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Environmentally Preferable Product Procurement

Massachusetts EPP Program

Project Outline:
The Massachusetts’ State Environmentally Preferable Products Procurement Program (EPP) was born out of a Executive Order 279 (1988) which called for the development of a statewide ‘buy recycled’ program in order to create new markets for recycled materials. Executive Order 350, issued by then Governor William Weld in 1993, took the EPP Program further by calling for state agencies to incorporate EPP practices. The order, among other things, called for a “program for purchasing recycled goods and using environmentally up-to- date equipment, materials and processes.”

Prior to the passing of this executive order, environmental agencies had attempted to work with the state’s purchasing agent to incorporate environmental considerations into statewide purchasing contracts, to no avail. At that point, the purchasing agents were by and large skeptical of so-called environmentally preferable products.

Thus, it was largely the result of direct pressure from the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) that the order came about.

According to Eric Friedman, Director of State Sustainability, the streamlining of regulations in 1996 allowed the Operational Services Division (which oversees state purchasing) the authority “to establish environmental criteria and other requirements for state purchases.”

The Massachusetts EPP Program has met tremendous success since its inception in 1988. Beginning almost exclusively with minimum recycled paper content, the program has since expanded its scope to include such considerations as waste minimization, preservation of open spaces, water conservation, and toxics disposal and/or consumption.

Benefits:
As a result of the EPP Program, the Commonwealth estimates savings in FY 2004 of:

• $1.7 million dollars as a result of the EPP Program (more than 17 times the cost of maintaining the program)
• 24,500 tons carbon dioxide emissions reduction
• 10.5 million kWh of energy
• 810,400 gallons oil
• The equivalent of 55,300 cubic yards of landfill waste diverted

Maine:
Maine’s EPP program takes into consideration such factors as fuel efficiency and use of alternative fuels, recycled content percentages, energy- and water-efficiency ratings, materials content, emissions, waste generation, toxicity, and recyclability. The policy text can be accessed here.

Connecticut:
The text of Connecticut’s EPP statute can be read here.

Downloads to Use as Templates:

Sample EPP Resolution

Environmentally Preferable Purchasing: A Getting Started Guide National Wildlife Federation, 2006. Includes model local and state EPP ordinances.

Connecticut EPP Statute

Maine EPP Policy

Sample Purchasing Resolution from the National Association of Counties

Massachusetts Operational Services Division’s EPP Program General Information, Requirements, and Guidance

Massachusetts Executive Order 279

Massachusetts Executive Order 350

Information:

EPA report - Promoting Green Purchasing: Tools and Resources to Quantify the Benefits of Environmentally Preferable purchasing

Center for a New American Dream report - Environmental Purchasing Policies 101: An Overview of Current Environmentally Preferable Purchasing Policies

Links:

EPA’s Database of Environmental Information for Products and Services - Includes contract language, specifications, and federal, state, and local policies

Contact:

Marcia Deegler
Environmental Purchasing Program Manager
Operational Services Division
(617) 720-3356, Fax: 617-727-4527
Marcia.Deegler@state.ma.us

Eric Friedman
Director of State Sustainability
MA Executive Office of Environmental Affairs
(617) 626-1034
eric.friedman@state.ma.us