Green Purchasing For Toxics reduction at the City of Portland

Green Purchasing For Toxics reduction at the City of Portland Stacey Foreman, City of Portland, Oregon

Background • Variety of City sustainability policies including: • Sustainable Procurement Policy • Toxics Reduction Strategy • Healthy Purchasing Initiative • Linking “upstream” decisions to “downstream” effects: • Human health • Environmental • Fiscal

Getting Green Products • Find out who makes the decision on what to buy: • Employee with P-Card • Project manger • Specification writer (employee or contractor) • Find out how they make their decision • What resources do they need to make a green choice? • Work with vendors to make green options available, including EPR requirements • Research/Provide Resources • Track/Report: incorporate into procurement processes

Provide Resources • Staff/SMEs • Website • Networks

Incorporate into Procurement Processes • Intake forms • Prompts (SP intake form) (P-Card sleeve)

Reducing Toxics

Deciding What is “Less-Toxic” • Multi-Attribute/LCA based third-party certifications • EPEAT • EPA DfE • Precautionary Approach – alternatives assessment • Ingredient & health/environmental hazard disclosure – “Health Product Declaration” or HPD form • Hazard Avoidance/Reference Red Lists • Chemical Hazard Assessment Tools • GreenScreen, Pharos

Example: Lamps (non-LED) • Potential Toxics of Concern • Lead • Require RoHS compliance • Require manufacturer/distributor take-back for recycling • Mercury • Require RoHS compliance • Choose non-mercury options (e.g. LED products) • Choose low-mercury options (e.g. Philips Alto II products) • Require manufacturer/distributor take-back for recycling

Example: Furniture • Potential Toxics of Concern: • Phthalates • Choose non-vinyl products/components • Flame Retardants • Choose options without foam padding or textiles • PFCs • Choose options without textiles or without stain/water repellent treatments • Formaldehyde/VOCs • Choose options that do not use formaldehyde-based binders (also: third-party indoor-air quality certifications) • Require reuse/recycling – manufacturer take back

Example: Carpet • Potential Toxics of Concern • Brominated Flame Retardants • Common only in residential carpet pads • Choose flooring alternatives to carpet or no carpet pads • Phthalates/PVC • Non-vinyl surface fibers and backing • Antimicrobials • Choose durable flooring alternatives to carpet • PFCs/Nanos • Choose durable flooring alternatives to carpet • VOCs • Choose third-party certified meeting CA Section 01350 • Require recycling – manufacturer take-back

Other examples - highlights • Lead-free wheel weights • Beet juice as tire counterweights • Integrated pest management • Non-dry cleaning textiles, laundry services • Mercury-free switches on industrial equipment • EPEAT-qualified office electronics • Third-party certified cleaning products, high-efficiency cleaning practices

Lessons Learned • Learn the language and decision making processes • Network, build relationships • Ensure specs can be met, use RFP evaluative criteria for cutting-edge work (or allow contractor time to meet cutting-edge requirement after contract award) • Work with vendors – utilize online & contract tools to highlight and reduce pricing on green products • Develop useful metrics • Incorporate audience’s priorities into sustainability pitch ($, image, human health, doing what is right)

Thank you! • Contact Stacey at: stacey.foreman@portlandoregon.gov • BuyGreen website: www.portlandoregon.gov/buygreen • Case studies • Example green specifications, evaluative criteria

Green Purchasing For Toxics reduction at the City of Portland