Responsible Purchasing News
Alameda County, California, is joining other leading local governments in promoting green purchasing by making green bid information available on their website. Alameda County likes to think of this as open source sustainability, where local governments make their resources available publicly so other agencies can learn from and build on them. 
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In April, Governor Kitzhaber signed EO 12-05, Fostering Environmentally Friendly Purchasing and Product Design. The order requires state agencies to begin a pilot program for purchasing less toxic cleaning products by the end of the year. It also requires state agencies to develop a plan for revising purchasing guidelines to reduce toxics in other product categories by July 1, 2013. More
The Basel Action Network (BAN), the owner of the e-Stewards Certification for electronics recyclers, announced today that it has included the R2 (Responsible Recycling) Practices, developed earlier by an Environmental Protection Agency sponsored multi-stakeholder process, into the more comprehensive e-Stewards Standard. More
Itâs called the County Green Purchasing Toolkit, an interactive Web-based resource that shares innovative county best practices with other local governments nationwide to help them save money while buying more environmentally preferable products. More
During this webinar, RPN reviewed green alternatives for commonly used building maintenance products such as paint, janitorial supplies, and lighting fixtures and lamps and focused on how greener choices within these product categories can help increase energy efficiency, reduce waste, improve indoor air quality, and in many cases, produce cost savings! More
Let the Responsible Purchasing Network help you stay on top of the latest developments with Underwriters Laboratories Environment (ULE). More
This comprehensive Webinar is geared to both experienced "green" purchasers and those just getting started and covered important aspects of a successful food service ware program from an environmental purchasing perspective. More
Please join the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE) and the Responsible Purchasing Network (RPN) for a free Webinar on how to promote "green" purchasing at your college or university. More
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will require all products using its Designed for the Environment labeling program to disclose their full ingredients to consumers. More
UL Environment acquires indoor air quality market leaders Air Quality Sciences and its certifying body GREENGUARD Environmental Institute More
RPN recently made recommendations on how two key federal agencies - the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the General Services Administration (GSA) - can stimulate the production and consumption of sustainable products in the United States. More
The New and Prospective Member Orientation and Sustainable Purchasing 101 webinar covered RPN's membership resources and important first steps for your green purchasing program that shouldn't be missed. More
RPN Members now have access to the webinar slides and recording, which featured useful strategies on how to cut greenhouse gas emissions through purchasing. More
The conference, hosted on Oct. 20 in Oakland, CA, featured several guest speakers to discuss their EPP policies and programs and a product prioritization exercise. More
The award winning video explores the benefits of an EPP program and provides an overview of green purchasing in an informative and incredibly creative presentation. More
Under a set of environmental marketing guidelines that were proposed by the Federal Trade Commission today, businesses would soon have to tread more carefully when calling their products "green" or "eco-friendly." More
To better serve you, RPN is teaming up with the staff of the Green Purchasing Institute (GPI), another organization that has been providing technical support directly to states, local governments, school districts and other nonprofit organizations on a wide array of sustainable purchasing initiatives since 2004. More
The SF Approved List is a compilation of products, services, and (eventually) ecolabels that meet the health and environmental standards of the City & County of San Francisco. More
Eco-labels can be an incredibly useful tool for purchasers. It isn't always easy to ascertain if one product is more "green" than another or if its environmental claims are true. Eco-labels can help facilitate the procurement of responsible products because, when credible, they provide an objective authentication of environmental assertions and ensure products meet varying environmental and human health requirements. More
RPN has created two case studies concerning office electronics, that provides real-world experiences on how green procurement can save your institution money and environmental resources. More
Nova Scotia Premier Darrell Dexter used the annual convention of CUPE Nova Scotia to announce his government is committed to a ban on the sale of bottled water in all provincial facilities that have potable water. More
After critical audits, the federal government said Wednesday that it would substantially tighten the certification process for products bearing the Energy Star label, its stamp of approval for an energy-efficient product. More
Amazon.com announced January 20 that customers now have access to information on computers' EPEAT (Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool) ratings. More
