Green Purchasing
Footprint Focus Area
Green purchasing includes buying products made from recycled content, environmentally preferable products and services, biobased products, energy-and water-efficient products, alternative fuel vehicles, products using renewable energy, and alternatives to hazardous or toxic chemicals. We currently have no organized system for tracking and reporting these purchases.
Quick Links to the topics on this page:
- Goal
- Guidelines
- Letters From Leadership
- Performance Criteria
- Tools
- Articles
- Presentations
- Links to Other Resources
- FAQs
Goal
Lead: Acquisitions Management
- PROCUREMENT: Expand purchases of environmentally-sound goods and services, including biobased products.
- All purchased goods and services and the performance of our suppliers, contractors, and partners exceed green standards in production, packaging, storage, supply chain and delivery
Guidelines
Executive Order 13423 (2007) requires the following:
- A reduction in the quantity of toxic and hazardous chemicals and materials used by the agency.
- All paper purchased be at least 30-percent postconsumer fiber content.
- Acquiring 95 percent of electronic products as Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool registered products.
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
Tools
- Purchasing An Energy Star Computer - EPA [PDF]
- 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]
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)
FAQ's
Last Modified: 12/30/2008
