Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals Tribal Solid Waste Education and Assistance Program (TSWEAP) Session 7: Green Purchasing – Closing the Loop Todd Barnell, ITEP Source Reduction Strategies for Tribal Solid Waste Programs

2 What is Green Purchasing? Green purchasing can be defined as giving more consideration to the environmental and social impacts of a product or service as well as considering the traditional considerations of price, availability and performance usually receive. Green purchasing can be defined as giving more consideration to the environmental and social impacts of a product or service as well as considering the traditional considerations of price, availability and performance usually receive. Another term you will often run across is “Environmentally Preferable Purchasing” (EEP). Another term you will often run across is “Environmentally Preferable Purchasing” (EEP). According to a recent US Executive Order, EPP is defined as “buying products and services that have a lesser or reduced effect on human health and the environment than competing products or services that serve the same purpose.” According to a recent US Executive Order, EPP is defined as “buying products and services that have a lesser or reduced effect on human health and the environment than competing products or services that serve the same purpose.” Will usually consider: increasing product efficiency, reusability, and effectiveness in addition to effects on the environment. Will usually consider: increasing product efficiency, reusability, and effectiveness in addition to effects on the environment.

3 What Does Purchasing Have To Do With Source Reduction? One of the most effective things you can do in terms of source reduction is altering your buying practices – this is your front line in the battle to reduce waste. One of the most effective things you can do in terms of source reduction is altering your buying practices – this is your front line in the battle to reduce waste. Many green products help you reduce potentially harmful materials that would otherwise enter your waste stream. Many green products help you reduce potentially harmful materials that would otherwise enter your waste stream. Buying green helps you close the loop by purchasing products made with materials that have been recycled or reprocessed in some way. Buying green helps you close the loop by purchasing products made with materials that have been recycled or reprocessed in some way. Green purchasing demonstrates, in dollars and cents, your tribe’s values and goals. Green purchasing demonstrates, in dollars and cents, your tribe’s values and goals.

4 Green Products May Include Recycled content products, such as recycled plastic furniture or paper Less toxic products, such as cleaners Bio-based products, such as inks Energy conserving products, such as fluorescent lights

5 Green Services May Include Landscaping and pest control services that focus on native plants, reduced irrigation, and Integrated Pest Management Construction, building and janitorial services that emphasize environmentally friendly approaches Different approaches to deliveries, courier services and transportation

6 What Are Some Things To Look For? Recycled content Recycled content Recyclability Recyclability Product disassembly potential Product disassembly potential Durability Durability Reusability Reusability Take-back Take-back Biobased Biobased Energy efficiency Energy efficiency Water efficiency Water efficiency Reconditioned or remanufactured Reconditioned or remanufactured Other attributes with positive environmental effects Other attributes with positive environmental effects FOR EARTH

7 Some Green Purchasing Definitions Purchasing/Procurement: Obtaining goods and services to meet the needs of the tribe – includes large-scale purchases by purchasing departments to you buying a ream of paper. Environmental purchasing: Building and prioritizing environmental considerations into the process, along with traditional considerations such as price, performance, and availability. Greenwash: The more you look into purchasing green products and services the more impressive, glossy advertisements you are going to get – do your research! Many companies are jumping on the green bandwagon with products and services that are not environmentally sustainable.

8 Green Purchasing Definitions, Continued Recyclable Product: This product can be recycled. Recycled Product: This means that a certain portion of the product is made from recycled material, but be aware “recycled paper” usually means pre-consumer waste was used, such as floor scraps. Post-Consumer Content: This product contains a certain amount of material that has been used before – this is your best way of closing the loop. Example: Your ream of paper says “50% recycled, 20% PCW”. This means that 50% is from virgin wood, 30% is made of recycled floor scraps, and 20 is post-consumer recycled paper.

9 Green Purchasing Definitions, Continued All Natural: Be careful with this one. It may mean that the product is created with non-synthetic materials. But there are no guidelines for this term and it is vague at best and meaningless at worse. “Certified”: There are agencies and organizations that certify certain products, such as the USDA (with organic foods), Forest Stewardship Council, Green Seal, and Co-op America. Phosphate Free: Many cleaning agents contain phosphates, which can end up entering the environment through wastewater, causing algae blooms. Remanufactured product: Made from existing product materials to meet normal specifications

10 Initiation of the Program Where can you have the most positive effect in the least amount of time? Where can you have the most positive effect in the least amount of time? A quick success can be a major inspiration to future and more far-reaching activities A quick success can be a major inspiration to future and more far-reaching activities Listen, listen, listen Listen, listen, listen Successful programs rely heavily on the input and suggestions from all involved parties Successful programs rely heavily on the input and suggestions from all involved parties Having a small group write up the guidelines, and then having a larger group approve and revise, increases the investment of all stakeholders Having a small group write up the guidelines, and then having a larger group approve and revise, increases the investment of all stakeholders

11 Next Steps Adopt a team approach including environmental experts, purchasing officials, and end users. Adopt a team approach including environmental experts, purchasing officials, and end users. Consider establishing a green purchasing policy Consider establishing a green purchasing policy Collect baseline information Collect baseline information Research options Research options Establish criteria Establish criteria Talk to your vendors Talk to your vendors Share information throughout purchaser, user, and management circles Share information throughout purchaser, user, and management circles

