United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Pollution Prevention
and Toxics
(7409)
EPA742-N-99-002
September 1999
www.epa.gov/opptintr/epp
Issue 5
ENVIRONMENTALLY PREFERABLE PURCHASING
Fort Bragg Solves
a "Pressing" Dilemma
A mix of creativity and technology helped
the U.S. Army's Fort Bragg purchase new
printing equipment that is preventing
pollution and saving money. As a result of this
environmentally preferable purchasing decision,
the military base, located in Fayetteville, North
Carolina, has reduced 1,500 gallons of hazardous
waste from its printing operations and slashed its
chemical purchasing and disposal costs by more
than $100,000.
< Continued on Page 5 >
EPA's Final EPP Guidance Published
Highlights
New Environmental
Purchasing Tool for
Local Governments
Green Conferencing
EPP in the Classroom
Green Alternatives for
Government Purchasing
Department of the
Interior Changing
Purchasing Practices
EPP Standards
Development
Web-Based Tools
Under Development
Recent Publications
Responding to one of Executive
Order (EO) 13101's mandates,
the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) recently released its Final
Guidance on Environmentally Preferable
Purchasing. As with the original, the
new guidance outlines the federal gov-
ernments approach for incorporating
environmental considerations into its
purchasing decisions. The final guid-
ance reflects lessons learned from
numerous EPP pilot projects and feder-
al agency and public comments. It
replaces the proposed guidance EPA
originally released in September 1995.
One of the most noticeable changes is
that EPA reduced the number of "guid-
ing principles" from seven to five in
response to concerns that some of the
original principles overlapped with one
another. The new guidance also pro-
vides an updated list of EPP resources,
an expanded glossary of terms and list
of environmental attributes, and a sam-
ple EPP policy directive.
For a copy of the final guidance,
please visit the EPP Web site at
. For addi-
tional information, contact Eun-Sook
Goidel of EPA at 202 260-3296 or
.
Printed on nonbleached, nondeinked, 100 percent postconsumer fiber paper.
-------
Environmental
Purchasing in
Practice
Each EPP Update highlights a dif-
ferent paper type that EPA has
determined to have certain posi-
tive environmental attributes. Read
below to find out about the paper
choice for this issue—Sandpiper.
This issue of the EPP Update is print-
ed on Sandpiper, a paper from Domtar.
Sandpiper is 100 percent postconsumer
recycled-content paper made with min-
imal amounts of dyes. The paper is
acid-free and is processed from non-
deinked computer printout paper. No
bleaching processes of any kind are
used in the production of this paper.
Is Kenaf
Recyclable?
Yes! A recent study showed that
kenaf-based paper is totally com-
patible with mainstream mixed
and white paper recycling processes and
recycled paper production. If you have a
white/high-grade office paper recycling
program, check with the recycler to see
if kenaf is accepted with
that stream—some
recyclers will accept it
as white while others
may not. It is perfectly
acceptable in any mixed
paper recycling collection
program. The characteristics
and fiber length of kenaf fibers are very
similar to those of wood fibers, which is
why kenaf paper can be successfully
recycled along with wood-fiber paper.
For more information on kenaf paper,
contact Thomas Rymsza at 505 294-
0293 or .
Note from the Editors
The commitment,
communication,
cooperation,
and willingness
of pioneers
to try...risk...
learn...adjust...
retry, will make
the successes
of environmental
purchasing easier..
Environmental purchasing is not a
new concept. Pioneering programs
that have dealt with recycled con-
tent and energy-efficient purchasing,
through many years of concerted effort,
have built peoples awareness that buy-
ing with the environment in mind
makes environmental and economic
sense. The EPP program is a relative
newcomer on the scene. It builds on the
knowledge and experiences of these ear-
lier programs and broadens the environ-
mental purchasing horizon, exploring
concepts such as applying a lifecycle
perspective to federal procurement. Yes,
environmentally preferable purchasing
involves new challenges—purchasers as
well as suppliers need to make decisions
that reflect a broader set of environmen-
tal factors. However, as the current and
future issues of the EPP Update will
highlight, EPP is doable, thanks, in large
part to pioneers such as Sgt. Hemsley
and others. The commitment, commu-
nication, cooperation, and willingness
of pioneers to try... risk.. .learn...
adjust.. .retry will make the successes of
environmental purchasing easier to come
by and more prevalent. Everyone has
the opportunity to contribute to a green-
er government with each purchasing
decision we make. Check out the EPP
Web site and
its links to access all of the latest informa-
tion and think about how you might be
able to contribute to a bright EPP future.
