ART - Environmentally Preferable Purchasing: Who is Doing What in the United States?" 2005

The document discusses the concept of environmentally preferable purchasing (EPP) and its implementation in the United States. It highlights various initiatives, policies, and guidelines introduced by federal agencies and state governments to incorporate environmental considerations into procurement planning and management. The document mentions the requirement for federal agencies to prepare Affirmative Procurement Plans (APP) under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) and Executive Order 13101. It also provides examples of resources and tools available for implementing EPP, such as the model APP created by the White House Task Force on Recycling, the State of Minnesota's Environmentally Preferable Purchasing Guide, and the NIST's decision-enabling tool called BEES. The document further discusses the use of EPP set-asides, where a certain percentage of government purchases must be environmentally preferable. It mentions the availability of tools like the paper calculator and EPA decision wizards to assist in making environmentally preferable purchasing decisions. The document includes references to various publications, executive orders, and reports related to EPP and provides insights into the efforts made by different entities in the United States to promote sustainable procurement practices. The document is part of the broader National Environmental Technology Strategy called "Bridge to a Sustainable Future" published by the U.S. Government in Washington, DC.