ENVIRONMENTALLY PREFERABLE PURCHASINGI s s u e 11 | A u g u s t 2 0 0 2

Printed on processed chlorine-free paper, including 25 percent hemp and 75 percent postconsumer fiber.

EPPUpdate

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The Greening of Our National ParksThe Greening of Our National Parks

Kathy Seikel knows a bit about“green” purchasing. After workingfor 8 years in EPA’s Office of

Acquisition Management (OAM)—whereshe headed up the staff responsible forensuring the integrity of EPA’s $4 billion-a-year contracted programs—she made atransition to EPA’s Office of Prevention,Pesticides and Toxic Substances (OPPTS)where she served as the senior policyadvisor for grants and contracts. Whenan opportunity arose for Kathy to take atemporary position on OPPTS’ EPP team,she leapt at the chance to combine herextensive technical skills in federal pro-curement with her commitment to the

environment. Kathyrecognized EPA’sunique position as apromoter of govern-mentwide green purchasing and a majorprocurer of services and supplies.Working with OAM management, shecleared the way for EPA to “walk thetalk” in green contracting by pursuingopportunities for converting convention-al contracts into EPP contracts.

Kathy began this process by integratingpollution prevention principles into thepurchase of products, but soon expand-ed her scope to include services, which

The National Park Service (NPS), the National Recreation and Park Association,and EPA’s EPP program have joined together to move our national parks towardsustainability by focusing on greening a number of park functions, including

purchasing, maintenance, planning, interpretation, and concessions. A key element ofthe partnership is demonstrating to park staff, managers, and visitors that environmen-tally preferable purchasing is a tool to achieve their sustainability goals.

To kick off this endeavor, NPS held its first charrette at Big Cypress National Preservein south Florida. The park’s Superintendent, John Donohue, made opening remarks andemphasized that part of NPS’ mission is to be “demonstrators, not regulators.”Furthermore, he discussed the opportunity to educate more than 280 million park visi-tors each year about sustainability approaches, including greener products and services.During the first day of the charrette, NPS experts presented brief overviews of key issuesand approaches in areas such as transportation, facilities, operations, and procurement.

• Greening Our NationalParks

• Sustainable PublicHousing

• Federal Network forSustainability

• Shopping Online forGreen Office Supplies

• New CPG Database

• And More!

Highlights

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EPP PIONEERS:

Planning for a Green Future

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EPP in PracticeThe EPP Update is highlighting a variety of paper types that EPA has deter-mined to have certain positive environmental attributes. The paper choicefor this issue is Vanguard Eco Blend. Look to future issues of the EPPUpdate to highlight additional paper types.

Well, It Happened Again....

As some of our readers might have realized, the paperactually used to print EPP Update #10 was not thepaper EPA had specified. The newsletter was supposed

to be printed on Living Tree Paper Company’s Vanguard EcoBlend—a processed chlorine-free (PCF) paper that includes 25percent virgin hemp and 75 percent postconsumer fiber. Thepaper used for Update #10 was actually the standard paper usedby EPA for all of its quick-turnaround contract jobs. The specifi-cation for that paper is the same except that the 25 percent vir-gin hemp fiber was actually 25 percent postconsumer fiber,making it a 100 percent postconsumer fiber, PCF paper (whichhas a fine environmental profile in its own right). We also incor-rectly referred to the paper in the article as “100 percent recy-cled content” when it should have read “totally free of virgintree pulp.”

How Could This Happen?The first step of the EPP process involves “defining EPP,”

while the second step deals with “fitting EPP into the procure-ment process.” Despite establishing procedures with EPA’s printshop after Update #4 was printed on the standard contractpaper (30 percent postconsumer paper at the time) instead ofthe kenaf/postconsumer blend EPA had specified, mistakes canstill be made. Mistakes happen most often when a special pro-cedure is requested that deviates from standard practice. Untilenvironmentally preferable products or services are offered asthe standard practice, there may be a bump in the road hereand there, but EPP pioneers keep going!

