Definition
Sustainable procurement is procurement using sustainable environmental practices, including but not limited to, acquisition of Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-designated recycled content products, environmentally sustainable electronics products, environmentally preferable goods and services, ENERGY STAR® and FEMP-designated energy-efficient products, water-efficient products, U.S. Department of Agriculture-designated biobased products, alternative fuels and alternative fuel vehicles, non-ozone depleting substances, low or non-toxic substances or products containing low or non-toxic constituents, renewable energy sources, and sustainable building materials. Formerly known as “green procurement.”
Goal
Achieve 100% compliance with mandatory Federal sustainable procurement programs in all acquisition transactions. This applies to all acquisitions from major systems programs to individual unit supply and service requisitions.
Objectives
DoD’s Sustainable Procurement Program (SPP) reduces both life-cycle costs and the impact of DoD activities on the environment. DoD’s SPP aims to:
- Educate appropriate DoD employees on requirements, roles and responsibilities, and opportunities
- Reduce solid and hazardous waste generation
- Reduce greenhouse gas emissions
- Increase the use of renewable energy and biobased products, reducing dependence on fossil fuel-based products
- Reduce the use of ozone depleting substances and hazardous and toxic chemicals
- Reduce consumption of energy and natural resources
- Expand markets for green products and services
Purpose
DoD’s SPP strives to enhance and sustain mission readiness through cost-effective acquisition that achieves compliance, reduces resource consumption, and minimizes solid and hazardous waste generation. As the single largest buyer of supplies and services throughout the government, DoD strives to ensure that every procurement meets the requirements of applicable Federal sustainable procurement programs. DoD’s SPP is focused not only on the procurement function but also on the roles and responsibilities of each member of the Department and recognizes that every person has a role to play. The following staff may support implementation and maintenance of the DoD SPP: procurement, contracting, engineering, environmental management, energy management, logistics, transportation, supply, public affairs, legal, government purchase card program, pollution prevention, quality assurance, planning, budgeting, tenant, and nonappropriated fund organization personnel.
Management
DoD’s SPP is jointly management by the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Energy, Installations, and Environment (DASD(EI&E)) and the Director, Defense Procurement & Acquisition Policy, (USD(AT&L)/DPAP). More information is available on the DASD(EI&E) and DPAP websites.
The SPP addresses required elements of Executive Order 13693 and other relevant statutory/regulatory drivers, while staying adaptable to all other components of Federal sustainable procurement. The management construct follows the basic framework of an environmental management system – EMS:
- Policy
- Planning
- Implementation
- Checking and Corrective Action
- Management Review
Products
In accordance with DoDI 4105.72, DoD will implement a DoD SPP that addresses the following goals and preferences for:
- Recycled content products designated by EPA
- Energy-efficient products and services, such as ENERGY STAR® qualified and FEMP-designated products, identified by the EPA and Department of Energy
- Products the U.S. Department of Agriculture designates “BioPreferred” and “biobased”
- Significant New Alternatives Policy (SNAP) program chemicals or other alternatives to ozone-depleting substances and high global warming potential hydrofluorocarbons
- WaterSense certified products and services (water-efficient products)
- Safer Choice labeled products (chemically intensive products that contain safer ingredients)
- SmartWay Transport partners and SmartWay products (fuel-efficient products and services)
- Alternative fuels and alternative fuel vehicles
- Low greenhouse gas-emitting vehicles
- Products that produce renewable energy
- Sustainable building products
- Environmentally sustainable electronic products
- Alternatives to hazardous or toxic chemicals
Resources
DoD Instruction 4105.72
Procurement of Sustainable Goods and Services