Are you or someone you know an EPP
pioneer who should be recognized in
our upcoming issues? If so, please e-
mail the editor at
and include "EPP Pioneer for Update" as
the subject title of the message.
-------
New Environmental Purchasing
Tool for Local Governments
(See also EPP Update #4 [EPA742-N-99-
001, March 1999] and EPP Update #2
[EPA742-F-97-002, November 1997] for
previous articles on NACo's Environmentally
Preferable Purchasing Project.)
Anew tool created by the National
Association of Counties (NACo),
under a grant from EPA, will help
local governments enhance their EPP
practices. NACo's "Environmental
Purchasing Starter Kit" was completed
this summer and is available to parties
interested in putting a cost-effective envi-
ronmental purchasing program in place.
The kit is designed for purchasing
agents, county and city managers, recy-
cling coordinators, local elected officials,
product users, and vendors.
To order the
Starter Kit,
contact Naomi
Friedman at
202 942-4262
or Tony Hayes at
202 942-4247.
The Starter Kit is
free to NACo
members and $ 10 for
nonmembers. You
also can order the
Starter Kit through
NACo's Web site
.
The Starter Kit
includes the following
components:
—Information on how to
implement an environ-
mental purchasing pro-
gram (e.g., how to gain
support, collect baseline
information, establish
environmental criteria).
—Case studies on fleet main-
tenance, energy efficien-
cy, and pest control.
—A sample purchasing
resolution.
—A press release.
—A glossary of environ-
mental purchasing terms.
—A baseline survey for inter-
nal local government use.
—A resource list.
EPP's Web Site Makes it Easy
Meeting Green
(See also EPP Update #4 [EPA742-N-99-
001, March 1999] for a previous article on
EPAs green conferencing tool.)
Where can you find ideas for
ways to make your meetings
and conferences more environ-
mentally benign? EPAs EPP Web site is
now a "one-stop shop" for green meeting
and conference information. The EPP
Web site now offers a variety of green
meeting and conference resources. The
site includes a comprehensive table con-
taining green meeting and conference
opportunities. Users can consolidate and
sort the table chronologically by meeting
planning stages or by service sector. The
site also provides information and links
to other green meeting and conference
initiatives as well as a bibliographic listing
of other resources.
In addition, the EPP Web site soon will
offer a multimedia tool to assist planners
and service providers (e.g., hotels, printers,
caterers) in recognizing and seizing green
meeting and conference opportunities. The
tool will provide planners with a compre-
hensive overview of the green opportunities
within each of the different stages, products,
and services involved in conference plan-
ning. For each opportunity, the economic
and logistical impacts will be analyzed.
Conducting a green meeting or conference
will be easier than ever using the check-
lists and sample contract language avail-
able on the Web site. Service providers
will find information about sector-specif-
ic green opportunities and the technical
and financial information needed to
determine the cost-effectiveness of each.
The site also will feature case studies
documenting the experiences of green
conference pioneers.
For More Information
Check out the green
conferencing tool at
. For additional infor-
mation, contact Russ Clark
of EPA at 202 260-4418 or
.
-------
EPP In the Classroom
For more information
on EO 13101 and EPP
training activities, con-
tact the White House
Task Force at 202 260-
1297 or visit the
Office of the Federal
Environmental
Executive Web site at
.