Let’s Try It Again...This issue of the EPP Update is printed on Vanguard Eco

Blend processed chlorine-free (PCF) paper, including 25 percentvirgin hemp and 75 percent postconsumer fiber. For furtherinformation on Vanguard Eco Blend or other Living Tree papers,contact the Living Tree Paper Company at 800 309-2974, orvisit the company’s Web site at <www.livingtreepaper.com>.

On the second day, participants workedin small groups on these issues, develop-ing short-term, interim, and long-termgoals and actions for Big Cypress. This

event was very well-received by the BigCypress managersand staff, as well as

participants fromother parks.

Based on lessons fromthe two-day event, NPS

expects that the charrettewill serve as a model for sus-

tainability planning at other nationalparks designated as Centers for

NPS < Continued from Page 1 >

Conference Helps

More than 130 government andprivate sector purchasing officialsand other interested parties from

around the world gathered in Philadelphia,Pennsylvania, from April 22 to 25 to learnmore about environmentally preferablepurchasing. The first-ever North AmericanConference on Green Purchasing, orga-nized and co-hosted by the Center for aNew American Dream (the Center) andTerraChoice Environmental Services, Inc.,attracted people from 7 countries and 25U.S. states.

Conference attendees heard from sever-al notable speakers, including theHonourable Gilbert Parent, CanadianAmbassador for the Environment, andRay Anderson, Chairman of Interface,Inc., a Fortune 500 company that strivesfor sustainability in all aspects of its floorcovering production process. They alsoparticipated in a wide variety of sessionsdevoted to specific environmental pur-

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chasing topics, such as how to design anenvironmentally preferable purchasingprogram, how to “sell” the environmentalpurchasing concept to political leaders andother key audiences, and how to leveragethe power of institutional purchasing toincrease product availability. Participantsdebated the future of lifecycle assessmentsand eco-labels in sessions on these topics.They also attended sessions devoted tospecific commodity areas to learn aboutthe availability of more environmentallypreferable office products, paper, cleaningproducts, and electricity options.

“One of the most exciting aspects of theconference,” according to Betsy Taylor,executive director for the Center, “wasbringing together so many experts fromacross the country and around the worldto share their knowledge with the stateand local government purchasers we aretrying to help.”

The conference was held at the SheratonRittenhouse, which conference organizersconsider one of the most environmentallypreferable hotels in the United States.Conference proceedings will be availablesoon on the Center’s ProcurementStrategies Web site. For additional infor-mation about the conference or theCenter’s purchasing program, visit<www.newdream.org/procure> or e-mailScot Case at <scot@newdream.org>.

Several key action items emerged from the charrette, which will guide Big Cypress’ greening activities:

• Form green teams, which will help keep momentum going.• Communicate the results of the charrette to other park staff.• Educate park visitors about the new green initiatives. • Become a leader and model for other national parks, as well as state and local parks.

Further Green Purchasing

Environmental Innovation (CEI). Severalmore charrettes will take place in the nextyear. Big Cypress National Preserve is oneof 20 CEIs in the nation. CEIs are parkareas where research, development, andappreciation of sustainable practices occur.The intent is for these areas to serve as cat-alysts to teach and inspire people with

concepts and values of sustainability. Oneof the key expectations is that these CEIparks will be showcases for environmen-tally preferable products and services.

For more information on the BigCypress charrette or CEIs, contact JulieShannon of EPA at 202 564-8834 orShawn Norton of NPS at 202 565-1260.

Charrette: n. An intensiveplanning workshop thatallows for multidiscipli-nary participation from avariety of stakeholders to create an integrateddesign of a building, landscape, or community.

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The cramped, no-frills, barracks-stylebuildings along Northwest 22ndAvenue in Miami, Florida, symbolize

the stigma of public housing. Establishedin 1954, the Scott Homes developmentconsists of 754 dwelling units. More thana decade later, Carver Homes built 96units right next door. Although both ofthese public housing projects were con-structed to meet the rising demand foraffordable housing at the time, today thesedevelopments—the largest public housingcomplex in Florida—appear outdated andraise serious structural and health con-cerns, making Scott/Carver Homes over-due for redevelopment.

