The workshop covered healthy and sustainable purchasing practices. It discussed how chemicals in products can impact health, and how procurement professionals can help identify and purchase safer alternatives. Examples were provided of initiatives to purchase third-party certified cleaning products, electronics that meet EPEAT standards, and researching safer paint removal methods. Attendees participated in activities discussing resilient flooring procurement and task chair purchases to integrate healthy purchasing principles. The presentation aimed to equip professionals with resources and examples to advance sustainable and healthy purchasing goals.

1. Healthy Purchasing Workshop
Stacey Foreman, City of Portland
Shawn Postera, Multnomah County
Tracy Sagal, Metro
NIGP Columbia Chapter | March 18, 2016

2. The Healthy Purchasing Coalition is a group of
about a dozen cities, counties, ports, and higher
education institutions.

3. 1. Healthy Purchasing & Sustainable
Procurement
2. What & Why? Chemicals & Our Health
3. How & Where to Start
4. Healthy Purchasing Resources
5. Healthy Purchasing Examples
6. Activities
Overview

4. How does the topic of chemicals and
health fit in the framework of
sustainable procurement?
Context: Sustainable Procurement
Photo credit: Ecovative (Myco Foam)

5. Photo credit: Ecovative (Myco Foam)

6. Context: Sustainable Procurement
Status Quo:
SustainableProcurementis:
• Zero Waste
• Equity
• Energy Efficient
• Renewable Energy
• Green Chemistry
• Local Living Economies
• Closed-Loop Production
• Best Value
• Etc.
Credit: Story of Stuff
Credit: Story of Stuff
GOAL:

7. Why?
Why are focusing on chemicals, health, and risk?
How does this fit with our mission?
What are the benefits of safer products?

8. Photo: DuPontFactory,WV;Bryan Schutmaat,The New YorkTimes

9. Chemicals and Our Health
Where do we find chemicals in products?

10. Chemicals and Our Health
• Some chemicals are toxic.
• Toxic chemicals are present in products we
use.
• We are exposed to toxic chemicals:
• through products.
• through environmental pollution, which
can happen during any phase of a product
lifecycle.

11. How are chemicals toxic to people?
Some chemicals are toxic

12. Why are they allowed to be used in products?
Toxic chemicals are present in products

13. You
How are we exposed?

14. How are we exposed?
Photo Credits: Story of Stuff

15. Why Should We Demand
Safer Products?

16. • Risk management and mitigation
• Better overall value
• Employee productivity and retention
• Public health protection
• Long term cost savings
Benefits of Safer Products

17. • HUGE, consolidated market power
 Drive market change for everyone’s
benefit
 Drive innovation
• Responsible use of public funds
Why Sustainable Public Procurement?

18. Procurement professionals play a key role
in protecting people by helping identify
and purchase safer goods and services.
Photo credit: Ecovative (Myco Board)

19. Priorities: Target Goods & Services
Resources: Useful links
Examples: From the Coalition
How & Where to Start

20. Key Chemicals of Concern
• Chemicals on known “red lists”
• Asmthagens
• Skin sensitizers
• VOCs
Target: Cleaning Products & Services

21. Greener Options - Resources
• Life-cycle based third-party
certified cleaning products
 Green Seal, ULE/EcoLogo,
SaferChoice
• Chemical use reduction
 Microfiber cloths
Target: Cleaning Products & Services

22. Key Chemicals of Concern
• Flame Retardants
• Heavy Metals
• PVC/Plastics
• Ozone/Particulate Matter
Target: Office Electronics

23. Greener Options - Resources
• EPEAT certification
• RoHS-compliant
• E-Stewards or R2 recyclers
Target: Office Electronics

24. Key Chemicals of Concern
• PFCs
• Flame Retardants
• Antimicrobials
• VOCs
• Plastics
• Azo dyes and other production
chemicals
Target: Textiles

25. Greener Options - Resources
• Request no surface treatments
• CEH Guide: Flame Retardant Free
• BuildingGreen.com resources
• Product Disclosure Tools:
 HPDs, Declare Label
• Third-Party Certifications
 Textiles: GOTS, C2C, Oeko-Tex 100
 Carpet, Furniture, IAQ
Target: Textiles