Like many important endeavors, EPP will become common practice once people
have the tools and knowledge to implement it. Training can provide the needed
information and success stories to make EPP a victory for both the public and
private sectors. To help this occur, EO 13101, Greening the Government Through Waste
Prevention, Recycling, and Federal Acquisition, directs the Federal Environmental
Executive and the White House Task Force on Greening the Government Through
Waste Prevention and Recycling to evaluate federal acquisition training institutions
and assist them with incorporating the components of the EO, including EPP, into
their curricula.
The Department of the Defense (DOD), with more than 106,000 military and civil-
ian acquisition personnel, provides training through the Defense Acquisition Univer-
sity (DAU). DAU is a consortium of DOD education and training institutions and
organizations. Immediately following the release of EO 13101, the White House Task
Force began working with DAU's course directors and faculty on ways to incorporate
the components of the EO, including EPP, into their acquisition classes. In the fall of
1999, the White House Task Force will provide a ZVz-day training workshop for
course directors and faculty to help them do exactly this. Several EPA personnel will
address the workshop and provide attendees with information on purchasing recycled-
content and environmentally preferable products and services along with some
promising EPP practices. The Task Force is continuing to work with DAU instructors
to help them restructure their courses to include training on the components of the EO.
In addition, the Task Force is working with the Federal Acquisition Institute (FAI),
which prepares instructional materials for acquisition personnel. The Task Force pro-
vided FAI with information on EO 13101 requirements and EPP. FAI and the Task
Force are currently preparing a free Internet-based course for the FAI Web site cover-
ing the provisions of EO 13101, including information on EPP
The White House Task Force also is working directly with procurement and contract-
ing personnel within the various agencies including DOD, the Department of Energy
the Department of Veterans Affairs, and the Treasury Department. Since January 1999,
members of the White House Task Force have been giving presentations to senior
contracting officers on green purchasing, its cost effectiveness, and how to incorporate
green purchasing into daily operations. These training sessions occur once every 2 weeks
in Washington, DC, with attendees coming from offices across the United States.
Green Alternatives for
Government Purchasing
(See also EPP Update #4 [EPA742-N-
99-001, March 1999] for a previous
article on FLIS.)
It just got easier for federal
agencies to identify products
with specific environmental
attributes. The multiagency Joint
Group on Environmental
Attributes (JG-EnvAtt) is updat-
ing the Federal Logistics
Information System (FLIS) with
a new coding system that labels the
environmental attributes of a product.
FLIS, a computerized database of more
than 7 million supply items, now
shows which stock items meet or
exceed EPAs Comprehensive
Procurement Guidelines (CPG) for
recycled-content products and the
Department of Energy's Standards for
Energy Products. JG-EnvAtt continues
to research definitions and identify
< Continued on Page 5 >
-------
< Fort Bragg - Continued From Page 1 >
The Road to Environmental
Preferability
As recently as 2 years ago, the PSYOP
print shop (see sidebar) was using 15-
year old lithographic technology. The
print shop was creating an enormous
amount of solid waste in the form of
aluminum and film, as well as some
hazardous waste, which is very costly to
dispose of properly. In his quest to
reduce the adverse environmental
impacts of this process, Sgt. Hemsley
visited print shops in the private sector
to see first-hand the technologies they
were using. He contacted manufacturers
and gathered information on the capa-
bilities and costs associated with their
products, eventually deciding on a digi-
tal image press. These presses eliminate
conventional film developing and pro-
cessing techniques. Specifically, this
equipment eliminates the use of alu-
minum plates, developers, and fixers—
three waste streams—dramatically
improving environmental performance.
In addition, the new machines save
time and money. The machines can
print 10,000 copies an hour, which is
much faster than the old presses. By
switching to the new presses, the print
shop cut annual chemical purchasing
and disposal costs by 73 percent. The
PSYOP Group recently received funding
for two more presses, allowing it to
eliminate much more waste. In addi-
tion, the print shop purchased a digital
camera and a computer to further
"green" the developing process.
