United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Pollution Prevention
and Toxics
(7409M)
EPA742-B-01-005
December 2001
www.epa.gov/oppt/epp
Environmentally Preferable Purchasing Guide
What's Inside: fl
- What Can You Do>-; M
—Model. Criteria and ; 1,
Contracts '. --•' figs
--" - . ... ;£%;'#?•
--Success Stories ; •• :
- Contacts & Resources Illl
Greening Your Purchase of
Electronics
Why Green Your Electronics?
• Federal agencies spent approximately $5 billion on computers alone in FY 1996. This
represents about 3.7 percent of the total market (EPA, BEA Analysis).
• Electronics are the fastest-growing portion of the municipal solid waste stream. In
1998, more than 20 million computers became obsolete, but only 11 percent were
recycled (National Safety Council).
• By 2004, as many as 315 million obsolete computers could potentially be disposed of
in landfills, introducing 4 billion pounds of plastic, 1 billion pounds of lead, 2 million
pounds of cadmium, and 400,000 pounds of mercury into the waste stream (Clean
Computer Campaign).
Environmental & Human Health Concerns
' ptirohasinc
Solid Waste
In today's high-speed, technological world,
faster, more powerful electronics quickly
replace each other, with "up-grade" cycles
of 2 or 3 years. Most equipment is
designed for disposal—it does not~come
"apart easily, and parts cannot be upgraded
separately. This results in large amounts of
electronic junk, even with re-furbishers,
recyclers,-and donators diverting some
electronics from trash.
Energy Usage -
Computers and monitors" can consume sig-
nificant amounts, of energy' in. government
offices. Unfortunately, nluch of the energy
consumed-by computers is wasted because
machines often are kept "on-while not in
use. This Is, why it Is important to purchase
a computer thit autorriattcally "goes to
sleep* when inactive." Computer systems .
that meet ENERGY STAR®-requirements can"
save up to'80 percent of the energy,that
might otherwise be wasted when the
machines are on but not in use-. -
Toxic Waste __, „.
Besides wasting materials and energy, the
manufacturing and disposal processes
release toxic pollutants into the.air and
water, affecting the environmerit and
human health. Electronic equipment—
especially those that include cathode-ray
"tubes (CRTs), printed wiring boards, mer-
cury switches, Capacitors, and batteries—
contains persistent^ bioaccumuktiye, toxics.
such as mercury, lead, cadmium, and
chromium, all-of which can pose A .threat _
to the environment i£ they are" riot man- —
aged carefully at the end of their useful ""_
•life. Specifically, desktop color ^monitors
Itypically contain about 4 o~r-more pounds ~
Jof lead; lead can be found in the circuit
.boards,of the computer as well. Most desk-
top computers use'some type of on-board -
battery that may contain lead, cadmium, or
other heavy metals, and laptop computers
often are powered, by a rechargeable bat-
tery that must be specially disposed of or
recycled. • " '
> Printed on paper that contains at least 50 percent* postconsumer fiber.
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What Can You Do?
The costs of frequent replacement, plus energy usage and
hazardous waste disposal for some items, can add up quick-
ly. What seemed to be a good price for electronic equipment
might carry significant hidden costs in the long term. You
can send a message to manufacturers and suppliers by
choosing products that are less toxic, conserve natural
resources, and reduce waste. Learn from these steps and the
success stories on the adjacent pages, and you too can use
your purchasing decisions to affect the electronics market.
• Consider leasing programs or purchase agreements that
require the retailer, distributor, or manufacturer to take
the equipment back at the end of its life. Take-back
options put the responsibility for the management of
toxic materials on diose who provide the equipment,
thereby encouraging manufacturers to develop and
design cleaner products. And, depending on the replace-
ment schedule, your machine or its components could
have value for reuse.
• Choose computers that are designed for disassembly, that
can be easily upgraded without special tools, and that
include expandable memory capacity, which can reduce
the number of times a product must be replaced. This
can save money by avoiding die purchase of entire
replacement equipment and reducing the number of
times an office must pay to manage discarded machines.