26. Key Chemicals of Concern
• VOCs
• Organic solvents
• Chemicals on known “red lists”
Target: Paints, Adhesives

27. Greener Options - Resources
• Third-party certifications
 Green Seal, MPI X-Green
• IAQ certifications to CDPH
standard
• BuildingGreen.com resources
• Product Disclosure Tools:
 HPDs, Declare Label
Target: Paints, Adhesives

28. Key Chemicals of Concern
• Phthalates
• BPA/BPS
• Heavy Metals
• PVC, Styrene
• Flame Retardants
• VOCs
Target: Plastics
Photo: © Thinkstockphoto/raeva

29. Greener Options - Resources
• Green Building Product Tools
 OEC Guide
 BuildingGreen.com
• Product Disclosure Tools:
 HPDs, Declare Label
• Plastics Scorecard
 PLA, PET, PP – more benign
Target: Plastics
Photo: © Thinkstockphoto/raeva

31. BREAK
TIME!

32. What resources are available to
help me?
Resources

33. Resources
• Your colleagues
• Healthy Purchasing Coalition via OEC
• Membership organizations/resources:
SPLC, RPN, BuildingGreen.com, EPPnet
• Health Product Declaration Form (HPDs),
Declare Label
• www.chemhat.org – “red list” lookup
• Living Building Challenge red list
• Third-Party Standards & Certifications
 Do your research first

35. Healthy purchasing examples from
your colleagues.
Examples

36. Example: Cleaning Products
Scope: City of Portland initiative to build
consistency in the use of green cleaning
products and practices among all Bureaus
- Work with PHC
- Work with supplies contractor (Coastwide)
- Auto-Subs with Office Depot agreement
- Work with office green teams

37. Examples
Results so far:
- Use of 3rd party certified cleaners; use of
microfiber mops/cloths
- Reduce use of disinfectant wipes
- Use of less-toxic disinfectant
- “Daylighting” the janitor closets
- Reducing number of chemicals
- Increasing accountability and transparency
- Some cost savings
Example: Cleaning Products

38. Example: Office Electronics
Scope: Desktops, laptops, tablets, monitors,
MFDs, copiers, and printers meet EPEAT at
silver or gold level

39. Example: Office Electronics
FY2010-14: Approx. 260 kg reduction in toxic materials

40. Examples MultCo BridgeShop
Broadway Sreet: Williamete River Broadway Bridge Paint Project
• Evaluate alternative lead paint removal and surface preparation techniques
• Investigate two lead stabilizers and sequestration materials to reducethe
amount of hazardouswaster generated during removal
• Compare alternative surface preparation methods versustraditional practices
based on sustainability values
• Discuss alternative surface preparation methods in respect to worker safety,
environmentalprotection,waster generation, recyclability, productsourcing,
and ease of use for the repainting
• Research and compare other paint systems approved by other agencies

41. Example: Furniture
Identify the project
Meet with project manager
-Timeline
-Project needs
-Identify potential impacts and alternatives
-Plan for implementation

42. Example: Furniture
Project: Metro space reorganization plan
Project Manager: Facilities manager
-Timeline: 2 years
-Project needs:
-desk stations
-flexible meeting spaces
-flooring

43. Example: Furniture
-Potential Impacts and Alternatives:
-Materials
-flame retardants
-surface treatments
-potential certifications and
specifications
-Plan for Implementation:
-schedule for solicitation
-parties to involve

44. Let’s put what we have learned to
work!
Activities

45. Activity #1: Moderated Discussion
An end-user department comes to
you with a need to purchase resilient
flooring.
• What do you do to work with the
end-user on integrating healthy
purchasing principles into the
procurement?

46. Activity #2: Small Group Work
Task Chair Procurement

47. Thank You!
Stacey Foreman, City of Portland
stacey.foreman@portlandoregon.gov
Shawn Postera, Multnomah County
shawn.postera@multco.us
Colin Price, Oregon Environmental Council
colinp@oeconline.org
Tracy Sagal, Metro
tracy.sagal@oregonmetro.gov