Sustainable Procurement Strategies
Overview
Federal agencies are required to buy sustainable products and services to the maximum extent practicable. Sustainable products and services are those that are subject to, and meet the applicable statutory purchasing programs and required Environmental Protection Agency purchasing programs listed in the Green Procurement Compilation. This page provides resources that are not covered in the GPC, including best practices and federal programs to help you meet your federal sustainability goals.
Resources Promoting Sustainable Procurement
First, see the Green Procurement Compilation for federal requirements.
DfE Certified
items are qualified by the EPA to carry the DfE label. Products must be registered with EPA and meet federal disinfectant standards to make disinfectant claims. Disinfectant products that carry the DfE logo contain ingredients that meet an additional high standard for both human and environmental health and help people protect their family, workplace, community, and environment. Search DfE-Certified disinfectants, which include:
- Tub/Tile Cleaner
- All Purpose Cleaner
- Toilet Bowl Cleaner
First, see the Green Procurement Compilation for federal requirements.
The GPG program leverages GSA’s real estate portfolio to evaluate innovative building technologies. The program has completed assessments in building envelope, energy management, HVAC, lighting, on-site power and renewables, and water. The program aims to drive down operational costs in federal buildings and help lead market transformation through the deployment of new technologies.
The GPG evaluations for the following products resulted in acquisition recommendations:
First, see the Green Procurement Compilation for federal requirements.
NIH - Substances of Concern List - In an effort to 1) minimize risks to health, safety and security; 2) prevent pollution and reduce generation of hazardous wastes from its facilities and mission activities; the NIH has developed guidance documents, plans and policies to reduce procurement and use of specific laboratory chemicals that posed excessive risks. As of 2024, the NIH Division of Environmental Protection has identified 132 SoCs, falling under 21 categories. There are three criteria to be listed as Substances of Concern:
- Have significant use in NIH facilities or mission activities.
- The substance must pose a known hazard or risk in the supply chain, as used at NIH or after use.
- Suitable alternatives are available.
Before buying new products, consider excess personal property from other federal agencies. It's not just the mandatory first source of supply, it's sustainable! Visit the Personal Property Management System (PPMS) to search the federal government’s available excess personal property for transfer.
SmartWay Partner and Affiliate - EPA's SmartWay is a market-driven partnership to help businesses move goods more cleanly and efficiently. Freight providers use EPA-verified strategies and technologies to cut fuel costs and emissions. Government agencies, retailers, manufacturers, and others use SmartWay performance metrics to identify and select carriers and modes, then incorporate this information into their carbon accounting and sustainability plans. By providing a consistent set of tools and information needed to make informed transportation choices, SmartWay enables companies across the supply chain to exchange performance data in ways that protect the environment, enhance our nation's energy security, and foster economic vitality. To encourage continued improvement, SmartWay provides incentives and recognition for top performers. Since 2004, SmartWay partners have eliminated 28 million metric tons of CO2, saved 65 million barrels of oil, and saved $8.1 billion in fuel costs.
According to the Vegetable Ink Printing Act of 1994 federal agencies may not perform or procure lithographic printing that uses ink containing oil if the ink contains less than the following percentage of vegetable oil:
- In the case of news ink, 40 percent
- In the case of sheet-fed ink, 20 percent
- In the case of forms ink, 20 percent
- In the case of heat-set ink, 10 percent
Consider whether the acquisition includes additional opportunities, beyond sustainable products. Additional considerations include:
- Take Back Programs - Take back excess products or packaging at the end of useful life (e.g., electronics, appliances, recyclable or reusable packaging, printer cartridges, etc.);
- Product Packaging - Require packaging that includes recycled content; is reusable; is recyclable; minimizes the amount of materials used; contains zero or reduced toxic materials; or uses biodegradable materials; or
- Climate Risk Management - Requiring the submission of a climate change risk management plan to address climate related risks in the acquisition. Refer to the Climate Change Risk Management Considerations in the Acquisition Life Cycle. This simple checklist can help you incorporate climate risk management into your acquisition.
Resources for Verifying Sustainable Products
The Green Procurement Compilation lists products that must meet environmental specifications, standards, or ecolabels identified in the Federal Acquisition Regulations. The GPC Environmental Programs page provides information on the federal purchasing programs which can be used to determine whether contractors are providing compliant products. Visit the Materials and Resources page for terms commonly used to describe sustainable acquisition that can help you better understand designated product requirements. It is up to the contractor to provide credible and verifiable documentation to demonstrate a product or service meets the sustainable requirements included in the contract.
An important resource for verifying environmental information about a product is an Environmental Product Declaration. EPDs are Type III environmental declarations that communicate standardized environmental information about the life cycle impact of a product.
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