Bio-based | The Green Economy Post: Green Careers, Green Business, Sustainability

The U.S. Government’s Green Purchasing Programs Have Some Serious Problems That Need to be Addressed

By Dave Meyer on July 6, 2011 Comments Off on The U.S. Government’s Green Purchasing Programs Have Some Serious Problems That Need to be Addressed acquisition, bio-based, biodegradable, business, clean energy, Clean tech, Clean Technology Trade Alliance, collaboration, compostable, CTTA, economy, environment, environmentally preferable, EO 13514, EPA, FAR Council, Federal Acquisition Regulations Council, federal contractors, general services administration, government, green economy, green supply chain, green supply chain management, greengov, GSCM), innovation, interim rule on green procurement, management, manufacturing, Policy, procurement, supply chain, Supply Chain Management, sustainable sourcing, transparency

The Federal government recently issues a new rule that requires that 95 percent of new contract actions be green.This sounds great. But there are some underlying systemic issues related to the timing of the FARC interim ruling. Industry groups and procurement agencies are scratching their heads. Several industry associations requested that the government stop issuing rules that change federal procurement policy without first considering public comment.

Government Agencies Required to Go 95% Green on All Purchases

By Tracey de Morsella on June 3, 2011 Comments Off on Government Agencies Required to Go 95% Green on All Purchases Agriculture Department, Air Force, Army Reserve training post, bio-based, biodegradable, CA, clean energy, compostable, cool roofs, Defense Department, Depar, Department of Transportation, DoD, electronics stewardship, energy-efficient, Environmental Protection Agency, environmentally preferable, executive order on green management, Federal Acquisition Regulations Council, federal contractors, Federal Trade Commission, Fort Hunter Liggett, FTC, general services administration, green aviation, Green Guides, green management, green NASA Ames, Green Purchasing Plan, green supply chain, Greenspace Initiative, GSA, Guides for the Use of Environmental Marketing Claims, interim rule on green procurement, NASA, net-zero-energy building requirement, non-ozone depleting, nontoxic, Obama administration, Pilot Army Net Zero Installation initiative, recycled content, recycling, section 438; Livability Principles, solar array, stormwater provisions of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, sustainability base, sustainable purchasing, sustainable systems, tment of Housing and Urban Development, vegetative roofs, waste diversion, waste streams, Water Efficiency, water efficient

Two days ago, the Federal Acquisition Regulations Council released an interim rule on green procurement, requiring that the head of each agency ensure that 95 percent of new contract actions are for products and services that are energy efficient, water efficient, bio-based, environmentally preferable or non-ozone depleting, adhering to criteria set out by the Environmental Protection Agency and the Agriculture Department. The agencies also must aim to procure items that contain recycled content and are nontoxic.

A Crash Course in Selling Green to the Government

By Erica Courtney on July 27, 2010 1 Comment bio-based, Blanket Purchase Agreements, blue pages, Buy Bio, Buy Green First, CCR, Central Contractor Registration, Central Federal Business Opportunities, Courtney Consulting Solutions, Department of Defense, Department of Veterans Affairs, Dun & Bradstreet, DUNS, Energy Independence and Security Act, energy-efficient, environmental impact, environmental impacts, environmentally preferable products, Erica G. Courtney, FAR, Federal Acquisition Regulation, Federal Citizen Information Center, federal contracts database, FedSpending.org, fossil fuels, general services administration, Go Green Initiatives, green jobs, green procurement, green products, Green Purchasing, green purchasing criteria, green services, GSA, LEED construction management, NAICS, national security, Online Representations and Certifications Application, ORCA, pay-back, procurement guidelines, Procurement Technical Assistance Center, PTAC, recycled content, renewable, SBA, Small Business Administration, Sole Source

The federal government is making sustainability a priority. Under the Energy Independence and Security Act, all federal managers are required to cut their fossil fuel use and are directed to acquire recycled content, energy efficient, renewable, bio-based and environmentally preferable products and services towards achieving certain goals. The are a number of “Buy Bio”, “Buy Green First,” programs, as well as Go Green Initiatives giving preference to products and services that meet green purchasing criteria.