Sustainability and Sustainable Procurement Presented by Karl Bruskotter, City of Santa Monica April 8 th, 2008
Population pressures & limited resources
Challenges Facing California Population increases 600,000/year Creates more demand: Water, Energy, Materials Products/Services Also creates more: Pollution Greenhouse Gas Emissions Waste
Energy & Global Warming 95% of vehicle fuel is from petroleum Lighting >7% of U.S. electricity consumption Electronics consume 26% of electricity in offices >50% of electricity is from coal Temps up 10 by 2100
Waste 70% of mercury-lamps are not recycled 16-35m gal. leftover consumer paint/year, <1/2 properly managed California buys enough carpet to cover 47 m. of 4-lane highway/year ~90% of water bottles are landfilled
Biodiversity & Habitat >11,000 species near extinction 1 in 5 birds threatened Wetlands reduced by 50% in past century ½ of forest cover gone since agriculture began 60% of fisheries exploited at or beyond capacity
Smog and Indoor Air Quality Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) contribute to photochemical smog and poor IAQ Consumer products are #2 source of VOCs Ex. Cleaning products, paints, graffiti removers, floor care, aerosol products
Santa Monica Bay Pollutants Constituents of Concern identified in the Santa Monica Bay Restoration Plan mercury, copper, others All drains lead to the ocean
End of Life Disposal Concerns
Santa Monica Sustainable City Plan Purpose The Sustainable City Plan was created to enhance our resources, prevent harm to the natural environment and human health, and benefit the social and economic well-being of the community for the sake of current and future generations
Sustainable City Pan Goal Areas Goal represent commitments for both municipal operations and the community as a whole www.sustainablesm.org /scpr
Resource Conservation Goals: Decrease consumption of non-local, non-renewable, nonrecyclable energy, water, materials and fuels and promote renewable resource use Solid Waste Water Use Energy Use Renewable Energy Greenhouse Gas Emissions Ecological Footprint Sustainable Procurement Green Construction
Sustainable Procurement Indicator Indicator Number of categories of city purchased products that meet established purchasing criteria and standards. Target: By 2010, 20 purchased product categories converted from conventional to environmentally preferable. Transition average of 5 products per year.
Targeted Product Categories Carpet Food Packaging Computers Copy and Printing Paper Janitorial Paper Supplies Office Supplies Furniture Lumber or wood products Office Equipment Toner cartridges Vehicles
Two Cups of Coffee a Day 34 gallons of coffee a year. 18 pounds of coffee beans 12 pounds of fertilizer A few ounces of highly toxic pesticides 43 pounds of coffee pulp Clear cutting of forests to grow even more coffee Bird species disappearing More soil erosion More pesticides used
What is EPP? Environmentally preferable products are goods and services that have a lesser or reduced effect on human health and the environment when compared with other products that serve the same purpose. - Federal Executive Order 13101
Responsible Purchasing Price, Performance, & Availability
EPP is on the Rise Goal: use purchasing power to protect human health and the environment Most states, many local governments, businesses and institutions adopting programs
Product-Specific Attributes Reduce Reusable Durability Recycled Content Energy and water efficiency Biobased Renewable resources Packaging End of Life issues Low-VOC PBT-free Others Low toxicity
Beware of Greenwashing Green wash (grēn'wŏsh', -wôsh') verb: the act of misleading consumers regarding the environmental practices of a company or the environmental benefits of a product or service WARNING: Learn to ask critical questions or you might be buying products with creative marketing rather than products with legitimate environmental benefits.