Unique partnerships and fortunate cir-cumstances have given Scott/Carver Homesand its residents a second chance.Community representatives, local lawenforcement, environmental groups, federalagencies, private corporations, and numer-ous other stakeholders came together overtwo intense days in December 2001 toassist the Miami-Dade Housing Agency(MDHA) in planning a sustainable visionfor Scott/Carver Homes. The design char-rette provided a unique forum for develop-ing environmentally sustainable solutionsfor the community—from deconstructionto demolition to redevelopment.

EPA’s EPP program supported theSouthface Energy Institute in conveningthe design charrette. In addition, the EPPprogram provided technical assistance to aworking group charged with recommend-ing “green” building materials to MDHAand the design team. The following is asummary of the recommendations fromthe various stakeholders comprising theworking group. For a more detailed list ofthese recommendations or to review eachof the working group’s recommendationson a variety of sustainable design con-cepts, read the Final Report at:<http://cool.southface.org/home/courses/HOPE-VI-Report.pdf>.

Bringing HOPE

HOPE’s GoalsThe transformation of Scott/Carver Homes

through HUD’s HOPE VI revitalization grant

program is designed “to end physical, social,

and economic isolation of obsolete and

distressed public housing by recreating and

supporting sustainable communities and

lifting residents from dependence and

persistent poverty.”

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to a Community in DespairDesign CharretteRecommendations*

Specify EnvironmentallyPreferable and Locally ProducedMaterials in Contract Language

The following resources can help whenchoosing environmentally preferableproducts:

• EPA’s EPP Database contains greenbuilding contract language, voluntarystandards, and case studies:<www.epa.gov/oppt/epp/database.htm>.

• Building for Environmental andEconomic Sustainability is a softwareprogram that supports lifecycle costingand environmental impact decision mak-ing: <www.epa.gov/oppt/epp/bees.htm>.

Provide Good IndoorEnvironmental Quality forResidents• Select and specify no or low-volatile

organic compounds (VOCs) in paintsand finishes.

• Select hard flooring surfaces in non-bedroom areas.

• If using particle board or medium-density fiberboard, coat with low- orno-VOC paint.

• Install and upgrade air filters.• Design a separate usable entry with

seating area to allow removal of outer-wear prior to entering home.

Choose Materials That AreAppropriately Durable

Providing residents with durable struc-tures and materials keeps operation andmaintenance requirements to a minimum.Using lifecycle costing, products andmaterials can be appropriately comparedto determine cost and maintenance overtime. For example, outdoor deck and rail-ing material made from recycled plasticlumber is long-lasting, does not use toxicpreservatives, and requires no sealants orcoatings, as wood does.

Provide Education to theCommunity Before and AfterRedevelopment

Project success often hinges on com-munity commitment. Addressing per-ceptions of “poor quality” that mightmistakenly be associated with salvagedmaterials, stained concrete floors, orrecycled products is critical. Try the fol-lowing techniques to help residents feelcomfortable with the materials used inthe development of their homes:

• Display materi-al options andprovide “touchand feel”opportunities.

• Create a modelhome fur-nished andreplete withlabeled “green”products.

• Provide aphoto album of other homes employ-ing similar products and technologies.

• Show video footage of communitycharrettes to showcase transparency ofdecision-making.

Conduct Operation andMaintenance Education

To maintain a healthy environment forresidents, focus continuing educationefforts on:

• Healthy cleaning products.• Operation and maintenance of air-

conditioning and heating systems.• Appropriate and natural methods of pest

management (indoor and outdoor pests).• Furniture and finishing choices as they

relate to indoor environmental quality.• Energy- and water-saving practices.

For more information,contact Alison Kinn ofEPA at 202 564-8859 or by e-mail at<kinn.alison@epa.gov>.

* These recommendations arenot necessarily the views ofEPA. They were developed bymultiple stakeholders partici-pating in the design charrette.

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These days, when governmentworkers need to purchase copypaper or file folders, they will

likely pull out a government-issuedcredit card. These cards can be used on“micropurchases,” which for most gov-ernment purchase card holders is$2,500 or less, a limit that covers mostoffice supplies. But how easy is it forthe typical customer to buy a “green”office product from the top office prod-uct suppliers? The majority of officesupplies sold to the federal governmentare purchased through GSA Advantage!or other major office product compa-nies such as Staples, Office Depot,Boise Cascade Office Products, andCorporate Express. In addition, someoffice supply companies, such asRecycled Office Products, focus on pro-

viding only green products totheir customers. The EPP pro-gram tried its hand at buyinggreen products from these sup-pliers’ Web sites and compiled

some interesting findings.

