The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has published final updates to its Recommendations of Specifications[1], Standards, and Ecolabels for Federal Purchasing. These updates aim to assist federal government purchasers and other buyers in selecting more sustainable products, climate-friendly, and contain safer chemical ingredients.
This marks the recommendations’ first comprehensive evaluation and expansion in nearly a decade. With over 460 ecolabels and standards currently in the marketplace, the updated Recommendations help buyers identify thousands of products and services that conserve energy or water, include more recycled content, reduce PFAS exposure and contamination, and lower the consumption of single-use plastics.
The updates include the addition of 14 new standards and ecolabels across categories such as healthcare, laboratories, clothing, and uniforms, as well as expanded options for food service ware. The new specifications prioritize reusable, certified commercially compostable, and certified recyclable products.
President Biden’s Executive Order 14057 directs federal agencies to maximize the procurement of sustainable products and services, prioritizing those that meet EPA’s Recommendations. Federal purchasers, who spend over $730 billion annually, can now make more environmentally responsible choices, potentially saving taxpayers money, reducing climate impacts, and preventing pollution.
EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan stated, “These updates are a significant step towards ensuring that federal purchasing power is used to support sustainable and safer products. By guiding buyers to environmentally preferable options, we can make a substantial impact on our environment and public health.”
The updated Recommendations also include stronger eligibility criteria for standards and ecolabels, such as the requirement for third-party verification programs and up-to-date directories of qualifying products and services. Seven ecolabels were removed from the Recommendations due to not meeting these new criteria, being discontinued, or the original basis for inclusion no longer existing.
Sources:
[1] EPA Releases Final Updates to Recommendations to Help Buyers Find Sustainable Products https://www.epa.gov/chemicals-under-tsca/epa-releases-final-updates-recommendations-help-buyers-find-sustainable
