An Effective Pollution Prevention Strategy. Alicia Culver Responsible Purchasing Network. WSPPN Annual Conference San Diego, CA September 27, 2010

Transcription

1 Sustainable Purchasing An Effective Pollution Prevention Strategy Alicia Culver Responsible Purchasing Network WSPPN Annual Conference San Diego, CA September 27,

2 What is Sustainable Purchasing? an effort to spend public funds on goods and services that minimize negative environmental impacts, are fair and socially just, and make economic sense, now and in the long term. City of Portland, OR Sustainable Purchasing website

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4 Sustainable Purchasing Benefits Progress towards: Climate action commitments Zero Waste goals Reducing water and air pollution Minimizing i i i toxic chemical exposures Creating local green collar jobs Securing green building (LEED) credits Life-cycle cost savings

5 Environmental Claims Increasing Eco-safe Made with non-toxic ingredients Environmentally friendly Degradable Earth friendly Biodegradable Earth smart Compostable Environmentally safe Environmentally safe Environmentally preferable CFC-free Essentially non-toxic Ozone friendly Practically non-toxic Recyclable Original Source: Kirsten Ritche, Gensler

6 Six Sins of Greenwashing Fibbing: Non-toxic No Proof: Just trust us. Irrelevance: CFC-free C Hidden Trade-Off: Compostable food containers with Teflon coating Sin of Vagueness: 100 percent natural Lesser of Two Evils: Organic cigarettes

7 Manufacturer Green Claims

8 Manufacturer-created created Eco-Labels

9 Retailer Eco-Labels

10 Multi-Attribute Certifications

11 Single Attribute Certifications

12 Rating Systems ENERGY STAR (energy-efficient i office equipment, CFLs and appliances) EPEAT (green electronic equipment) Design for the Environment Program 12

13 Verification of Environmental Claims

14 How to Effectively Use Eco-labels City of Portland, OR Sustainable Procurement Policy

15 Consumer Reports Eco-Labels Center

16 Shades of Green How Much Recycled content Bio-based content Mercury content (in fluorescent lamps) Energy or water consumption

17 Multi-attribute Specifications: Green Lighting Equipment Energy efficiency Waste prevention (long life) Toxicity i reduction (mercury, lead) Recycling ( takeback ) New CA DGS contract based on green lighting specs

18 ROHS Standards EU Directive on Reduction of Hazardous Substances Restricts sale of electronic equipments with lead, mercury, cadmium, etc. Adopted in 2003 Set limits it on mercury content t of fluorescent and some HID lamps EU recently adopted d more stringent t limits it AB 1109 requires CA to adopt RoHS mercury limits on lamps sold in state

19 New LED Specs Los Angeles Specs and Approved List for LED Street t Lights ENERGY STAR specs for LED Lumenaires RPN Guide to LED Lighting Technologies documents cost savings and performance benefits LED Cities

20 Multi-attribute Specifications: Compostable Food Service Ware New SBC BioSpecs for Purchasing Agents: Biobased content Compostability Toxicity reduction (organohalogens) Other production issues (e.g., GMO-free) Performance

21 Safer Disinfectants Hydrogen peroxide Citric acid Some formulations are broad-spectrum disinfectants No asthmagens or sensitizers Breaks down in sewage Acidic ph (irritating) but not corrosive to eyes/skin

22 Institutionalize Don t try to do it on your own. Get top level support Assess your internal resources. Assemble a Green Team Create a process for working together Establish communication and outreach strategies Adopt EPP policy and/or guidelines See 10 Steps to Starting ti a Sustainable able Purchasing Program

23 Prioritize Largest potential impact Health/environmental effects $ spent, units purchased, transform markets Ability to meet environmental/health goals Climate, Zero Waste, LEED EPPs on your current contracts Opportunities for change (contracts re-bid) Ease of implementation (use existing specs) Potential to save money/create local jobs

24 Sustainable Purchasing Made Easy How Green Products Can Save Money Lower upfront costs Conserve energy or water Reduce paper or fuel use Lower maintenance costs Rd Reduce replacement costs Avoid disposal/cleanup costs Support the local/regional economy Offset environmental and health program costs

25 Bottled Water 2 billion plastic water bottles end up in California s trash each year ~ 25-40% of bottled water is tap water CA tap water costs about $0.001/gallon Bottled water costs about $0.90 per gallon

26 Green Cleaning Products Minneapolis, MN conducted d 3-year green cleaning pilot test and reported: Cost savings moving to metered dilution system away from hand mixing Fewer sick days for custodial staff Reduced d waste and other liabilities Improved indoor air quality (IAQ)

27 EPP Strategy: Direct Suppliers to Add green products to their core list Clearly label products that meet YOUR EPP criteria Require greenest products to be listed first via online searches Substitute (or suggest) EPPs when conventional items ordered Periodically report $ amount of compliant/ non-compliant purchases sold on your contract Conduct training and outreach

28 Congratulations! o Your efficient ordering has allowed The City of Santa Rosa to significantly reduce CO2, waste and water use! Small Order Reduction: $50 cap Environmental Impact 2009 Three-month pilot study 74 Orders Eliminated 193 Miles not driven 19 Gallons of fuel saved 255 Boxes not used 408 pounds (boxes) 0.2 tons (boxes) 255 Shipping labels 2 pounds of pulp 385 Packing slip pages 429 Air pillows 4 pounds of air pillows 5 Trees saved 393 pounds of waste avoided 1064 pounds eco2 avoided 2407 gallons water saved

29 EPP Strategy: Block Red Flag Products Hazardous ingredients (Prop 65) Poor energy/water efficiency Wasteful (disposable) Unsustainable production/transport

30 EPP Strategy: Buy Local Support local and regional manufacturers and distributors Rd Reduces transportation impacts (and costs) Contributes to local tax base Give preference to locally-certified certified Green Businesses

31 EPP Strategy: Cooperative Purchasing

32 EPP Strategy: Public EPP System (PEPPS) Website

33 EPP Strategy: Require Product Take-Back Saves time by shifting recycling responsibility to manufacturers, distributors and their recyclers Stimulates infrastructure for efficient i recycling Encourages manufacturers to redesign their products More durable and easily recyclable Less toxic

34 Thank You! Alicia Culver Responsible Purchasing Network