The RPN Model Responsible Purchasing Report is now available to download for RPN members. This report helps purchasers track their responsible purchasing and create their own responsible purchasing report. More
A bill requiring state facilities to make "greener" decisions when purchasing materials won unanimous Senate approval Wednesday. Lawmakers promised to monitor the effect on manufacturers who claimed the measure would cost jobs. More
The presentation slides and video recording to RPN's most popular Webinar are now available for download. Learn how your organization can better track its socially responsible and environmentally preferable purchasing. More
During the past few weeks, people around the world were filled with national pride and were captivated by the phenomenal feats of the best athletes we have. Marking another proud achievement, the promotion of the Olympic Games as the greenest ever demonstrates just how far the sustainability field has progressed. More
Brown University became the first Ivy League school to pledge to stop using bottled water. Within a year, the school hopes to reduce bottled water usage from 250,000 bottles to 0. More
RPN's latest publication, a Paper Standards Comparison Chart, has been revised based on member feedback to include more background information on different paper certifications. This revision will make the acquisition of environmentally preferable paper easier by providing a clearer picture of the eco-labels that certify them. More
The end of 2009 fittingly will close with RPN becoming one of the inaugural certified green businesses recognized by Montgomery County, Maryland, where we are based, and being invited to take part in the launch press conference. More
Montgomery County, Maryland awarded the Center for a New American Dream their new Green Business Certification. A press conference held December 16 showcased the inaugural group of 11 organizations operating in Montgomery County that were successfully audited against 244 environmental criteria in areas such as environmentally responsible purchasing, waste reduction and recycling, pollution prevention, energy efficiency and renewable energy, water use, and transportation. More
ICLEI (Local Governments for Sustainability) and UNEP (United Nations Environment Programme) have joined together to create the Bonn Center for Local Climate Action and Reporting-- carbonn. The new program will help municipalities report and compare their greenhouse gas emissions. More
In today's economic climate, all organizations need to improve their bottom line, and RPN is working to provide information that will help you reduce purchasing costs and increase your savings. RPN is conducting a survey that will be the basis for our upcoming "Saving Green" Purchasing Guide, which will focus on how purchasers can save money and resources, and we invite you to contribute to its success by filling out the questionnaire when it arrives in your e-mail box. More
Learn from Carbonfund.org how your business may reduce what it can and offset what it can't. More
RPN member Office Depot is using a new "Shades of Green" labeling program to improve transparency and help institutional purchasers gauge the greenness of their purchases. More
Clark County, Washington, five years into its green purchasing program, is taking a careful look at which green purchasing initiatives offer the most bang for the buck. More
Roofing companies are increasingly turning to green roofs and other sustainable practices as a way to expand business in hard times. More
NASA's Ames Research Center in Sunnyvale, CA is set to begin construction on a new building that will employ both space age and down to earth technologies to become the greenest building ever built by the federal government. More
Businesses in London aiming to develop green procurement initiatives and reduce their environmental impact have a new online tool, courtesy of London's City Hall. More
RPN and Carbonfund.org have partnered to produce a Responsible Purchasing Guide for Carbon Offsets to help organizations make smart choices that allow them reach their carbon reduction goals. More
Join RPN Manager Vincent Kitira and RPN Steering Committee Member, Scot Case, on August 20th as they participate in an EPA-hosted webinar to discuss strategies for separating green products from green washing. More
The Responsible Purchasing Guide for Food Containers was prepared for the County of Los Angeles as a customized companion to the Food Services guide. This guide outlines the basic social and environmental issues and costs related to polystyrene food container use, provides model policies and bid specs related to food containers, and addresses practical issues in waste management related to food containers. More
RPN Member Washington University continues to make green building news with the announcement that its Village East student apartment building has received a LEED Silver rating from the U.S. Green Building Council. More
The National Association of Counties (NACO) is sponsoring two national competitions for county governments to win grants to help the counties promote greener living by county employees and residents. More
Leonardo Academy, a non profit promoting sustainability, is now accepting applications for an additional member on the SCS-002 Standards Committee within the Environmentalist Interest Category who will be part of the national dialogue on life-cycle assessment and Type III labeling. More
RPN Members, now you can proudly display your commitment to socially responsible and environmentally sustainable purchasing with the RPN Member Badge. Place it on your website or use it in written materials to show the world you are serious about responsible purchasing. More