Does the Company SellGreen Products?

GSA carries several “green” items and,as the government supplier of office

products, establishes some basic environ-mental criteria for vendors. For example,all GSA copy paper contains at least 30percent postconsumer content, meetingthe requirements set in Executive Order13101. All five private companies we visit-ed also sell products that they identify as“green.” Most are items with recycled-content, including paper, plastic products,and remanufactured toner cartridges. Wefound chlorine-free paper products atStaples and Recycled Office Products, and

nontoxic and/or biodegradable items onfour of the companies’ Web sites. BoiseCascade and Corporate Express carry both30 percent and 100 percent recycled-content paper.

How are Green ProductsIdentified?

GSA has special icons that denotegreen attributes, including “environmen-tal items,” “CPG compliant,” and “recy-cled content.” From the Web site,however, it is difficult to determinewhich products are considered “envi-ronmental items.” Certain office prod-ucts have a tree icon representing theirqualification as an “environmentalitem,” but the basis of this distinction isunclear. Three of the private companiesalso have a way of distinguishing envi-ronmental products from other items.Staples has a “Recycled Products” link,which shows up on top of the pagewhen you shop for paper. Clicking onthe icon gives you a list of recycledpaper products and links to more infor-mation about recycling. Recycled-content items on Corporate Express’Web site have a small icon next to them,as do the items on the Recycled OfficeProducts Web site, even though most ofthem are recycled to begin with.

Is Environmental AttributeInformation Available?

Identifying a product as “recycled” or“environmentally friendly” is one thing,but determining exactly what attributes aproduct has can be difficult. Fortunately,GSA and all five companies provide rela-tively detailed attribute information.GSA relies on the vendor to provideenvironmental attribute information,

EPP Investigative Reporting:

How Easy is it to Shop Online for

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The IRS anticipatesspending up to $15million a year on officesupplies, while DOE’sPacific NorthwestLaboratory spendsapproximately $34 million.

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meaning the level of detail is dependenton what the vendor submits. In prelimi-nary searches, most GSA office productshad environmental attribute informationavailable. All five private companies listthe recycled and/or postconsumer con-tent percentages of recycled products. Insome cases, they include more specificinformation, such as chlorine-free oracid-free. Office Depot and RecycledOffice Products even include informa-tion about the environmental attributesof product packaging (e.g., recycled-content, soy-based inks), whileCorporate Express explains that its “envi-ronmentally friendly” cleaners are non-toxic and biodegradable. Unfortunately,none of the nongovernment companies’

Web sites mentioned third-party certifica-tion (e.g., Green Seal) or CPG complianceof products, although Staples sells a fewitems bearing the Energy Star® label.

Are Government GreenPurchasing RequirementsIndicated?

Most of the companies do notdescribe the federal government’s greenpurchasing requirements outlined inExecutive Order 13101. Boise CascadeOffice Products states that its 30 percentpostconsumer-content paper meets “fed-eral and state guidelines for recycledcontent,” but this claim is not applied toits 100 percent postconsumer-contentpaper, which obviously exceeds the

Green Office Supplies?

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Some Food for Thought...Online ordering systems are increasingly becoming valuable tools for federal purchasers

in identifying and purchasing greener products and services. Here are some ideas for these

companies as they continue to improve the green features of their systems:

• GSA-specific recommendations: standardize environmental product descriptions; link

to the EPP Database <www.epa.gov/oppt/epp/tools/database.htm> and other EPP

resources; enable the sorting of search results by percent recycled content; clarify the

definition of “environmental items”; feature only CPG-compliant items.

• Link to Executive Order 13101 in key places. • Specify which products are CPG compliant (visit <www.epa.gov/cpg> for more

information). • Specify which products meet Green Seal’s new guidelines in its office products Choose

Green Report (visit <www.greenseal.org> for more information).

