Enviro-Purchasing

List of EPP terms and definitions to help the novice better understand the language.

Home: Basic Information: EPP Basics: Terms

The following are selected definitions taken from the USEPA website on Environmentally Preferable Purchasing. Although they rely on language from specific federal regulations, they are generally applicable to the materials contained in this website:

Bioaccumulative pollutants

Those chemicals that bioconcentrate in the environment as described in the Significant New Use Rule for new chemicals. (40 CFR 721.3.)

Environmentally preferable

Products or services that have a lesser or reduced effect on human health and the environment when compared with competing products or services that serve the same purpose. The product or service comparison may consider raw materials acquisition, production, manufacturing, packaging, distribution, reuse, operation, maintenance, or disposal. (EO 13101, Section 201)

Global Warming

The slow but steady increase in average world temperatures. Greenhouse gases in the atmosphere naturally trap outgoing energy from the sun and consequently warming the Earth. This is otherwise known as the "greenhouse effect" and without it the Earth's temperature would drastically drop at night. But Atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases including carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide have risen in the last 50 years, enhancing the heat-trappy capabilities of the Earth's atmosphere. According to the National Academy of Sciences, the Earth's surface temperature has risen by about 1 degree Fahrenheit in the past century, with accelerated warming during the past two decades. Scientists attribute the increased levels of greenhouse gases and the rise in the Earth's temperate to human activites that release these gases into the atmosphere. With increased production and development, the emission of these gases is predicted to continue to rise, possibly accelerating global warming. Scientists predict future changes in the global temperature and precipitation, a rise in the average sea level, and altered weather patterns as a result of global warming and the greenhouse effect. See the EPA's Global Warming Site for more information.

ISO

This acronym stands for The International Organization for Standardization, located in Geneva, Switzerland, which was established in 1947. This non-governmental organization develops voluntary environmental standards and suggested specifications for the development, manufacture, and supply of more environmentally friendly goods and services. For more information go to the North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Division of Pollution Prevention and Environmental Assistance (DPPEA) Environmental Management Systems informational website (http://www.p2pays.org/iso/main/isoinfo.htm or the ISO website (http://www.iso.org/iso/en/ISOOnline.frontpage).

ISO 14000

The family of voluntary standards and guidance documents established to help organizations address EMS, environmental and EMS auditing, environmental labeling, performance evaluation, and life-cycle assessment. For more information go to http://www.iso.org/iso/en/prods-services/otherpubs/iso14000/index.html.

ISO 14001

The international voluntary standard describing specific requirements of an Environmental Management System, for which an organization may receive certification or registration.

Life cycle assessment

the comprehensive examination of a product’s environmental and economic aspects and potential impacts throughout its lifetime, including raw material extraction, transportation, manufacturing, use, and disposal. (EO 13101, Section 201)

The International Standards Organization, through ISO 14040, has defined life cycle assessment slightly differently as follows: Compilation and evaluation of the inputs, outputs, and the potential environmental impacts of a product system throughout its life cycle.

Pollution prevention

Also known as "source reduction," as defined under the Pollution Prevention Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. § 13102), and other practices that reduce or eliminate the creation of pollutants through: increased efficiency in the use of raw materials, energy, water, or other resources; or protection of natural resources through conservation.

The Pollution Prevention Act defines source reduction to mean any practice that:

Reduces the amount of any hazardous substance, pollutant, or contaminant entering any waste stream or otherwise released into the environment (including fugitive emissions) prior to recycling, treatment, or disposal
Reduces the hazards to public health and the environment associated with the release of such substances, pollutants, or contaminants. The term includes: equipment or technology modifications, process or procedure modifications, reformulation or redesign of products, substitution of raw materials, and improvements in housekeeping, maintenance, training, or inventory control.

Reconditioned/Remanufactured

the process of restoring used, durable products to meet original performance standards. Remanufacturing has many other names, including: rebuilding (automotive sector); retreading (tire remanufacturing); reconditioning; and refurbishing. Remanufacturing results in less waste, and reduces raw material and energy use.

Recovered materials

waste materials and by-products which have been recovered or diverted from the solid waste stream, not including those materials and by-products generated from, and commonly reused within, an original manufacturing process (42 U.S.C. 6903 (19)).

Recycled content

Materials that have been recovered from the solid waste stream, either during the manufacturing process (pre-consumer), or after consumer use (post-consumer) (see Federal Trade Commission Environmental Marketing Guides mentioned above for more detail). Federal executive agencies are required to purchase EPA-designated items with recycled content (40 C.F.R. Part 247). Purchasers may want to consider whether the material contains pre-consumer or post-consumer recycled content. Recycled content, under the Federal Trade Commission guides, includes recycled raw material, that would have otherwise been incinerated or land filled, as well as used, reconditioned and remanufactured components. For products that are only partially made of recycled material, a recycled claim should indicate the percentage, by weight, of recycled content in the finished product. Unless it is otherwise clear from the context of the sale, for products that contain used, reconditioned or remanufactured components, a recycled claim should make clear that such components are used, reconditioned or remanufactured. Manufacturer’s scrap material that would have been incorporated, in any case, into the product does not qualify as recycled under the Federal Trade Commission’s guides. Refer to 16 C.F.R. § 260.7(e).

Recyclability

products or materials that can be collected, separated or otherwise recovered from the solid waste stream for reuse, or in the manufacture or assembly of another package or product, through an established recycling program. For products that are made of both recyclable and non-recyclable components, the recyclable claim should be adequately qualified to avoid consumer deception about which portions or components are recyclable. In addition, unless recycling collection programs for the product are available to a substantial majority of communities or consumers where the product is sold, claims of recyclability need to be qualified to indicate the limited of availability of recycling collection sites. A product that is made from recyclable material, but, due to its shape, size or some other attribute, is not accepted in recycling programs uch material, should not be marketed as recyclable. Refer to the FTC Environmental Marketing Guides, 16 C.F.R. § 260.7(d).

To view the entire list of EPP Terms, go to: http://www.epa.gov/oppt/epp/about/eppterms.htm

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::: 02 November 2004 :::
Official Website Launch

Today is the official launch of the new Enviro-Purchasing website. Please bear with us, as there are sill a few loose ends. If you are experiencing any problems or have comments regarding the website please contact kaubin@rutgers.edu. Please include your browser version. We here at the SWPG welcome you, and together can make EPP happen!

::: 02 November 2004 :::
EPA to Oversee Cleanup of Residential Properties in Depew

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has signed an agreement with NL Industries, Inc. to remove lead contamination at the NL Industries/Depew Superfund site in Depew, New York. The company will remove and dispose of lead-contaminated soil from residential properties…(Click to read more)