing the GHG emissions from our supply chain. • GSA also is partnering with the Environmental Protection Agency, Defense Travel Management Office, and Department of Energy to green travel, meetings, and conferences.

  27. FAS Sustainable Acquisition Activities – Greening the Schedules • Schedule 36 (Office, Imaging, and Document Solutions) – Energy Star only mandate added summer 2010 • Schedule 72 (Furnishings and Floor Coverings) – added requirement for carpet to be NSF-140 Gold compliant

  28. FAS Sustainable Acquisition Activities – Greening the Schedules • Schedule 73 (Food Service, Hospitality, Cleaning Equipment and Supplies, Chemicals and Services) – Effective mid–October, Energy Star and BioPreferred requirements • SIN 302-43 (Refrigeration Equipment) • SIN 375-361 (Cleaning Equipment and Accessories, Cleaning Chemicals and Sorbents, and Janitorial Supplies)

  29. FAS Sustainable Acquisition Activities – Greening the Schedules • Schedule 51V (Hardware Superstore) – mandates for Energy Star, FEMP-designated, water-efficient, and non-ozone depleting substances for appliances, air conditioners, room air cleaners and purifiers, and water heaters • Schedule 03FAC (Facilities Maintenance and Management) – revised SINs to be clearly about energy efficiency services and innovations in renewable energy

  30. For More Information http://www.fedcenter.gov http://www.gsa.gov/sustainability http://www.sftool.gov/greenprocurement Dana Arnold Director, Program Analysis Division dana.arnold@gsa.gov

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