Green Purchasing
Footprint Focus Area

Increase the sustainability performance of purchased goods and services, and the performance of our suppliers, contractors and partners. Increase the number of Forest Service buildings that are Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certified.

Policy

Letters From Leadership

October 2007

• 10/18/07 USDA Sustainable Buildings Implementation Plan - ASA Memo [PDF]
  • Enclosure: USDA Sustainable Buildings Implementation Plan [PDF]

September 2007

• 9/17/07 USDA Implementing Executive Order 13423 Strengthening Federal Environmental, Energy, and Transportation Management PDF, 3 pages]

Performance Criteria

• Example (from R1/R2) - Honor Award Criteria - Sustainability [RTF]

Tools

• Shop for Environmental Items Tool
  The General Services Administration’s purchasing web site (www.gsaadvantage.gov) provides a one-stop web location for federal employees to procure product s. Purchasers can use GSA Advantage either to purchase products directly or as a useful resource to determine products that meet the ‘green’ requirements (ENERGY STAR compliant, CPG compliant, or Green Seal Certified).
• 100+ Best Management Practices - Defining What a Green Park Looks Like - National Park Service [PDF, 12 pages, 1.14 MB]
• Biomass Sustainable Food Service Packaging Product List [PDF]

Partnerships

Articles

• 8/01/008 – Government Executive.com – Tracking Greenbacks: Now that a federal program to buy green goods is a reality, Uncle Sam is discovering the difficulty of measuring its results.
• 10/01/07 - Article - Pacific Southwest Research Station goes to Biobased Cutlery [PDF]
• Green and Getting Greener: Tips and Resources [PDF]

Presentations

• Sustainable Operations - Our Environmental Footprint & The Climate Change Connection - Anna J. Jones-Crabtree P.E.; Ph.D.; LEED AP; Sustainable Operations Coordinator; Rocky Mountain & Northern Regions US Forest Service [PDF, 58 pages, 2.12 MB]
• BioPreferred - Making a Difference with Biobased Products [PDF, 16 pages, 218 kb]

Links to other Resources

Other Agencies

• General Services Administration (GSA)
  • Green Purchasing

Glossary

FAQ's

Contacts