Vincent Kitira is our new RPN Manager! Vincent previously worked for the City of New York's Department of Citywide Administrative Services; Division of Municipal Supply Services (DMSS)--NYC government's main purchasing agency. More
Thirty-three companies and firms from across the region have signed on as charter members of the Greater Philadelphia Green Business Program, an initiative of the Pennsylvania Environmental Council that asks businesses to voluntarily commit to green procurement and other green office practices. More
RPN is pleased to announce the winners of the first annual Responsible Purchaser of the Year awards: Jeffrey Baer of the City of Portland, Oregon, Yalmaz Siddiqui of Office Depot, Eric Nelson and Karen Hamilton of King County, Washington, and Alicia Culver of the Green Purchasing Institute. More
RPN seeks three qualified procurement and/or sustainability professionals to serve on the RPN Exam Panel. More
Anoka County, just north of Minneapolis and St. Paul, has opened up an internet surplus goods store to divert unneeded supplies away from the landfill and toward willing buyers. More
Register today for the March 24th webinar hosted by the National Institute of Governmental Purchasing (NIGP). The presenters will be Scot Case, TerraChoice Environmental Marketing VP, and Jeffrey Baer, Bureau of Purchases Director for the City of Portland and RPN Steering Committee member. More
The Carolinas Association of Government Purchasers held their Spring Conference and Vendor Show the first week in March in New Bern, North Carolina. The opening session, "Going Green While Saving Green," put the spotlight on green purchasing, featuring presentations from RPN Director, Chris O'Brien, and others. More
RPN Director Chris O'Brien and Terrachoice Environmental Marketing VP Scot Case will be the featured speakers for a March 17 Northeast Recycling Council "Power of Purchasing" Webinar. More
The County Commissioners of Berks County, PA are pursuing green procurement initiatives that will allow them to go green without spending green to do it. More
A new study by global management consulting firm A.T. Kearney indicates that firms with a "true commitment to sustainability" outperform industry peers in the financial markets. More
More than half of employers currently practice strategic environmental management, according to a new "Greening of HR Survey" conducted by a leading human resource consulting firm. More
The National Institute of Governmental Purchasing has adopted a resolution urging the federal government to grant state and local governments access to green products available through GSA schedules. More
State and local governments are offering tax breaks and other incentives in a bid to encouage companies to promote telecommuting. More
RPN has partnered with ProcureCon Indirect 2009 to offer a special opportunity for RPN members. More
Green Seal has launched a new Laureate Program to recognize and grow the most sustainable companies in the US. More
California and Pennsylvania recently joined four other states in passing comprehensive laws enforcing the proper collection and recycling of mercury-containing thermostats. More
Visit our booth at EcoBuild Fall 2008 in Washington, DC. RPN members receive free exhibit hall passes and discount conference registration. More
Businesses, schools, and governments are struggling to curtail spending in troubled times. Through responsible purchasing strategies, cost savings, environmental benefits, and human health improvements can coexist. More
Silicon Valley employees are forming green teams to push companies and peers to be greener. More
RPN members work hard to procure goods and services that protect human health and the environment. We want to recognize this good work! More
Building owners in New York City who install green rooftops will now receive a significant tax credit under a bill passed by the New York state legislature. More
Attend the Southwest Greening Government Conference July 25, 2008 in Flagstaff, Arizona to discuss strategies and challenges for the implementation of green practices into the business of government. Registration deadline is June 15th More
RPN director Chris O'Brien was interviewed recently for a "Seeing Green In More Ways Than One" feature on the Dell Small Business 360 site. The article is full of tips on how businesses can make simple changes that will save money and help t More
New York Governor Paterson recently signed an Executive Order establishing a New York State "Green Procurement and Agency Sustainability Program," to promote green purchasing by state government agencies. More
RPN is partnering with the Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC) to launch a Responsible Purchasing extern program in Mexico. More
RPN has selected six government agencies to work with in 2008 to help them use procurement strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions within their communities. More
Join us May 28th from 2-3 pm EDT for a free webcast presenting the highlights of EcoMarkets 2008, our annual report on the social and environmental attitudes and practices of North American institutional buyers. More
The Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE) has released the next draft of its rating system for sustainability in higher education called STARS (Sustainability Tracking, Assessment and Rating System). More
