The Environmental Case for Responsible Purchasing

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The Environmental Case for Responsible Purchasing
Chris OBrien, DirectorResponsible Purchasing
Network CA Going Green SeminarAugust, 2007
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a.k.a. The Doom Gloom Show
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Energy Global Warming
Temps up 10 by 2100 50 of electricity is from
coal 95 of vehicle fuel is from
petroleum Electronics consume 26 of electricity
in offices Lighting 7 of U.S. electricity
consumption
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Hazardous Substances
1 in 3 ingredients in commercial cleaners are
potentially harmful Hazardous waste is dumped
in countries without strong rules Flame
retardants bioaccumulate, causing brain thyroid
problems
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Air Quality
Indoor VOC levels 10X higher than
outdoors Outdoor VOCs cause ground-level ozone
smog, causing lung disease and asthma US ranks
3rd in highway CO2 emissions
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Waste
70 of heavy metals in landfill from
electronics 70 of mercury-lamps are not
recycled 16-35m gal. leftover consumer
paint/year, enough carpet to cover 47 m. of 4-lane
highway/year 90 of water bottles are landfilled
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Water
Water turbidity from consumer toxins kills
aquatic ecosystems Pollution climate change are
killing coral reefs precious habitat Carpet
production uses 10g water / sq. yard 25 of
bottled water is tap water It takes 3 gallons of
water to bottle 1 gallon
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Biodiversity Habitat
11,000 species near extinction 1 in 5 birds
threatened Wetlands reduced by 50 in past
century ½ of forest cover gone since agriculture
began 60 of fisheries exploited at or beyond
capacity
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To summarize
Things are bad and theyre getting worse.
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Solutions
Dont despair. You are about to learn how
responsible purchasing makes a BIG difference.
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The Environmental Case for Responsible Purchasing
Chris OBrien, DirectorResponsible Purchasing
Network CA Going Green Seminar August, 2007
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Buying Power

• Big buyers have big power to shift
• us toward sustainability
• Governments spends over 700
• billion on procurement annually
• 1 of every 5 spent in the U.S.

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Responsible Purchasing Strategies

• Life cycle costs - CA, GA, OR, PA
• Human health protection - MA, San Fran
• Toxics/hazardous materials - IA, IN, IL
• Approved products lists - Hope Mills, NC
• Cooperative purchasing MO
• Greenhouse gas emissions - MO, Alameda
• Price preference - MO, MN, NJ

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Greener Fleets
King County, 126 hybrids cars, 500 hybrid
buses NYC taxi fleet all hybrid by 2012 Las Vegas
reduced diesel emissions 18 with fuel
additive RPN Hybrid Calculator
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Clean Electricity

• Renewable Energy Certificates
• Ann Arbor, MI
• Cambridge, MA
• Wisconsin, largest state purchase

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Green Cleaners

• Green Seal EcoLogo
• Mandates adopted
• Massachusetts
• New York
• New Jersey
• Alameda County
• Montgomery Co.

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EPEAT Computers
20b in contracts RPN Social Justice Clause CA
Electronic Waste Recycling Act
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Copiers, Printers, Fax Machines
Duplexers can reduce paper by 40 Energy
Star-equipment reduces energy up to 60 LEED
credit
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Copy Paper

• City of Portland, ORPaper Mandate
• Reduce usage by 15
• Meet or exceed EPA
• Aim for 30-100 PCW
• Prefer chlorine-free
• Seek alternative pulp
• Saved 10,000 1st year

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• 2005 White House Responsible Purchasing
  Conference
• California, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Portland,
  OR, King County, WA.
• Patagonia, Office Max, Target
• U.S. EPA, U.S. Dept. of Veterans Affairs, Office
  of Federal Environmental Executive, World Bank
• Responsible Purchasing Network
• RPN officially launched Feb. 2007
• Today, 57 members
• Responsible Purchasing Guide publication series,
  including searchable products
• Webcasts, externs, forums, partnerships more

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Join these CA RPN Members
Alameda San Francisco CA EPA San Jose Palo
Alto Santa Barbara San Diego Santa Monica New
Member! Santa Rosa
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Contact
Chris OBrien, DirectorResponsible Purchasing
Network www.ResponsiblePurchasing.org 1-877-68-DRE
AM chris_at_newdream.org