12 Next Steps, Continued Pilot new product Pilot new product Talk to people using new product Talk to people using new product Gather information from users Gather information from users Track progress – have metrics in place to evaluate your success and challenges Track progress – have metrics in place to evaluate your success and challenges Reporting and record keeping are key Reporting and record keeping are key Roadblocks? Use your networks to consider different approaches and re-plan Roadblocks? Use your networks to consider different approaches and re-plan

13 Keeping it Going Anyone can start the ball rolling Anyone can start the ball rolling Ask for help from other departments Ask for help from other departments Green purchasing programs always need a champion Green purchasing programs always need a champion Listen to each other Listen to each other Exchange information Exchange information Celebrate success and original ideas Celebrate success and original ideas Promote pride in doing “the right thing” Promote pride in doing “the right thing”

14 Thinking Beyond Basic Recycling Source Reduction Source Reduction Reusable, remanufactured, durable Reusable, remanufactured, durable Take-back programs, minimal & recyclable packaging Take-back programs, minimal & recyclable packaging Material efficiency (double-sided printers) Material efficiency (double-sided printers) Toxics & Pollution Toxics & Pollution Non-toxic/biodegradable cleaning products Non-toxic/biodegradable cleaning products VOCs, formaldehydes, PVCs VOCs, formaldehydes, PVCs Products that contribute to pollution (bleached products, vehicles) Products that contribute to pollution (bleached products, vehicles)

15 Beyond Recycling, Continued Landscaping Landscaping Contract pest management by performance rather than chemical applications Contract pest management by performance rather than chemical applications Use organic fertilizers Use organic fertilizers Purchase native plantings Purchase native plantings Impervious pavement Impervious pavement Local Products Local Products Cuts out transportation Cuts out transportation Supports local economy Supports local economy Can encourage local business development Can encourage local business development

16 Beyond Recycling, Continued Forest Conservation Forest Conservation Certified sustainably managed Certified sustainably managed Energy and Water Efficiency Energy and Water Efficiency Low flow plumbing Low flow plumbing ENERGY STAR certified appliances and electronics ENERGY STAR certified appliances and electronics Right-size systems for use Right-size systems for use Operating costs taken into account Operating costs taken into account Transparency Transparency Call on vendors to give you reports on the origins, manufacture and environmental impacts of the products you buy from them Call on vendors to give you reports on the origins, manufacture and environmental impacts of the products you buy from them Expect a flood of glossy greenwash brochures! Demand substance! Expect a flood of glossy greenwash brochures! Demand substance!

17 Energy Use Considerations Considering ways to reduce, or improve, energy use in your solid waste program can have numerous positive effects Considering ways to reduce, or improve, energy use in your solid waste program can have numerous positive effects Reduced emissions from vehicles and equipment Reduced emissions from vehicles and equipment Quieter pickup vehicles (which makes people happy!) Quieter pickup vehicles (which makes people happy!) Reduced cost and increased efficiency Reduced cost and increased efficiency In addition to the standard improvements in lighting and office equipment, think about ways that you can reduce energy use in some of the more specialized aspects of solid waste management In addition to the standard improvements in lighting and office equipment, think about ways that you can reduce energy use in some of the more specialized aspects of solid waste management Special report on “Greening Garbage Trucks” is on your course CD Special report on “Greening Garbage Trucks” is on your course CD February 2008 issue of Waste Age February 2008 issue of Waste Age

18 Carbon Offsets Many organizations, governments, businesses and individuals are looking for a way to offset the greenhouse gas emissions they are not able to eliminate. Many organizations, governments, businesses and individuals are looking for a way to offset the greenhouse gas emissions they are not able to eliminate. Carbon offsets are one way to do this – they are not perfect but they can be part of your overall green purchasing efforts. Carbon offsets are one way to do this – they are not perfect but they can be part of your overall green purchasing efforts. Native Energy is an excellent resource Native Energy is an excellent resource

19 A Few Words On Life Cycle Assessments Many entities use LCA when making plans to develop and manage a green purchasing program. Many entities use LCA when making plans to develop and manage a green purchasing program. LCA is basically a comprehensive look at a product’s environmental and economic effects throughout its lifetime, including raw material extraction, manufacture, transportation, use and disposal. LCA is basically a comprehensive look at a product’s environmental and economic effects throughout its lifetime, including raw material extraction, manufacture, transportation, use and disposal. This can be a time consuming activity, but helps illustrate the overall effects products and services can have on our community and environment. This can be a time consuming activity, but helps illustrate the overall effects products and services can have on our community and environment. You can learn more at: You can learn more at:

20 Where Do You Get This Stuff? Co-op America Co-op America National “Green Pages” for businesses and tips National “Green Pages” for businesses and tips They conduct a Green Business Seal of Approval They conduct a Green Business Seal of Approval Green Seal Green Seal A national nonprofit that aids governments, universities, and others A national nonprofit that aids governments, universities, and others California Integrated Waste Management Board California Integrated Waste Management Board Has a comprehensive catalog of green products, from construction materials to sports equipment Has a comprehensive catalog of green products, from construction materials to sports equipment The Green Office The Green Office Just one of many companies providing a variety of office supplies Just one of many companies providing a variety of office supplies NativeEnergy NativeEnergy Has information on starting a carbon offset program Has information on starting a carbon offset program