• Spearhead product “take-back” programs (for batteries, remanufactured toner car-

tridges, and other products) in participation with manufacturers.

• Prepare to respond quickly to upcoming demand for biobased products—the 2002

Farm Bill includes new provisions for federal procurement of these items.

• Continue aggressively pursuing and increasing the availability of green products on

the Web sites. • Develop ways to help the government track purchases of greener products more

efficiently. If any of our readers have comments or additional suggestions, please contact the

EPP program at <epp.pilot@epa.gov>.

For more information onGSA Advantage! and thecompanies discussed in thisarticle, visit their Web sites:

• Boise Cascade OfficeProducts <www.boiseoffice.com>;Boise Cascade Company <www.boisecascade.com>

• Corporate Express<www.corporateexpress.com>

• GSA Advantage<www.gsaadvantage.gov>

• Office Depot<www.officedepot.com>

• Recycled Office Products<www.recycledofficeproducts.com>

• Staples<www.staples.com>

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What Happened to the EPP Guides?

Last December, the EPP programpublished six purchasing guideson the following product and ser-

vice categories: Cleaning Products,Meetings and Conferences, Carpet,Electronics, Copiers, and FoodServiceware. Following the release ofthe guides, EPA heard both positive andnegative feedback from a wide variety

of stakeholders. Generally,some of our stakeholders’

greatest concerns

focused on EPA’s process for developingthe guides. While we had consultedwith many of our colleagues in andoutside the Agency, many interestedstakeholders did not have the opportu-nity to review and comment on theguides prior to publication. DDuuee ttootthheessee ccoonncceerrnnss,, wwee ssuussppeennddeedd ddiissttrriibbuu--ttiioonn aanndd aarree nnooww ttrreeaattiinngg tthhee gguuiiddeess aassddrraaffttss ffoorr ppuubblliicc ccoommmmeenntt.. A formalreview process will be initiated in thenear future (see text box).

EPA conceived the guides as a way tocommunicate the challenges, successes,and resources associated with variousproducts and services, focusing on howto incorporate environmental consider-ations into purchasing decisions. Inaddition, each guide sets out to presentto purchasers the potential environmen-tal impacts of their decisions.

Some stakeholders expressed the con-cern that the guides were endorsing cer-tain products. EPA’s EPP program doesnot endorse products nor does it recom-mend or discourage the purchase ofspecific products. However, the programdoes provide guidance and informationon relevant environmental attributes fora number of product and service cate-gories. Environmentally preferable pur-chasing seeks the overall best value,taking into account considerations ofprice, performance, and environmentalimpact. Because purchasers typicallyhave well-established sources of infor-mation and methods for evaluatingprice and performance, the EPP pro-gram’s information products (like theguides) focus primarily on the environ-mental factors in the EPP equation.

Please “stay tuned” to our Web site forthe latest developments. We look forwardto working with all of our stakeholderson creating valuable EPP resources.

The EPP program strives to operate in a transparent manner, withopen participation and counsel from our stakeholders. However,because of the concerns raised, we have developed a new processfor the EPP purchasing guides to allow for broader review and com-ment from all stakeholders. A brief description of the new process isshown below:

Process for development and review of EPP product guides:

1. Make changes based upon comments and information receivedto date.

2. Publish notice in the Federal Register announcing that the draftguides are available for review and soliciting input on existing stan-dards, lifecycle impacts, and other relevant information.

3. Send revised draft to key stakeholders and simultaneously poston the EPP Web site as draft, with request for comments within30 days.

4. Consider the appropriateness of a stakeholder meeting for guides.

5. Establish record for comments and publicize (via Web site andother means) procedures for submitting/reviewing comments.

6. Make further revisions as necessary based on additional com-ments and post revised document along with comments on theWeb site.

7. Allow for stakeholders with major concerns to request a meetingbefore we publish the document as final.

At this time, we are not contemplating any new purchasing guides.Should we determine that additional guides are appropriate, we willfollow a similar process for their development and review.