• Find computers designed for disassembly by considering
what raw materials are used in the product's manufac-
ture, distribution, reuse, operation, maintenance, pack
aging, and disposal, as-well: as their durability and adapt-
ability. ... :'.- ." .
Ensure that environmental and energy requirements are .
included from the outset in the contract specifications': '.
for the purchase of information..technology.equipment,
as well as other equally important criteria, such as: value:
for money, performance, support, and availability.....;'
Specify that packaging adequately protects the goods and
materials supplied, while avoiding over-packaging. '..'•'.
Crates, pallets, and, if feasible, boxes and cartons, should
be reusable. Several companies use. only cardboard, pack-
aging for internal cushioning for most products.; ;: ; : .:.;"
Cushioning and other forms of packaging that are not :
reusable should be recycled. . •".:.:' • . .. . .;.." . '
Give suppliers the responsibility for removing their pack-
aging: preferably for reuse; secondarily, for recycling.
Encourage manufacturers to design cleaner computers . .
without using hazardous materials. Manufacturers can ,
make circuit boards and housings without brominated
flame retardants. They can use lead-free solder and ;..-...:.
polyvinyl chloride-free plastics.that are safe to recycle. .
Many countries in Europe and Asia have, passed laws to, ;.'.
make producers responsible for their waste. Use your
purchasing power to ask for these attributes the next ,;.
time you purchase electronics. : . - : ,.; .'
Five Guiding Principles
To help government purchasers incorporate environmen-
tal considerations into purchasing decisions, EPA devel-
oped five guiding principles. The guiding principles pro-
vide a framework purchasers can use to make environ-
mentally preferable purchases. The five principles are:
1, Include environmental considerations as part of the
normal purchasing process.
2, Emphasize pollution prevention early in the purchas-
ing process,
3. Examine multiple environmental attributes .through-.
out a product's or service's life cycle. '.-...
4. Compare relevant environmental impacts when select-
ing products and services.- :
5. Collect and base purchasing decisions on accurate., ..
and meaningful information about environmental per-.
formance. . . •: "••'• . ••'•/
For more information, go to the five guiding principles
on EPA's EPP Web site at; ...... . -...
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It's Policy
The federal government has undertaken various initiatives
to mandate the consideration of the environment in pur-
chasing decisions. A growing number of state and local
governments also Have implemented green purchasing
policies or programs. In 1995, EPA established the
Environmentally Preferable Purchasing (EPP) Program to
encourage federal .employees to consider a broad range of
environmental factors, sucH as reduced toxicity and lower
volatile organic compound (VdC) content, in their pur-
chasing decisions. In 1997, the Federal Acquisition
Regulation (FAR), which provides broad purchasing guid-
ance to federal employees, was amended to support feder-
al procurement of green products and services. In addi- '.
tion, executive agencies, under Executive Order 131Q1,
have been directed to identify and give/preference to. the .;•.
purchase of products and services that pose fewer envi- .
ronmental burdens. Executive Order 13123 and FAR :
Section 23.704 direct agencies^ purchase products in the
upper 25 percent of energy efficiency,1 including all models
that qualify for the ENERGY STAR®labeling;program. . ;' :
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Green Purchasing Model Criteria and Contracts
City of Seattle, Washington
Purchasing criteria for desktop computers includes:
ENERGY STAR® compliance, manufacturer take-back of
packaging, pre-installed programs, and no extra manuals
or disks required. Eliminating individual packaging is
being discussed. Requires take-back plus "multi-paks."
State of Texas
The state of Texas developed "Guidelines for Lease vs.
Purchase of Information Technologies," which is available
through the Department of Information Resources in
Austin, Texas, and published in May 1998.
State of Minnesota
Minnesota's Office of Environmental Assistance (MOEA)
has developed a state product stewardship policy and has
formed three task forces focused on priority products:
CRT-containing electronics, carpet, and paint. The elec-
tronics task force will make recommendations for recy-
cling and recovery goals within the state, identify alterna-
tive (non-governmental) financing mechanisms, and
obtain commitments for managing end-of-life products
from manufacturers and others involved in selling and
using products.
