Use state and national green standards/guidelines for at least 3 categories of purchasing/investments such as electronics, cleaning products, flooring/coatings.
EPEAT (Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool) allows purchasers to evaluate, compare and select electronic products based on their environmental attributes. Only EPEAT-certified products are available through Minnesota's Cooperative Purchasing Venture.
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.
Processed Chlorine Free (PCF) paper product standards of the Chlorine Free Products Association.
See standards, specifications, policies and more for cleaners from the national Responsible Purchasing Network. Green Seal or EcoLogo certified or U.S. EPA Safer Choice are recommended by the GREEN Group of Minnesota cities and counties, working with the MPCA.
The Business and Institutional Furniture Manufacturers Association (BIFMA) International Furniture Sustainability Standard. Note also that cities can purchase remanufactured Herman Miller System furniture through MN's Cooperative Purchasing Venture.
List the categories for which the city has adopted standards/guidelines: (a) Electronics (including computer, printers, printer operation, and printer supplies - especially remanufactured cartridges); (b) Wood products / bio-based products (including compostable 'dinnerware'); (c) Organic food; (d) Cleaning products; (e) Less/non-toxic pesticides/herbicides; (f) Paints, coatings and adhesives, (g) Carpets, flooring; (h) Furniture - especially remanufactured; (i) Paper products. Report street lighting/traffic signal purchasing under action 4.2; vehicles under 13.2 & 13.3
Report the benefits of using greener electronics and remanufactured cartridges by using the calculators at http://www.pca.state.mn.us/epp ; move city banking to community banks and credit unions; facilitate employee support for organizations that protect, conserve and restore Minnesota’s environment via payroll deductions.
Shift investments/pension funding from fossil fuels to renewables; specify ductile iron pipe for city drinking water system; certify under http://www.stateelectronicschallenge.net
Who's doing it
Maplewood - 1 star
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In Maplewood's Environmental Purchasing Policy, it specifies the use of state and national green standards/guidelines for purchasing cleaning products, paints, coatings and adhesives, carpets, and paper products.