Taking Pollution Prevention into
the Field of Battle
Due to the PSYOP Groups need to
produce print products while in the
field, it developed a Deployable Print
Production Center (DPPC). The DPPC,
built from components PSYOP deter-
mined were environmentally preferable,
very quickly creates, edits, and pro-
duces print products in the field. The
system can produce laser-quality proofs
and color reproductions at high speed
while dramatically reducing the amount
of waste produced.
Future Plans
Special Operations Command is con-
tinuing its efforts to green its print shop.
Plans are in the works for a partnership
among DOD, EPA, and a university (not
yet chosen) that will enable students to
play a role in the design and construc-
tion of a new green building for the
print shop.
For more information on environ-
mentally preferable purchasing at the
4th PSYOP Groups Heavy Print Facility
contact Sgt. Gregory Hemsley at
919 396-3160.
products with environmental attribut-
es and is expanding this cooperative
effort to other federal purchasing enti-
ties, including the General Services
Administration (GSA). "We hope GSA
will be coding over 1,000 CPG paper
products into FITS," said Nancy
Royal-Jones of the Defense Logistics
Agency (DLA).
As additional environmental attribute
information becomes available, JG-
EnvAtt will incorporate new environ-
mental product codes into the database
(e.g., biobased properties, water con-
serving, low VOCs, and nongreenhouse
impact). JG-EnvAtt is currently partner-
ing with the U.S. Department of Agri-
culture (USDA), for example, to identify
biobased commodity areas such as fur-
niture. Once definitions are established
for the commodity areas, USDA will
help identify biobased products in FLIS.
For more information visit
or contact
Nancy Royal-Jones of DLA at
703 767-6256.
U.S. Army Special
Operations
Command's PYSOP
Fort Bragg's EPP printing
efforts are focused on
the U.S. Army Special
Operations Command,
4th Psychological
Operations (PSYOP)
Group's Heavy Print
Facility. The PSYOP Group
researches the culture,
religion, customs, and
sensitivities of host
nations and then uses
this information to help
save lives during war and
peacekeeping operations.
The PSYOP Group designs,
prints, and disseminates
leaflets, posters, and
brochures that spread
important and time-
sensitive messages. During
Operation Desert Storm,
for example, PSYOP
released leaflets from air-
craft warning civilians of
imminent bombing
before air strikes.
To be successful,
PSYOP needs to send a
clear and commanding
message and reach the
target audience in a
timely manner. High-
quality, colorful leaflets
that can be developed
and printed quickly are
critical to success. But at
what cost to environmen-
tal health and safety?
Convinced that environ-
mental protection doesn't
have to be compromised,
Sgt. Gregory Hemsley
spearheaded the imple-
mentation of an environ-
mentally and economically
superior PSYOP printing
process.
-------
Department of Interior—Makir
The Department of the Interior (DOI) is proving that changing purchasing prac-
tices to incorporate environmental considerations is not as daunting as it might
seem. From its purchase of recycled-content products to green cleaning prod-
ucts to renewable energy systems, DOI is a leader in the environmental purchasing
arena. Following are four examples of the environmental products DOI is testing and
purchasing.
Green's the Way to Clean
In November 1998, in an effort to procure RCRA-designated recycled-content,
environmentally preferable products and to address concerns over the indoor air
quality in its Main and South Interior Buildings in downtown Washington, DC, DOI
issued a request for proposals for custodial services (e.g., window washing, floor
stripping, maintaining restroom supplies) asking for environmentally preferable clean-
ing products and supplies. The 5-year contract will cover the cleaning of 1.4 mil-
lion square feet of office space. "Green" language was introduced into the scope
of services and environmental preferability was a major factor in the selection
of the new contractor.
In the contract solicitation, DOI established both "mandatory" and "desirable"
environmental characteristics for evaluating five categories of cleaning prod-
ucts and recycled-content products such as bathroom tissue, paper towels,
toilet seat covers, and trash bags. Mandatory characteristics were rated on a
pass or fail basis. Desirable characteristics go above and beyond the manda-
tory requirements and result in a more environmentally favorable product.
