Environmentally Preferred Purchasing 
Resource Links

Federal Programs and Guidance

Federal ENERGY STAR® Programs (http://www.energystar.gov/): A voluntary partnership between the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the private sector to promote the manufacture and use of energy efficient equipment (e.g., computers, printers, copiers, fax machines, exit signs etc.).

Federal Guidelines for Procurement of Recycled Products (http://www.epa.gov/epaoswer/non-hw/procure/): Outlines federal standards for 39 recycled products in eight categories: construction products, landscaping products, non-paper office products, paper and paper products, park and recreation products, transportation products, vehicular products, and miscellaneous products.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (http://www.epa.gov/opptintr/epp/):  Access to U.S. EPA Environmentally Preferable Products program that encourages and assists federal agencies in the purchasing of environmentally preferred products and services.

State and Municipal Programs

California Buy Recycled Program (http://www.ciwmb.ca.gov/): Information and a vendor database; California also provides information on its waste prevention efforts.

Clean Washington Center (CWC) (http://www.cwc.org/): Information about Washington State's primary state organization responsible for developing markets for recycled materials.

Massachusetts Environmentally Preferable Products Program (http://www.state.ma.us/osd/enviro/enviro.htm): Provides information on currently contracted products, fact sheets, and legislation related to EPP.

Other Resources

Center for a New American Dream (http://www.newdream.org): This not-for-profit organization is dedicated to reducing North America’s pattern of over-consumption.

Co-op America (http://www.coopamerica.org/pubs/greenpages/): This 15 year-old non-profit manages the National Green Pages, a comprehensive listing of socially and environmentally responsible businesses in America.

Canada's Environmental Choice Program (http://www.environmentalchoice.com/): The Environmental Choice Program is Canada's only environmental product certification program. This site features an extensive catalogue of certified products, mostly manufactured by Canadian companies.

Green Seal (http://www.greenseal.org/): A non-profit environmental product certification organization promoting the manufacture and sale of environmentally responsible consumer products. Their site includes a listing of certified products.

The U.S. Green Building Council (http://www.usgbc.org/): A nonprofit consensus coalition promoting the understanding, development and accelerated implementation of "Green Building" policies, programs, technologies, standards and design practices.

The Washington Toxics Coalition (http://www.watoxics.org): A non-profit, member-based organization dedicated to protecting public health and the environment by identifying and promoting alternatives to toxic products.