Green Purchasing Programs and Information

BEES 2.0 Program (Building for Environment & Economic Sustainability)
Free software program designed to consider the life-cycle impacts of building materials based on user-selected parameters. The environmental and economic costs and performance are considered for 65 building products, based on ISO 14000 and ASTM standards. Designed for architects, interior designers, builders and product manufacturers.

Center for a New American Dream
A non-profit that “offers information & assistance to help individuals, institutions, communities and businesses conserve natural resources, counter commercialization in our culture and promote positive changes in how goods are produced & consumed”. Services include a database of contract language for green products and services, recommended product and vendor lists, guidance of best practices and successful case studies.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts - EPP Program

This well-developed state government EPP program offers many resources to other government entities looking to start or expand their own programs, including case study examples of specific products and services, lists of green products and vendors with whom they have contracts and successful policy and contract language.     

Environmentally Preferable Purchasing Tools – King County, Washington
This progressive county government offers extensive resources for other entities including guidance documents; policy and program information; related publications; databases of products; federal guidance; and third party certifiers.

Green Order
This private company offers consulting and information services related to energy efficiency, environmental performance and waste management, specializing in procurement, facilities maintenance and building / construction.

INFORM, Inc.
Non-profit offering information and assistance via programs designed to reduce the environmental impacts of the U.S. economy through improved product design and environmentally preferable purchasing, including the Purchasing for Pollution Prevention project that aims to “help federal, state and local governments purchase safer alternatives to products containing persistent, bioaccumulative toxic chemicals (PBTs) such as mercury, lead, and dioxins”. Some reports offer lists of recommended products.  

Pacific NW Pollution Prevention Resource Center - Green Purchasing Program
Provides an extensive list of specific green purchasing information in an organized usable manner. An introduction to green purchasing is included with an explanation of why it’s important. 

Pollution Prevention Regional Information Center - Green Purchasing Topic Hub
Provides an intro. guide to green purchasing, information on the purchasing process, benefits of buying green, recommended steps for starting an EPP program and an extensive list of relevant links.

Sarasota Green Connection
Sustainable land planning and green building consulting services and products. Sells green home products from across the U.S. but focuses on promoting local vendors, designers and companies. Houses the green advertising business headquarters. Its website supports its work to help local home owners “green” their homes.
Located at 1093 Central Ave (inside Sarasota Architectural Salvage), Sarasota, FL 34236.
Contact:  Mary Anne Bowie magbowie@aol.com, (941) 951-0009   

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s EPP Program
Federal Government program offers information, assistance, case studies and links about green purchasing.

U.S. EPA’s Buy Recycled website
The site for the Federal Government’s Comprehensive Procurement Guidelines (CPG) program (key to its "buy-recycled" program). This site includes information about the CPG and EPA's Recovered Materials Advisory Notices (RMANs), which recommend recycled-content levels for CPG designated items, product fact sheets and database, supplier database and many related links.

U.S. EPA’s Buy Recycled
The site for the Federal Government’s Comprehensive Procurement Guidelines (CPG) program (key to its "buy-recycled" program). This site includes information about the CPG and EPA's Recovered Materials Advisory Notices (RMANs), which recommend recycled-content levels for CPG designated items, product fact sheets and database, supplier database and many related links.