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This summer, EPA will unveil a new database to make complying with itsComprehensive Procurement Guidelines (CPG) easier. CPG forms thefoundation of the federal government’s buy-recycled program, which

requires agencies to purchase certain designated items containing the highestpercentage of recycled content possible. The searchable database of vendors whosell or distribute CPG-designated products with recycled content will be a pow-erful tool that allows users to search for vendors of a specific CPG product (e.g.,Floor Tiles), product category (e.g., Construction Products), or type of material(e.g., Plastic). In addition, users will be able to search directly for a specific ven-dor by typing all or part of the vendor’s name in a search field.

According to Terry Grist, EPA program manager for CPG, “The purpose ofmoving to a database system is to provide procurement officials with a moreaccessible and reliable reference source they can use to identify vendors of CPG-designated items.” Mr. Grist explains, “In the past, our lists of manufacturers andsuppliers on the CPG Web site were static and required extensive research tomaintain, which greatly reduced the utility of the information.” The new auto-mated system will allow EPA to more readily update and maintain the vendorinformation.

The database is expected to be fully operational on the CPG Web site<www.epa.gov/cpg> by the end of the summer, with continued efforts beingmade to update and expand the information.

EPA Makes Buying Recycled A Snap

www.epa.gov/cpg

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Imagine a place where federalemployees can go to voluntarilylearn about and share sustainability

practices. Since its inception on EarthDay 2000, the Federal Network forSustainability (FNS) has provided a vir-tual home for just that. A voluntary,non-regulatory network of federal gov-ernment agencies in the western UnitedStates, FNS promotes interagency col-laboration in the areas of planning, pur-chasing, and managing valuableresources. FNS is focusing on the fol-lowing four initiatives this year:

• Electronic Products Stewardship• Environmental Management Systems• Green Power Procurement• Greening Federal Copier Paper

Since our last article on this issue inEPP Update #9 (EPA747-N-01-002),FNS has expanded the scope of its pro-gram by leaps and bounds. While mostof its members are still federal agenciesfrom the West, FNS is also workingwith various city and state governmentsand interest groups across the countryas they begin thinking about sustainablepractices. Perhaps one of the biggestchanges the FNS steering committeehas seen over the past year is that othergroups are seeking them out.

“FNS is at a point now where peopleare coming to us for information. Manyof the agencies don’t know very muchabout sustainability, and often thosethat do are not sure how to go aboutimplementing it,” said Alan Hurt, FNSChair. Hoping to become a centralclearinghouse for communicating thesuccesses and challenges of implement-ing several environmental ExecutiveOrders (13148, 13149, 13150, 13101,and 13123), as well as long-term sus-

tainable practices, FNS is conductingsurveys and collecting information fromagencies that exemplify best businesspractices. “These case studies,” Hurtsays, “will help provide answers tothose who need help implementing sus-tainability activities.”

As FNS continues to add federal agen-cies and others to its membership, cur-rent members have taken a lead onmany of the initiatives. The Departmentof Defense, for example, is currentlypromoting the principles ofEnvironmental Management Systems(EMS) through its senior managementand within other agencies. “In addition,”Hurt adds, “the Navy is actively incor-porating EMS principles as a standard-ized process in all of its business lines ofoperation. The key point here is thatEMS is inherent to business operations,as well as being important from an envi-ronmental standpoint.”

With a busy year ahead, FNS willcontinue to build and collect case stud-ies for each initiative, increase collabo-ration among federal agencies, continueits outreach and education efforts, andkeep the lines of communication openamong the network. It is this communi-cation that has propelled FNS forwardover the past 2 years, allowing memberagencies to use one another’s expertisefor future initiatives.

For more information about FNS orto become a member, please visit<www.federalsustainability.org> or contact FNS Chair Alan Hurt at 619 524-6253. For information on howyou can participate in the FNS PaperInitiative contact Barbara Lither at 206 553-1191.

Sharing the Knowledge:

More and More Agencies SeekInformation about Sustainability

“Of special note isone of the guidingprinciples containedin the Statement ofUnity – ‘to act as acatalyst for change.’ Ibelieve FNS repre-sents that catalyst.As a group, we canexert a more positiveforce for change thanwe can now do indi-vidually. We will alsogain momentum forchange in capitalizingon one another’sideas.”

