What better way to celebrate a fresh new year than by renewing our commitment to our health and the environment? In spite of a very challenging 2020, almost 80 City staff from a dozen departments and several non-profit partners came together last year to develop a series of green purchasing regulations. We are excited to present the results: new and updated requirements for nine popular product categories.
What’s new and how to comply
Some of these may be familiar to you. We revised regulations dated from 2013 to reflect updates in ecolabels and standards over the years. The regulations that received face-lifts cover:
- Cleaners (dish soaps, floor finishes and strippers, furniture polish, general purpose cleaners, hand soaps, odor control, other cleaners, toilet deodorizers (hangers, pucks)
- Compostable plastic bags
- Electronics (computers and monitors, imaging equipment, servers, televisions and large digital displays)
- Janitorial papers (facial tissue, paper towels, toilet seat covers, toilet tissue)
- Lighting equipment
- Office supplies (white copy paper and other paper: adding machine tape, binders, calendars, colored copy paper, envelopes, file folders)
In addition, we developed health and environmental requirements for three new product categories: latex paints and primers, resilient flooring and upholstered seating. Interior latex paints and primers must now carry one of three common ecolabels. These ecolabels ensure that the products contain and emit little to no volatile organic compounds (VOC) and do not contain chemicals of concern. Thanks to our consultant, Alicia Culver, Responsible Purchasing Network, City Staff can consult our guide to the safest, healthiest paints on City contract.
Traditional resilient flooring and upholstered seating products are also accompanied by a host of health and environmental concerns. The new regulations for these two product categories restrict the use of chemicals of concern and promote products that come from sustainable sources. Don’t worry if you find these regulations lengthy and daunting; there are product lists to help you! Our partners at the Center for Environmental Health and Healthcare Without Harm have curated lists of products that comply with these regulations.
These regulations take effect immediately. As with all green purchasing requirements for City Staff, you can find the latest information and guides on our website. If you have any questions or comments about these environmental requirements, we’d be happy to hear from you. Contact us and let us know what you think!