Ten California city and county governments, including five RPN members, have joined together to form Green Cities California (GCG) to accelerate local, regional, national and international sustainability efforts. More
RPN members can now download the product listings from RPN Purchasing Guides in Excel format from the RPN website. More
The National Institute of Governmental Purchasing (NIGP) has created a new “Green Knowledge Community” to promote info on environmentally preferable products and promote social and economic responsibility in public procurement. More
A study by RPN member, the Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC), says green building design and operation represents the cheapest and most effective way to cut North American greenhouse gas emissions. More
RPN member Plano, Texas, is rolling out a new Environmental Purchasing Policy (EPP) to purchase and use materials, products and services that are economically responsible and reduce resource consumption and waste. More
RPN member Yale University has developed a set of Sustainable Event Guidelines to help campus event organizers reduce the environmental impact of gatherings they host. More
Cornell University has joined Tompkins County, the City of Ithaca and five other educational institutions and governmental agencies to form the Finger Lakes Environmentally Preferred Procurement Consortium. More
RPN’s team of staff and consultants is available to develop creative, outcome-oriented strategies to help clients improve their bottom line while meeting sustainability goals. Learn more about the services we provide to help your organization become More
The US Environmental Protection Agency has issued a request for proposals for its Pollution Prevention Information Network (PPIN) Grants Program. More
The state of California is aiming to reduce the prevalence of toxic chemicals used in consumer products. More
An MSNBC article advises potential buyers to beware when checking out green claims. The author warns: “If green More
In only its first year of existence, the Responsible Purchasing Network has passed the 100 member mark! Since our launch in early 2007, RPN has grown impressively. Today, we are proud to count among our members prominent educational institutions suc More
Most Americans believe local efforts to be environmentally responsible will pay dividends for their communities by attracting new businesses and development, creating “green collar jobs” and boosting the local economy, according to a new Unite More
RPN’s Environmentally Preferable Purchasing (EPP) video is now available for download or viewing online. More
RPN is offering pro bono assistance to five members committed to green purchasing in order to cut waste and emissions and improve community health. URGENT: Monday, March 10 application deadline! More
Greenseal, the not-for-profit, independent certification and standard development body, is issuing a call for stakeholders as it revises its reusable bag standards and develops new standards for plastic resin film bags. Green Seal develops standards for a More
The Green Procurement Exposition & Conference – Midwest will be held June 4 & 5 at the Navy Pier in Chicago. The conference brings together experts and practitioners in the areas of procurement, purchasing, supply, and environmentally More
The Office of Federal Procurement Policy (OFPP),is proposing to issue a policy letter on green procurement policies and strategies. More
When Joining RPN or renewing RPN membership, members will now receive The Competitive Advantage: EcoPurchasing by Sandra Cannon. This book is a persuasive primer on environmentally preferable purchasing. More
The Center for a New American Dream is excited to announce a new partnership with the Coin Laundry Association, the national trade organization servicing the coin-operated Laundromat industry. More
SweatFree Communities conducted an initial survey of purchasing officials responsible for implementing sweat-free procurement policies. The survey, drafted in cooperation with RPN, exp More
AASHE's draft Sustainability Tracking, Assessment, and Rating System (STARS) 0.4 includes 8 possible credits for environmentally preferable purchasing. Universities may earn the first of those credits by adopting an environmentally preferable pur More
The U.S. House of Representatives, with the help of RPN, is taking a step to significantly cut its energy consumption and save forest resources by switching from copy paper made from virgin wood to 100% post-consumer waste recycled paper. More
RPN Steering Committee members, staff, and allies from all over the continent gathered on October 31 in Worcester, MA for the North American Green Purchasing Initiative's (NAGPI) 5th Annual Summit. More
Massachusetts' Annual EPP Vendor Fair and Conference brought together over 1,300 federal, state and local procurement officials, RPN staff, fleet and facility managers More
The Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE) is developing a new system that will rate the sustainability of U.S. colleges and universities. The program will allow these institutions to assess and compare their pr More
Do you have questions about remanufactured toner cartridges? RPN is partnering with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the International Imaging Technologies Council to host a question and answer session. More
As part of its commitment to green power, the Center for a New American Dream, RPN's parent organization, has been recognized by the Clean Energy Rewards Program of Montgomery County, Maryland. The Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) purchased by New More
