Marketing Environmentally Preferable Products (EPP) to State Agencies
An agency needing a product or service submits a request to the California Department of General Services Procurement Division (DGS/PD) which then conducts an open competitive solicitation to acquire that good or service on their behalf.
How to Increase EPP Sales to the State
- Increase credibility by documenting product quality and performance according to customer needs.
- Conduct demonstration projects, laboratory and field tests, third-party validation, life cycle cost analysis, and provide references.
- Market products/services to state agency procurement officers.
- Provide them with detailed qualitative and quantitative information on the EPP features of each product/service so these can be incorporated into state procurement specifications.
- Apply to list made in California products that meet mandated state agency purchasing requirements for postconsumer recycled content in CalRecycle’s Recycled Content Product Manufacturer Directory.
- Products are identified if they are made in California and according to their postconsumer recycled content.
- Identify products’ postconsumer recycled content in specifications and sales information so purchasers can easily find it in internet searches.
Cal eProcure Portal to Access Bid Opportunities
Learn about the portal to access bid opportunities with the state of California.
Assistance with:
- Registration
- Cal eProcure system inquiries
- Small Business and Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise Certification inquiries
- State procurement inquiries
Meeting Department of General Services Procurement EPP Specifications
The EPP Program looks for the following when evaluating bids for products/services:
- Does the product/service offer comparable performance, pricing, and availability to competing goods or services that serve the same purpose? (e.g. as demonstrated by a complete Life Cycle Assessment and/or Life Cycle Impact Analysis.)
- Does the product’s/service’s environmentally preferable characteristics meet existing recognized environmental consensus standards such as ANSI, ISO, IEEE, or ASTM standards that are supported by independent third-party testing/ certification?
- Does the business have a company-wide, broad-based Environmental Management System (EMS) Plan in place with the goal of reducing environmental impacts?
- The criteria for EMS is defined in the International Organization of Standardization’s ISO 14001 Standard and includes measured baseline environmental impacts and tracking of footprint reductions for the following manufacturing and supply chain impacts:
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- Climate change metrics, including greenhouse gas emissions generated from the product, service facilities, and transportation
- Water usage
- Toxic use and emissions
- Waste generation
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- Does the business track the company-wide or supply-chain environmental impact reductions of their product/service according to the Global Reporting Initiative(GRI)?
Environmental Attributes
Questions to ask before purchasing a product include:
- Does the product have an LCA?
- Does the product or product type have an Environmental Product Declaration (EPD)?
- How does this product compare to other products of that type?
- Is the product less hazardous?
- Is it reusable or more durable?
- Is it made from recycled materials?
- Do we really need to buy a virgin product when the recycled version is just as good?
- What happens to the product at the end of its life?
- Can it be recycled?
- Will the manufacturer take the product back?
- Will it need special disposal?
- Does it conserve energy or water?
- Is it made from plant-based raw materials?
For more information contact, the Office of Public Affairs, opa@calrecycle.ca.gov