In determining which characteristics to use in the evaluation, DOI consid-
ered those that were relevant locally (e.g., prohibiting the use of products
that contain "toxics of concern" to the Chesapeake Bay), those that would
make a significant environmental difference in the types of products being used (e.g.,
bathroom paper products with high postconsumer content and free of elemental
chlorine), and those that would be healthier for its employees (e.g., cleaners that
minimize irritation to the respiratory system, eyes, and skin).
"We are looking forward to a new era in green cleaning at our headquarters build-
ings without incurring additional cost," says Building Manager Gary Peacock. "We
want to help others within and outside DOI introduce environmental stewardship
into their custodial operations by making available the contract language we used."
A Shell of Its Former Self
Appropriately enough, it was on Earth Day, April 22, 1999, that DOI announced it
would begin a 6-month pilot project to test compostable plates and bowls in its
Washington, DC, headquarters cafeteria. EarthShell Corporation man-
ufactures the cafeteriaware, which is made from limestone and potato,
corn, or rice starch. In addition to being biodegradable and compostable,
Earthshell products also require less energy to manufacture than compa-
rable paper or polystyrene containers.
Currently, EarthShell is providing the DOI Headquarters cafeteria with
approximately 5,000 9-inch plates and 1,500 bowls each month. In addi-
tion, DOI is partnering with the U.S. Department of Agriculture to test dif-
ferent composting methods and mixtures for the EarthShell products and
food scraps that are recycled from the cafeteria.
"Customer response to the EarthShell plates and bowls has been very posi-
tive," states Ken Naser of DOI. "To educate users, we set up a display case in
the cafeteria with the products and a brochure on why we are using them."
-------
ig EPP Part of the Mission
EarthShell Corporation also is using the DOI cafeteria as a testing and proving
ground for its products. Thus, during the pilot project, the company is providing its
plates and bowls free of charge. If successful, DOI might use these products in its
numerous cafeterias and concessions stands throughout the country. DOI believes
this environmentally preferable product could greatly reduce the environmental
impact of these high-volume foodservice outlets.
Plastic Lumber Does the Job
In another DOI pilot project, EPA Region 8 is helping the National Park
Service (NFS) install plastic lumber guard rails, walkways, and boardwalks.
The plastic lumber has been donated for this project and NFS will use it in
three of its parks within the next 2 to 3 years.
NFS considers plastic lumber to be environmentally preferable because it is
made from postconsumer plastic and lasts longer than some other materials
and, therefore, does not require as frequent replacement. In addition, plastic
lumber is virtually maintenance-free and is highly durable. It does not decay,
rust, splinter, rot, crumble, or need painting.
At Dinosaur National Park in Utah, park officials already have the plastic lum-
ber on site and will begin constructing guard rails. In the Washington, DC area, the
George Washington Memorial Parkway was recognized with a 1999 White House
Closing the Circle Award for its use of plastic lumber in a raised trail on Theodore
Roosevelt Island. Although the initial cost to construct the trail was 1.65 times that of
wood construction, the estimated payback is 7 years, given the lower associated
maintenance costs. During the course of the pilot projects, NFS officials will be eval-
uating how well the plastic lumber withstands the natural elements.
The Sun Is Energizing
NFS has identified the use of renewable energy sources as a key strategy in its over-
all effort to develop sustainable energy goals and to respond to concerns about global
climate change. In 1993, through a partnership with the Department of Energy, NFS
agreed to promote energy conservation and increase the use of renewable energy at
all NFS facilities.
Since the inception of this project, NFS has implemented multiple photovoltaic
(PV) projects throughout its parks. PV systems consist of solar cells that convert sun-
light into electricity. Most of the PV systems used by NFS are in the range of 5 to 20
kilowatts and replace existing diesel-fueled engine generators. NFS is using PV
energy for facility power, lighting, and water pumping.
The PV-powered visitor facility in the North Rim of the Grand Canyon is an exam-
ple of a successful NFS project involving renewable energy. The visitor station
consists of restrooms along with staffed exhibits with information on the North
Rim.
