Environmentally preferable products
Environmentally preferable means products or services that have a reduced effect on human health and the environment when compared with competing products or services that serve the same purpose. Under its Environmentally Preferable Purchasing program, EPA has developed recommendations of non-federal specifications, standards, and ecolabels to help federal purchasers identify and procure greener products. In doing so, the program supports efficiency in federal operations by giving federal procurement officials a convenient and streamlined way to make sense of over 460 environmental performance standards and ecolabels in the global marketplace.
Requirements and policy
Federal Acquisition Regulation
FAR 23.703 requires that agencies employ acquisition strategies that affirmatively implement the following environmental objectives:
- Maximize the use of environmentally preferable products and services, based on EPA-issued guidance.
- Promote energy-efficiency and water conservation.
- Eliminate or reduce the generation of hazardous waste and the need for special material processing.
- Promote the use of nonhazardous and recovered materials.
- Realize lifecycle cost savings.
- Promote cost-effective waste reduction when creating plans, drawings, specifications, standards, and other product descriptions authorizing material substitutions, extensions of shelf-life, and process improvements.
- Promote the use of biobased products.
- Purchase only degradable plastic ring carriers.
FAR 23.704 requires that contracting officers, when acquiring electronic products, purchase EPEAT-registered electronic products, unless an exception applies or the product will not be cost effective over the life of the product.
Find and buy
The EPA issued Recommendations of Standards and Ecolabels for Federal Green Purchasing to help federal purchasers easily identify and procure environmentally sustainable products and services. The recommendations are organized into six product categories: Cafeteria, Construction, Custodial, Electronics, Grounds/Landscaping, and Office/Furniture.
Environmentally preferable products and services, including EPEAT-registered products, are available for purchase through our Multiple Award Schedule and other governmentwide contract vehicles at GSA Advantage and GSA Global Supply™.