U.S. Procurement Programs

Despite policy initiatives such as Executive Order 12873, which mandate that the Federal government use its $400 billion worth of purchasing power to prioritize environmentally preferable products, governments at the federal and state level have been slow to use their purchasing power. As such, there are many environmental campaigns and initiatives working with state and federal governments to establish clearly defined programs that guide the government towards cleaner purchasing practices.

Government leaders who have aggressively pursued environmentally preferable purchasing programs have saved their communities thousands of dollars, which can be diverted to desperately needed social services. According to the Center for a New American Dream, the following government programs have reduced costs while building demand for better products and programs:

• King County, Washington, saved $580,000 dollars through its environmentally friendly purchasing program;
• The State of Massachusetts’ sustainable design initiative is saving $17 million in annual operation costs.
• Cape May County, New Jersey, over five years saved $45,000 by switching to an integrated pest management program.

In addition to using their purchasing power to build market support for cleaner products, governments also have a responsibility to create a regulatory infrastructure that supports the development of cleaner products and services. Often cleaner products cost more than conventional products. This is because polluting industries and hazardous products do not pay the true costs of environmental and health damage. Governments have a responsibility to remove subsidies that promote unsustainable production and reward clean product design. By taxing bads and not goods, governments can reward companies working towards sustainable development.

Case Study: State of California’s Procurement Guidelines for Electronic Products

Resources

To learn more about these state and local government purchasing programs and policies along with many others initiated in the U.S., visit the Center for a New American Dream website

To learn more about federal initiatives and procurement resources, visit the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency website, which contains information on government programs in addition to a large array of resources including information for over 600 product categories.

To learn more about federal requirements to purchase environmentally friendly products, visit the Office of the Federal Environmental Executive website