"In the past, because of the remote location of the North Rim, our power
source could be inconsistent," said Curt Edlund, a Grand Canyon park official.
"Installing the PV system allowed us to eliminate our use of the generators and
even contribute power back into the [power] grid [for use by others.]"
Setting a Standard
These examples demonstrate that DOI is committed to making EPP a stan-
dard approach to procurement. Each EPP project was conceived not only to
make the agency's facility operations more sustainable, but also to educate
the public about these environmentally preferable products and services.
For more information on
the projects highlighted
in this article, contact
the following individuals:
Green Cleaners:
Heather Davies
202 208-7884
EarthShell® Products:
Ken Naser
202 208-3901
Plastic Lumber:
Gilbert Bailey
303 312-6284
North Rim PV Project:
Curt Edlund
520 638-7730
-------
Moving Forward—Voluntary EPP
Consensus Standards Development
EPA is closely examining how the private sector can help make EPP easier for
federal agencies. In a Federal Register (FR) notice issued January 15, 1999
(64 FR 2640), the Agency sought comments from nongovernmental standards
developing organizations (SDOs) on the development of environmental standards
for use in federal procurement. Specifically, EPA asked for information on what
types of markets are most suited to the incorporation of environmentally preferable
products. The FR notice was intended to determine the level of interest among
SDOs in the development of environmental attributes and associated voluntary
standards for specific product categories.
In response to the FR notice, 20 representatives from a variety of groups, including
the leading independent SDOs, purchasers, and manufacturers and vendors, demon-
strated interest in standards development, voicing support as well as various sugges-
tions and concerns. A contention among many commentors was the degree of
consensus needed to develop EPP standards. Some of the manufacturers advocated
complete consensus in standards development while others believed that consensus
should not be required, but rather aspired to with a reasonable amount of effort. Two
major SDOs took another stance, suggesting the elimination of consensus standards
altogether and advocating the use of "leadership" standards instead, which identify
those products that represent the top range of the market in terms of environmental
preferability
Despite these issues, most respondents supported the development of voluntary
consensus EPP standards. EPA will now work with SDOs who are ready to move for-
ward, helping them choose product categories of interest to federal agencies and
ensure balanced standard-setting committees that include manufacturers, consumer
and environmental groups, and government.
To see a summary of the comments to the FR notice, visit the EPP Web site
at . For more information on the use of voluntary
standards in EPP, contact Julie Shannon at 202 260-2736 or
.
till
111 I
III,, 111ll
• imi
llii!
-------
Setting the Standard
for Sustainability
When it comes to setting industry standards, the American Society for Testing
and Materials (ASTM) is one of the largest and most respected voluntary
standards development organizations in the world. EPAs EPP Program has
made efforts to encourage sustainability in buildings through the purchase of envi-
ronmentally preferable construction products and services. The two organizations
have recently come together to put their expertise, as well as that of a wide variety of
professionals representing industry and nonprofit organizations, to work to create an
industry standard for sustainable buildings.
"Industry professionals, facility managers, building owners, vendors, and general
contractors use industry consensus standards like those developed by ASTM for
guidance on what products to buy and performance measures to use," explained
Ruth Heikkinen, EPP program staffer and EPAs representative on the ASTM
Subcommittee on Sustainability (Committee E06.71). "That's the main reason to cre-
ate a standard," Heikkinen added. One of the first projects of the subcommittee is to
create a standard environmental impact questionnaire.
The standard questionnaire would be used to survey manufacturers and vendors
about the environmental attributes of their products and services. The data collected
would enable architects, facility managers, and others to better identify environmen-
tally preferable products and services. Further, a standard questionnaire would allow
manufacturers and vendors to develop model responses, saving significantly on reply
time. Currently vendors and manufacturers can spend a great deal of time answering
various different product surveys developed by individual architects and construction
contractors.
