Pollution Prevention and Waste Minimization

Environmentally Preferable Purchasing (EPP), Resources

Please give preference to acquisition of green products where feasible:

• Low or no toxic hazardous chemicals
• Non-ozone depleting substances
• Bio-based products
• Recycled content products
• Energy Star and FEMP Approved Equipment
• EPEAT-registered electronics (computers, monitors, laptops)
• Water efficient products
• Alternative fuels
• Renewable energy

Useful Web Links

EPA's Buying Green for Federal Purchasers:
   http://www.epa.gov/greenerproducts/buying-green-federal-purchasers

EPA's Comprehensive Procurement Guideline Program:
   https://www.epa.gov/smm/comprehensive-procurement-guideline-cpg-program

City of San Francisco's Green Purchasing Database:
   http://www.sfapproved.org

Green chemicals (janitorial cleaners, hand soaps, degreasers, paints and coatings) and construction materials, Green Seal certified:
   http://http://www.greenseal.org/FindGreenSealProductsAndServices.aspx/ 

Lab chemical alternatives, MIT's Green Chemical Alternatives Purchasing Wizard:
   http://ehs.mit.edu/greenchem

UL Spot Sustainable Products Information
   https://spot.ulprospector.com/en/na/BuiltEnvironment

Substitutes for ozone depleting substances (EPA’s SNAP program):
  http://www.epa.gov/ozone/snap/ 

GSA Advantage (select "Environmental Products" under Special Programs):
  https://www.gsaadvantage.gov/advgsa/advantage/main/start_page.do

Sustainably harvested wood products, Forest Stewardship Council:
   https://us.fsc.org/market.196.htm 

Water conservation, EPA's Waste Sense:
   http://www.epa.gov/watersense/product_search.html 

List of Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool (EPEAT) certified electronics:
   http://www.epeat.net/ 

Bio-based products, USDA's Biopreferred program:
   https://biopreferred.gov/BioPreferred/faces/catalog/Catalog.xhtml

Certified compostable products, Biodegradable Products Institute:
   http://products.bpiworld.org/ 

Energy Star products:
   https://www.energystar.gov/products

Energy-Efficient Product Procurement:
   https://www.energy.gov/eere/femp/energy-efficient-products-and-energy-saving-technologies 

State of California’s EPP resource links and information:
   https://www.calrecycle.ca.gov/EPP/

Green construction, Federal Green Construction Guide for Specifiers:
  http://www.wbdg.org/design/greenspec.php

Low VOC carpets and adhesives, Green Label:
  http://www.carpet-rug.org/commercial-customers/green-building-and-the-environment/green-label-plus

For general office and industrial supplies, several of SLAC’s suppliers highlight eco-friendly products in their catalogs and have customer service representatives that can help you with choosing sustainable products. Contact SLAC Purchasing for more information.

Re-Use

Reuse Reuse means re-using a product without modifying or altering it.  For SLAC owned items no longer needed, including equipment and office products, submit items to SLAC Salvage who will look for re-use, sales, transfer, and recycling options. Salvage also has items available for re-issue. If you have unused and unexpired excess chemicals that may be reusable, look around your organization to see if someone else can use them or contact the Hazardous Materials Program Manager for help in finding a user.

At home, find or advertise free items in your local community
   http://www.freecycle.org/