Best Practice Action Detail

Purchasing: 

• See additional purchasing actions and resources in the GreenStep best practices for New Green Buildings, Outdoor Lighting and Signals, City Fleets, and Parks & Trails (related to purchasing native plants, pollinator-friendly plants).
• Cities are able to purchase products on contracts that we consider 100% sustainable through Minnesota's Cooperative Purchasing Venture.
• Additional programs can be found on the MPCA's sustainable government purchasing page.
• The Sustainable Purchasing Leadership Council provides some resources as well.
• The city of St. Cloud specifies ductile iron pipe for drinking water mains due to its strength, lifespan, long-term cost savings, ability to be thawed using electric current, and its elimination of any potential (as PVC pipes have) to leach carcinogens into the public water supply. St. Cloud uses the SMaRT certification standard of the Institute for Market Transformation, which incorporates human health concerns and full life-cycle assessment, and is ANSI accredited. Ductile pipe and other MTS-certified products are allowable innovation credits under LEED.

Standards: 

• See a number of product categories on the CPV and links to national standards, including:
  • Overall: 
    • SMaRT Consensus Sustainable Product Standards - provides substantial global benefits for the world's products with Environmental, Social, & Economic criteria including flooring, furniture, lighting, pipes, exterior products, electronics, and more
    • UL ECOLOGO / GREENGAURD - certifies products and services that are verified for reduced environmental impact in the following categories: materials, energy, manufacturing & operations, health & environment, product performance & use, product stewardship & innovation. Standards include buildings products, cleaning products & disinfectants, electronics, paper & plastic, and more. 
    • Cradle to Cradle - guides designers and manufacturers through a continual improvement process that looks at a product through five quality categories: material health, material reutilization, renewable energy and carbon management, water stewardship, and social fairness. Includes products such as paper, textiles, cleaning products, furnishings, personal care, and more. 
  • Interiors: 
    • BIFMA Furniture Sustainability Standard - sponsors the development and maintenance of furniture safety, performance, and sustainability standards that impact people's lives.
    • Greenhealth - approves environmentally preferred products that meet Health Care Without Harm's sustainability criteria and includes flooring and furnishings. 
    • Carpet Standards from the Carpet and Rug Institute. Carpet and flooring on state contract C-432(5) must meet specific sustainability standards
    • Report WaterSense under BPA 15.4. 
  • Chemicals/Toxins: 
    • GreenSeal - develops standards for and certifies green cleaning and floor maintenance products; low-toxicity hand soap and paint; and environmentally preferable janitorial paper products. 
    • GREENGUARD - see UL ECOLOGO above. Includes cleaning and maintenance products. 
    • US EPA's Safer Choice - certifies low-toxicity products such as hand soaps, furniture and metal polish, laundry and dish detergents, specialty cleaning products, and more.
  • Wood/ bio-based Products: 
    • BPI Compostable (Biodegradable Products Institute) - certifies that products with “biodegradable” claims—ranging from compostable bags to food serviceware to packaging—will safely break down in a typical commercial or municipal composting facility.
    • FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) - certifies wood and paper products derived from sustainably managed forests and/or that reduces wood consumption. 
    • USDA Biobased - certifies products such as printing inks, lubricants, food serviceware, and other products made with a minimum percentage of plant-based material. 
    • USDA Organic food standard
    • Report recycled paper under BPA 15.1.
    • Report PIM/Green Printing under BPA 15.6. 
  • Energy: 
    • Report ENERGY STAR (appliances, lighting, and electronics) and EPEAT (electronics) under BPA 15.1.
    • Report Green-e (renewable energy and carbon offset products) under BPA 15.2.
• See standards, specifications, policies and more for cleaners from the Responsible Purchasing Network.

Investments: 

• See bills, resolutions and policies for moving city banking/investments to community banks and credit unions.
• Relevant to city investments (cash, bonds, pensions) see Divestment from Fossil Fuels: A Guide for City Officials and Activists from the Mayors Innovation Project based in Madison, WI.
• Employee support for organizations that protect, conserve and restore Minnesota’s environment can be facilitated via payroll deductions through organizations such as the MN Environmental Fund.