To Avoid Greenwashing
Lots of Ecolabels European Union Eco-Label Nordic Swan
Renewable Energy First City in the US to choose 100% renewable energy Geothermal and now waste to energy Solar Santa Monica initiative
Paper Products
Multi-Tier Label Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool
Office Equipment Administrative instruction for Purchase of Energy Efficient Office Equipment Energy efficiency and other environmental attributes ISD protocol Getting away from single use printers and using networked printers Remanufactured toner cartridges
Office Supplies Reduce, reuse and recycle Office Depot Green Book Blocked items on Office Depot site
Water Efficiency Low Flow toilets Reduce, reuse and recycle Waterless urinals Drip irrigation
Green vehicles and fuels Vehicles that are less polluting, such as those running on alternative fuels
Unleaded- 98-19% Biodiesel- 81-15% Electric- 36-7% Propane- 12 or 2% Hybrid- 15 or 3% Plug-In Hybrid- 1-0% Flex Fuel- 1-0% Bi-Fuel- 10-2% Hydrogen- 5-1% Nat. Gas- 265-51%
Furniture Repairable vs. disposable Recycled content Low-emitting materials
Carpet and Flooring Reuse and repair Recycled content Indoor air quality Take-back program Cleaning and Maintenance
Environmental and Public Health Goals: Minimize/eliminate the use of hazardous and toxic materials and the levels of pollutants entering the air, soil and water Santa Monica Bay Health Waste Water Vehicle Miles Traveled Air Quality Household Hazardous Waste City Purchase of Hazardous Materials Toxic Air Contaminants Urban Runoff Local Produce @ City Facilities Farmers Market Restaurant Food Food Choices
City Purchase of Hazardous Materials Indicator Indicator The volume and/or toxicity of hazardous materials purchased by city operations. Target: By 2010, decrease the volume and/or toxicity of 20 hazardous materials purchased by the city. Transition average of 5 products per year.
Targeted Hazardous Materials Diesel Fluorescent lamps Cleaning products Graffiti removers and anti-graffiti coatings Rodenticides Treated wood Paints Brake cleaners Pesticides
Unknown Risk Testing chemicals for harm flammability, reactivity, skin and eye irritation, acute toxicity, carcinogenesis bioassays. 1,000 s of new chemicals being developed every year, which undergo minimal testing for impact on health. 103 chemicals added to Proposition 65 list in past 5 years. Brominated flame retardants and PFOA and Vioxx.
Carcinogens and Reproductive Toxins Proposition 65 warning Cancer causing agents Ex. asbestos, methylene chloride, vehicle exhaust Reproductive toxicants Ex. Mercury, arsenic, alcohol
Human exposure to chemicals Eye and skin irritation corrosive ingredients Skin absorbers 2-butoxyethanol Acute effects, including central nervous system (CNS) carbon monoxide Chronic effects to liver or kidney damage, CNS effects chlorinated hydrocarbons, N-hexane Neurotoxins N-hexane Respiratory toxins smoke, diesel exhaust, asbestos
End-of-Life Disposal concerns Hazardous waste is regulated by Federal and state regulations Universal Wastes (electronics, lamps, batteries) Radioactive EXIT signs
Persistent, bioaccumulative toxic chemicals- PBTs Persistent chemicals that do not degrade but remain in the environment. Bioaccumulative chemicals that accumulate in tissue, increasing in concentration as they move up the food chain. Toxic harm humans and animals in minute amounts. Heavy metals, PAHs, pesticides, dioxins, brominated flame retardants
What else makes a material hazardous or toxic? Emerging chemicals, endocrine disruptors
Cleaning Products
Pest Control Structural Pest control services Landscape pests and weeds
Lamps and Lighting Energy efficiency Lamp life Mercury content Quality of light
Maintenance Sidewalk cleaning products Graffiti removers and anti-graffiti coatings Painting
Treated Wood Durability Human health vs. aquatic life
Vehicles and maintenance Diesel exhaust Re-refined motor oil Aqueous-based parts washers Brake cleaners
Obstacles Humans Issue of low bid Neophobia Product performance Burden of criteria development and product evaluation
Humans Support from the top EPP teams & stakeholder groups Progress, not perfection Inspect what you expect Celebrate successes Elements for Success