The Quantity Quotes program provides an online forum for vendors and purchasers of ENERGY STAR registered products to conduct business. Currently, 110 vendors and over 600 organizations have registered for Quantity Quotes. More
A new policy passed by the Los Angeles County Purchasing Department establishes a range of objectives for purchasing recycled content and remanufactured products, energy and water conserving equipment, low-impact landscaping, and bio-based products. The p More
Congratulations to Oberlin College and Yale University. These RPN members were listed among the top 15 Greenest Colleges and Universities by Grist More
A new survey focused on company practices, policies, and plans for reducing environmental impacts associated with operations, reveals a green procurement trend. Conducted by EyeForProcurement, the study revealed that 50% of companies are employing policie More
A study by the Queensland University of Technology measured particulate emissions from office printers and found that 27 percent of the sample printers emitted high levels of particulates. The study found that emissions are printer-type specific and are a More
The Responsible Purchasing Network (RPN) is proud to release the Responsible Purchasing Guide for Office Electronics. This document provides comprehensive, leading-edge guidance on the responsible purchase, use, and dispos More
Responsible Purchasing Network's Purchasing Guides for cleaners, computers, office electronics, and paint now contain information on how to identify products that gain LEED credits for a variety of projects. More
The University of Florida issued a Sustainable Purchasing Directive aimed at supporting campus sustainability through procurement of products with minimal environmental and social impact. More
The U.S. Conference of Mayors just released a survey highlighting proactive steps U.S. mayors are taking to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The 130 cities surveyed are pursuing a multitude of actions aimed at conserving energy, using energy more ef More
Energy performance requirements within LEED green building rating system increase by 14% as part of U.S. Green Building Council’s eight point Climate Change Agenda. All newly registered LEED certified projects must now... More
RPN Extern host, Citizens’ Environmental Coalition (CEC), published a guide to help consumers weigh various environmental and health concerns when it comes to planning, building, renovating, and redecorating homes. More
The City of Portland, Oregon, a member of RPN and longtime environmental leader, released case studies that demonstrate the feasibility and cost-effectiveness of responsible purchasing. More
With assistance from RPN and Think Energy, the State of Wisconsin is soliciting bids for up to 180,000 MWh of renewable electricity on a 10-year contract. More
RPN and TerraChoice hosted a May 28th webcast presenting highlights of EcoMarkets 2008, our annual report on the social and environmental attitudes and practices of North American institutional buyers. Click on the "more" link to More
Three RPN members have been chosen to host RPN-funded Responsible Purchasing Externs. Visit our job listings to read about the positions and learn how to apply. More
On April 30th, PepsiCo announced that the company will purchase over one billion kilowatt hours of renewable electricity each year for the next three years. This purchase will cover 100 percent of the electricity consumed by PepsiCo US-based manufacturing More
On March 22, 2007, the President of the University of California System issued an updated policy on sustainable practices and purchasing. The new policy covers Building Renovations, Climate Protection Practices, Sustainable Operations, Recycling and Waste More
Roche announced today that the number of hybrid vehicles in its pharmaceutical sales fleet has expanded to a total of 242 vehicles as of the end of 2006. More
The Responsible Purchasing Network (RPN), at the Center for a New American Dream, launched the Beta version of ResponsiblePurchasing.org today in response to a growing demand for information on purchasing goods and services w More
On January 24th, 2007, President George W. Bush signed Executive Order 13423, “Strengthening Federal Environmental, Energy, and Transportation Management.” The order sets goals in the areas of energy efficiency, acquisition, renewable energy, More
Worldwatch reported that China's Ministry of Finance and State Environmental Protection Administration (SEPA) have announced that starting in 2007 the nation’s central and provincial governments will prioritize purchasing green products and serv More
Wal-Mart has announced an ambitious campaign to sell 100 million compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) at its Wal-Mart and Sam's Club locations by the end of 2007. As reported on GreenBiz.com, the plan includes interactive displays, an online savings More
America could save nearly one billion gallons of fuel annually by adopting new aerodynamic technologies on tractor- trailer trucks, according to a two-year collaborative study conducted by four members of the Truck Manufacturers Association (TMA) and the More
Responsible purchasing gains momentum as the National Institute of Governmental Purchasing, Inc. passes resolution encouraging “socially responsible” procurement. More
The Federal Biobased Products Preferred Procurement Program, dubbed "BioPreferred" as part of an effort to educate federal purchasers is quickly gaining momentum. The U.S. Agriculture Department (USDA) has designated 10 more product categories, More