—James T. Hill, LieutenantGeneral, U.S. Army, Fort

Lewis, Washington

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constitute the bulk of EPA’s acquisitionbudget. When EPA was about to issuean RFP for meeting management sup-port, Kathy seized the occasion andworked with contract officials to incor-porate environmental criteria into theRFP. “I felt that green conferencingwould serve as aliving advertise-ment for what EPAstands for,” saysKathy. In the RFP,companies had theopportunity todemonstrate theiringenuity and cre-ativity for planninggreen conferences.

Enter MEGA-TECH, Inc. (MTI)under the leader-ship of Harlan Lee,a former conference planner for theState Department. EPA ultimatelyawarded MTI the meetings manage-ment support contract. MTI, an award-winning, woman-owned small businessbased in Falls Church, Virginia, pro-vides environmental and informationtechnology support for a variety of fed-eral agencies.

Harlan viewed the EPA contract as anopportunity for MTI to develop exper-tise in green conference support andintroduce the concept to others.Lacking green conference models to fol-low, Harlan and his staff embarked on amission to develop guidelines and spec-ifications for hosting environmentallyconscious meetings. Building from sug-gestions for green conference activitiesfound on EPA’s Web site, the MTI teamdeveloped an extensive list of environ-mental initiatives to undertake whenplanning a green event.

Harlan’s team now considers anassortment of environmental criteriawhen selecting a conference venue,including proximity to mass transit;

lodging facility certification by GreenSeal based on its environmental stan-dard for lodging properties; facilitymembership in either Green Globe orthe Green Hotel and Motel Association,which are organizations that encouragethe travel and tourism industries to

engage in environ-mentally sound ini-tiatives; electronicregistration and/orcheckout systemsthat save paper;well-developedrecycling programs;and employee edu-cation on greenpolicies.

Harlan and his staffalso take actions toprovide environ-mentally responsi-

ble amenities and services throughoutthe conference, such as establishing Websites to post conference information;offering online services; distributing con-ference materials on diskette or CD-ROM; printing hard copy materials onrecycled paper; and using reusable cups,dishes, napkins, and serving containers.

Under this EPA contract, MTI has beensupporting green conferences and meet-ings around the country. In March 2002,MTI organized the annual EPA OPPTSNational and Division Directors meetingin Seattle, Washington. Harlan and hisstaff continually investigate options forenhancing green events and state thatthey “are happy to be in a position tolead the way in green conferencing.”

If you would like to see the “green”contract language from EPA’s OPPTSmeeting planning support contract orare interested in current initiatives andtools that are making planning andsupplying green meetings easier, pleasevisit <www.epa.gov/oppt/greenmeetings> or contact Russell Clarkat EPA at 202 564-8856.

Pioneers < Continued from Page 1 >

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1EPA United States Environmental Protection Agency(7409M)Washington, DC 20460

Official BusinessPenalty for Private Use $300

standards. Similarly, in Office Depot’sdescription of its brand of 35 percentpostconsumer-content paper, there is anindication that it exceeds “federal guide-lines for recycled paper,” but the site doesnot provide any other specifics. Staples’Web site includes a couple of articlesabout recycling and buying recycledoffice products, and one footnote refer-ences Executive Order 13101.

What Does a Search Turn Up? Let’s face it—purchasers don’t always

have time to leisurely browse throughWeb sites or catalogs for green products,but good search engines can help. We test-ed the search engines of these companiesby searching on two types of keywords:specific products (e.g., remanufacturedtoner cartridges) and environmental attrib-utes (e.g., nontoxic, recycled). GSAAdvantage! allows customers to specify

“environmental items” when searching orto perform a more general keywordsearch. However, GSA’s large number ofvendors and its reliance on manufacturer-supplied attribute information sometimesproduces confusing search results (e.g., “pcf” and “processed chlorine free”yield different results). Corporate Expressand Office Depot allow customers tospecify certain attributes when searching,including “recycled” and “remanufac-tured.” The other companies had moregeneral, keyword search engines, yet theystill returned lists of items when wesearched on environmental attributes,such as “recycled” or “nontoxic.”

Pollution Prevention and Toxics(7409M)EPA742-N-02-002www.epa.gov/oppt/eppAugust 2002

Office Supplies < Continued from Page 7>

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