Commonwealth of Massachusetts:
Massachusetts' "Request for Response" (OSD RFR No.
ITCO5, April 1999) for computer equipment required
ENERGY STAR® products and rated vendors on a full range
of environmental features, including recycled content and
recyclability; labeling plastic resins and non-welding
parts; avoiding toxic substances; upgradability; taking
back equipment and packaging for recycling at the end of
useful life; and ergonomics and reduced worker exposure
to radiation or electromagnetic fields. The process also
recognized independent third-party certifications.
Success Stories/,;^ '::'-. /.-
*',*'>''''
s * ' / sn .>•' ' -* / •*
Agencies Sign Federal Meroor^rtdum of Understanding for Electronics
Concern about the e.nvirora^efl(^}tii^a.cto[ electronic equipment has promptecf ajoaemorarjdum of understand-
ing (MOU) among the U.S. Postal Service, the Department of Defense, the Department, of 'Interior, the
Department of Energy, Council of Eijyirontrfen^rQu|lity,'the White House Task Force "on Recycling, and EPA.
The MOU, signed by the agenc^esln-earij~20ax"*will help th'ese federal agencies'and others develop and imple-
ment environmentally preferable and energy-effici$nitp"flctlces and technologies for electronic equipment. The
MOU addresses_areas such as acquisition, design, rrfaterial choices, manufacturing, reuse, dernmufacturing, and
recycling processes. The agree'menVs ultimate objective is to increase demand for environmentally p" referable elec-
tronic equipment, promote bestlifecycle management, share management successes with the private sectdr, and
encourage infrastructure growth for electronics reuse and recycling in the United States.
' ' * ^ ' S „ „* £ i ' * ' i
EPA's ENERGY STAR* Program , , :* :' " t;"*' ;""*"'' ,' '""
Introduced in June 1993, ENERGY STAR® now boosts more thim 2,000,compliant products covering personal com-
puters, monitors, printers, copiers, and fax machines. EPA found that a single ENERGY STAR® computer and moni-
tor can save'anywhere from. $7 to $52 per year in electricity bills.
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Contacts and Resources
ENERGY STAR® U.S. EPA
ENERGY STAR* provides energy use standards and lists of
manufacturers and products.
EPA WasteWise Project
WasteWise is a free, voluntary EPA program through
which organizations reduce their MSW generation, to
benefit their bottom line and the environment. WasteWise
gives partners flexibility in designing their own solid
waste reduction programs tailored to their needs.
EPA's Product Stewardship Program
<\n\rw,epa.gov/epr/products/electronics.htm>
EPA provides general information on electronics product
stewardship at the international, federal, state and local
levels.
Electronic Industries Alliance (EIA)
EIA represents the government, relations interests of the
diversified electronics industry. EIA's Environmental
Issues Council maintains an extensive database of
resources related to environmental issues affecting the
electronics industry.
The Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition (SVTC)
SVTC, a California-based environmental group, believes
that product manufacturers should be required to take
back outdated electronic equipment to reduce toxic
waste. They advocate a method of managing unwanted
computer equipment, or "e-waste," similar to the method
used by the European Union. Europe's "Waste from
Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Directive f ,
bans the use of certain toxic chemicals, and requires
greater producer responsibility, ' " "- _ /t
The Clean Computer Campaign: 2000
Clean Computer Report Card
-, »„
The Clean Computer Campaign, a project of the SVTC,
evaluated the environmental information containgd^on the
Web sites of 44 of the world's largest high-tech compa-
nies'. The resulting report evaluates eight key indicators to
determine if the manufacturers are providing consumers
with enough information to make informed decisions ,.
about buying green electronic products. , .,,,
Northwest Product Stewardship Council
' .,, -
The mission of the Northwest Product Stewardship
Council is to integrate product stewardship principles
into the policy and economic structure oflth'e Pacific
Northwest. It has developed a guide to'economically
preferable computer products, available at its Web site.
