Green Purchasing Frequently Asked Questions
General EPP
As with any product (including virgin products), if one brand does not meet your expectations, you may need to experiment with a different vendor or brand to find the product that meets your specific needs
- StopWaste’s fact sheets list environmentally preferable products such as office paper, janitorial paper and office supplies, traffic control and parks and recreation products, and include lists of vendors, local distributors, and retail outlets for smaller purchases.
- Responsible Shopper is a program of Green America that provides consumers with green purchasing and socially and environmentally responsible investment information.
- CalRecycle (the California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery) has many resources available on their website to help buy postconsumer recycled content products.
- For green building materials and information, see Build It Green’s Green Product Directory.
- For ways to choose plants and maintain gardens with environmentally friendly products, see Rescape California.
- For dozens more helpful online resources to “green” your home and office, see the Environmental Purchasing Web Links.
- Alameda County and the General Services Agency share their resources and experiences to promote green purchasing in public agencies. Policies, success stories, bids, specifications and other resources are available.
- The U.S. EPA Comprehensive Procurement Guidelines give recycled content recommendations for eight different types of products, including construction, landscaping, office (non-paper), paper, park and recreation, transportation, automotive and miscellaneous products.
- The State of California EPP (Environmentally Preferable Purchasing) Buying Green Guide can assist in finding and selecting environmentally preferable products.
- The Responsible Purchasing Network is a non-profit organization established to help state and local governments and other large purchasers incorporate environmental considerations into their purchasing decisions. The website contains examples of government environmental purchasing policies and other purchasing resources. Note that some resources are available to members only.
- The non-profit third-party certification organization, Green Seal, provides lists of green certified products and works with government and industry to develop product standards and resources.
- UL Environment's (ULE) Sustainable Product Guide lists third-party certified products that have achieved certification/validation by ULE.
Office Supplies
Look for rechargeable batteries, water-based and non-toxic highlighters and markers, and 10-100% postconsumer recycled content plastic trash bag liners. Plastic desktop accessories like notepad and pencil holders, trays and organizers can be made with 25-80% postconsumer content. Plastic binders can contain up to 100% postconsumer recycled content, depending on the type of plastic. More companies are producing supplies made from recycled fiber materials so look for fiber-based office supplies with postconsumer recycled content. For more information see our Fact Sheet on Environmentally Preferable Non-Paper Office Products in Alameda County.
Yes, but as with most products, you still need to be a smart consumer. Remanufactured toner cartridge companies have sold quality products to satisfied customers for years, but that is no guarantee against faulty products. To ensure quality service and product, check the manufacturer’s quality assurance program. Ask for references. Refer to our Fact Sheet on Remanufactured Toner Cartridges in Alameda County for additional information. The cost savings could be significant.
Paper Products
Many recycled papers cost the same as, or less than, virgin papers – especially papers used for letterhead, brochures and business cards. StopWaste’s Fact Sheet on Environmentally Preferable Paper Office Products in Alameda County offers tips for further cost savings. Conservatree also has useful information about the different types of environmentally preferable paper available for the large-scale purchaser and small-quantity purchasers, as well as those new to environmental papers.