The questions being developed focus on five criteria: materials, manufacturing
process, operational performance, indoor environmental quality, and corporate envi-
ronmental policy. These questions are applied to each of the seven major building
elements previously developed by ASTM. These Uniformat II classified building ele-
ments are: substructure, shell, interiors, services, equipment and furnishings, special
construction and demolition, and building sitework.
Once approved by the subcommittee, the proposed questionnaire could be voted
on by the entire Performance of Buildings' main committee as soon as fall 1999.
Look to future issues of the EPP Update for the latest on ASTM's building sustain-
ability standards. To learn more about the standards, contact Dru Meadows, chair
of the Sustainability Subcommittee (Committee E06.71), at 918 599-0011 or
, or Ruth Heikkinen at 202 260-1803 or
.
-------
For more
information on GUS
Check the EPP Web site
at for break-
ing news. For additional
information, please
contact Russ Clark at
202 260-4418 or
,
or Eun-Sook Goidel at
202 260-3296 or
.
We'd like to see the list
of projects on this chart
keep growing. Please
help by sharing your EPP
efforts and successes
with others through the
EPP Web site. The pilot
project chart can be
found on the Web site
at and
will include the following tools:
• General Training Videos—Basic EPP principles, along with some more in-depth
applications of EPP, will be introduced in an entertaining multimedia format. Users
will be able to watch, listen, and learn as EPP is explained with audio narration and
animated graphics. (Users without data streaming and sound capabilities will be
able to visit accompanying Web pages with the same text-based information.)
• Pioneer/"How to Do EPP" Training Tool—Also in multimedia format, this tool
will attempt to prepare EPP pioneers for either of two situations. The tool will help
guide pioneers of EPP into previously unexplored EPP territory (product or service
categories not yet tackled by others). It also provides the needed steps to identify
appropriate environmental attributes for the product and to navigate the procure-
ment process within their organization. Others might choose to replicate a suc-
cessful EPP procurement previously undertaken by another. The process for taking
this approach also will be addressed.
• Promising Practices Guide—Initially this tool will include a series of short case
studies highlighting successful EPP strategies implemented by several federal agen-
cies. Users will learn how others got started, what challenges were overcome, and
how to duplicate their successes. Eventually, the guide also will include detailed
information about how recent changes to the Federal Acquisition Regulations
facilitate environmental purchasing. It also will include standard EPP language to
insert into federal purchasing contracts.
• EPP Database—Anyone looking for existing environmental attribute information
(e.g., environmental standards and guidelines or contract language) will find it in
the EPP Database. The database includes product-specific information developed
by government programs, both domestic and international, as well as nongovern-
mental entities. Users will be able to browse the database or search for specific
product categories. Users also will be encouraged to submit their own information
so the database can be updated continually.
Charting the Success of EPP
Did you ever wish you could easily find out who's doing what in EPP? Now you
can. As part of the EO 13101 mandate, EPA developed a chart listing federal
agencies and the EPP pilot projects with which they are involved. The chart
covers 14 projects in seven product categories and provides information, tools, and
hints for conducting your own EPP pilots. Among the initial entries are the Aberdeen
Proving Ground paint project, the Department of Interior cafeteriaware project, and
the EPA copier equipment pilot project. Categories include building materials, office
products, and solvents, among others.
For more information on EPP Pilot Projects, contact Russ Clark of EPA at 202 260-
4418 or .
10
-------
Recent Publications
IPP on Tour
Defending the
Environment At the
Department of
Defense
DOD is setting an
example, showing
that protecting the
environment and pro-
tecting your pocketbook are not mutu-
ally exclusive. DOD is using EPP
principles to ensure that ongoing rou-
tine renovations to its buildings and
other nearby DOD facilities incorporate
products it considers to be environmen-
tally preferable. In addition to improv-
ing environmental performance, DOD
also has realized significant cost sav-
ings. A recently published case study
Defending the Environment At the
Department of Defense: Using
Environmentally Preferable Purchasing
Procedures to Maintain the Pentagon and
Other DOD Facilities (EPA 742-R-99-
002), focuses on the development,
award, and implementation of the
5-year, $10 million per year construc-
tion, renovation, and repair contract.
