Definition
Green procurement is the purchase of environmentally preferable products and services in accordance with federally-mandated "green" procurement preference programs.

Goal
Achieve 100% compliance with mandatory Federal affirmative procurement programs in all acquisition transactions. This applies to all acquisitions from major systems programs to individual unit supply and service requisitions.

Objectives
DoD's Green Procurement Program (GPP) is focused not only on the procurement function but also on the roles and responsibilities of each member of the Department and recognizes that every person has a role to play.

• Educate appropriate DoD employees on requirements, roles and responsibilities, and opportunities.
• Increase purchases of green products and services.
• Reduce the amount of solid waste generated.
• Reduce consumption of petroleum and increase use of alternatives.
• Increase in the use of renewable energy.
• Reduce the use of ozone depleting substances and hazardous and toxic chemicals.
• Improve the procurement of green electronic equipment.
• Increase the use of biobased products and reduce dependence on fossil fuel-based products.
• Reduce consumption of energy and natural resources.
• Expand markets for green products and services.

Purpose
DoD's GPP strives to enhance and sustain mission readiness through cost-effective acquisition that achieves compliance and reduces resource consumption of solid and hazardous waste generation. As the single largest buyer of supplies and services throughout the government, DoD strives to ensure that every procurement meets the requirements of applicable Federal green procurement preference programs. DoD's GPP is focused not only on the procurement function but also on the roles and responsibilities of each member of the Department and recognizes that every person has a role to play.

Management
DoD's GPP is jointly management by the Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Installations and Environment (DUSD(I&E)) and the Director, Defense Procurement & Acquisition Policy, (USD(AT&L)/DPAP). More information available on DUSD(I&E) (DoD Menu site) and DPAP websites.

The GPP includes required elements of Executive Order 13423, Executive Order 13514, Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), the Farm Bill, Energy Policy Act (EPAct) of 2005, and Energy Independence and Security Act (EISA) of 2007 while staying adaptable to all other components of Federal green procurement. The management construct follows the basic framework of an environmental management system (EMS):

• Policy,
• Planning,
• Implementation and
• Checking and Corrective Action, and
• Management Review.

Products
Under the Instructions for Implementing Executive Order 13423 issued by the Council on Environmental Quality, each federal agency shall give preference in their procurement and acquisition programs to the purchase of:

• Recycled content products designated in EPA's Comprehensive Procurement
• ENERGY STAR® products identified by DOE and EPA, as well as FEMP-designated energy-efficient products.
• Water-efficient products, including those meeting EPA's WaterSense standards.
• Energy from renewable sources.
• Biobased products designated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture in the BioPreferred program.
• Environmentally preferable products and services, including EPEAT-registered electronic products.
• Alternative fuel vehicles and alternative fuels required by EPAct.
• Products with low or no toxic or hazardous constituents, consistent with section VIII.A of these instructions.
• Non-ozone depleting substances, as identified in EPA's Significant New Alternatives Program.

General Information

Updated Green Procurement Program (GPP) Strategy (December 2, 2008) (PDF)

Terminology (DOC)

Roles and Responsibilities (DOC)

DoD Green Purchasing Brochure (PDF)

Training

For DoD GPP Training available through DAU, browse for CLC 046