+ OMB Circular A-123 (Appendix B): Improving ... - The White House

Chapter 10 - Environmental Requirements
Questions
Page
10.1 Are agencies required to account for the environmental quality of products procured with government
purchase cards? ................................................................................................................................................. 31
10.2 What steps are agencies required to take related to the environmental quality of products procured with
government purchase cards? ............................................................................................................................. 31
10.3 What are the relevant requirements related to the environmental quality of products procured with
government-issue fleet cards? ........................................................................................................................... 32
10.1 Are agencies required to account for the environmental quality of products
procured with government purchase cards?
Yes, each agency must account for the environmental quality of products procured with purchase
cards consistent with the requirements of this Chapter.
10.2 What steps are agencies required to take related to the environmental quality of
products procured with government purchase cards?
Agencies must develop and implement policies and practices that ensure the following
requirements are met:
• The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, Section 6002, requires the purchase of
recycled content (recovered materials) products designated by the Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA). The EPA maintains a list of designated recycled-content products and
recommends the percentages of recycled content that the products must contain. Agencies
can refer to www.epa.gov/cpg for a complete list of designated products, EPA’s
recommendations, and additional information.
• The Farm Security and Rural Investment Act, Section 9002, and E.O. 13101 of September
14, 1998, require agencies to purchase bio-based products. The U.S. Department of
Agriculture designates biobased products and provides guidance to assist agency purchasing
of these products. Information on these products can be obtained or linked from
www.ofee.gov, under “Green Purchasing.” USDA also has biobased products web site at
www.biobased.oce.usda.gov.
• The Energy Policy Act (EPAct) of 2005 and E.O. 13123 of June 3, 1999, require agencies to
select and purchase Energy Star products or those products in the upper 25 percent of energy
efficiency as designated by the Department of Energy’s Federal Energy Management
Program (FEMP). These include major appliances, computers, air conditioners and other
energy-using equipment.
• E.O. 13221 of July 31, 2001, requires agencies to purchase products that use minimal
amounts of power when in standby mode. FEMP developed a Standby Power Device
Product Listing with information on products such as computers, fax machines, printers,
televisions and other appliances. Agencies can refer to the Energy Star website,
Appendix B
OMB Circular A-123
(Revised January 2009)