Much like the DOD parking lot project,
very specific environmental language
was written into the contract. For
more information, contact Ruth
Heikkinen of EPA at 202 260-1803 or
.
EPP Pioneers in the
Private Sector
Federal agencies are
not the only ones
interested in EPP
Private companies
have discovered that
EPP makes sense for
them, too, not only environmentally but
economically as well. EPA interviewed
18 companies, covering a variety of
industries, to collect information on
their initiatives. Participating companies
include: Anheuser-Busch, Ben & Jerrys,
The Body Shop, Canon, Collins &
Aikman Floorcoverings, Herman Miller,
DaimlerChrysler, IBM, McDonalds,
NEC, Patagonia, Perrigo, Public Service
Electric and Gas Company (PSE&G),
Sony, Sun Microsystems, Tokyo Gas,
Volvo, and Warner Bros.
The resulting report, Private Sector
Pioneers—How Companies Are
Incorporating Environmentally Preferable
Purchasing (EPA 742-R-99-001),
demonstrates how varied environmental
purchasing activities can be. For exam-
ple, some companies have developed
lists of chemicals to avoid (e.g.,
DaimlerChrysler, Volvo, Canon, Sony
Collins & Aikman, The Body Shop, and
Ben & Jerrys). Other companies con-
sider multiple environmental attributes
when making purchasing decisions
(e.g., Warner Bros., Anheuser-Busch,
Patagonia, Volvo, Herman Miller,
DaimlerChrysler, and Canon). For
more information, contact Eun-Sook
Goidel of EPA at 202 260-3296 or
.
To obtain copies of these or other
EPP documents, write to the
Pollution Prevention Clearinghouse
(7409), U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency, 401 M Street,
SW, Washington, DC 20460; or call
202 260-1023. The documents also
are available in Adobe Acrobat
format (PDF) on the EPP Web site
< www. epa. gov/opptintr/epp>.
The EPP booth is on
the move to
spread the word
about environmentally
preferable purchasing!
Look for it at the upcom-
ing National Recycling
Coalition conference in
Cincinnati, Ohio, in
September. Then it's off
to sunny San Antonio,
Texas, for the Joint
Services P2 conference
in December. In between
shows, the booth will be
visiting the lobbies of
federal buildings in the
Washington, DC area
including the Department
of the Interior and the
Department of
Education.
The EPP booth is a
major outreach tool used
by EPA and provides
interested individuals
the opportunity to learn
more about environmen-
tally preferable purchas-
ing. For more
information about the
EPP booth schedule,
please contact Alison
Kinn at 202 260-1090 or
.
11
-------
PROFILE OF A PIONEER
Green is for More Than H
Just Camouflage
It was Sgt. Gregory Hemsley's will and persistence, which included conducting
research on his own time, that made Ft. Bragg's purchase of environmentally
preferable print shop technology possible. (See "Ft. Bragg Solves a Pressing
Dilemma," p. 1.) Sgt. Hemsley was born in Los Angeles, California, to a family with a
strong military tradition. Despite this upbringing, Hemsley admits he really wanted
to wear a suit and tie to work, so he went on to receive a Bachelors degree in busi-
ness from the University of Southern California. Military service, however, must be in
his blood because it wasn't long before Hemsley enlisted in the Army. That was 13
years ago, and in that time, he has traveled all over the world. He laughs as he talks
about the kangaroo that licked his head in Australia and becomes solemn as he
reflects on the intensity of battle during Desert Storm. Sgt. Hemsley's thirst for
knowledge and commitment to environmental protection earned him another
Bachelor's degree in environmental studies in December 1998. He now has his eye on
a Master's degree in environmental management.
The mention of any company, product, or process in this publication does not constitute or imply endorsement
by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
United States
Environmental Protection Agency
(7409)
Washington, DC 20460
Official Business
Penalty for Private Use $300
------- |