INFORM
. • '
INFOPxM has written a report analyzing take-back
policies on electronic equipment as a strategy for increas-
ing resource productivity and encouraging a closed-
loop pattern of materials. . " , , "•
V
EPA's Purchasing Tool Suite
EPA's EPP Program has developed the following Web-
based tools to help purchasers consider the environ-
ment, along with price and performance, when buying
a product or service.
Database of Environmental Information for
Products and Services — A searchable database of
product-specific information (e.g., environmental stan-
dards and guidelines or contract language) developed
by government programs, both domestic and interna-
tional, as well as third parties.
Promising Practices Guide for Greener Contracts
— A series of short case studies highlighting successful
strategies for incorporating environmental factors into a
variety of product and service contracts.
General EPP Training Tool — Covers basic EPP
principles and mandates, along with some more in-
depth applications of EPP, in an entertaining and mul-
timedia format.
Tips for Buying Green with the Government
Credit Card — Tips' to help government credit card
holders make greener choices when buying products,
such as electronics.
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EPA's ENERGY STAR® Sample Contract
Language
The vendor must:
1. Provide ENERGY STAR® labeled computers that are config-
ured so that they automatically enter a low-power mode
after a period of inactivity.
2. Provide computers in low-power mode that will auto-
matically return to active mode upon resumption of sys-
tem activity or receipt of external input (e.g., mouse
movement, keyboard activity, typing of a password,
modem interruptions).
3. Ship computers with the power management feature
enabled.
4. Provide computers that will include one or more mech-
anisms through which they can activate the low-power
modes of an ENERGY STAR® labeled monitor.
5. Provide ENERGY STAR® labeled computers that are capa-
ble of entering and fully recovering from the low-power
"sleep" mode while running in at least one of the oper-
ating systems pre-installed_before shipping.
6. Provide ENERGY STAR® labeled'monitors that can auto-
matically enter two successive low-power modes.
7. For networked environments, provide computers that
will sleep on networks and respond to wake events.
8. Provide integrated computer systems,,where the com-
puter and the monitor are combined in a single unit,
that will enter a low-power mode of no more than 45
watts after a specified period of inactivity.
9. For state and local governments making blanket pur-
chases, include the provision that the vendors will:
- Deliver new and repaired machines configured prop-
erly for automatic energy-saving features as per cur-
rent ENERGY STAR® specifications.
— Provide customer support with respect to power man-
agement features so that these features remain proper-
ty enabled:
In addition to the contract language above, the EPP
Database's Computer Store contains voluntary standards
and guidelines from Germany's Blue Angel, the European
Union's Eco-Label, the Nordic Countries' Nordic Swan, and
Sweden's TCO Development, which may provide pur-
chasers with information about environmental attributes.
See .
Massachusetts Contract Excerpt for Computers, Peripherals, and Services
It is desirable that bidders demonstrate that all computer equipment offered in their responses was not manufactured
or assembled using the toxic ingredients listed below., Further, it is desirable that bidders demonstrate that computer
equipment does^not contain some or ..all of the following toxic/hazardous constituents:
1. CFC or HCFC compounds included on the A, B, and C annex of the "Montreal Protocol on Substances that
Deplete the Ozone Layer."
2. .Chlorinated solvents, e.g., carbon tetrachloride, trichlot,oethylene, perchloroethylene, dichloromethane or
l.l.lrtrichloroethane., ' , '„.•.„•*
*
3. Cadmium-in any part of the CRT, electronic components, batteries for backup or internal clocks (not to exceed
25 mg/kg total), photo semiconductors,, or*in packaging "or packaging ink.
4: Mercury in the background lighting system, batteries, and, other electronic components.
5., Selenium, unless equipment can be returned to manufacturer.
6. Flame-retardant materials in any plastic components that contain any organically bound chlorine or bromide.
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