Earth Month: Part 2

April is Earth Month and we at KPaul are dedicated to minimizing our impact on the environment and want you to do the same. This is the second post in our Earth Month series and it features information on the government’s green buying regulations.  Check back here throughout the month to learn more about the constantly evolving green marketplace.

GSA Green Symbols

The General Services Administration is modernizing the symbols used to identify environmentally sustainable products on GSA Advantage. The current purchasing requirements are in Executive Order (EO) 13514 Section I (h), which requires that 95 percent of new contract actions be “energy-efficient , water-efficient, bio-based, environmentally preferable, non-ozone depleting, contain recycled content, or are a non-toxic or less-toxic alternative.” The new symbols will help buyers easily identify products that meet these standards. With the addition of the new symbols, the GSA will also be eliminating out-dated or redundant symbols. The chart below shows the complete set of symbols and a summary of their use.

Overview of GSA Green Symbols
Symbol	Explanation
Comprehensive Procurement Guideline compliant (CPG Item)	The product meets EPA Recovered Material Advisory Notice standards for recovered materials. View EPA RAMN Standards
Energy Star Compliant	The product complies with the Department of Energy and EPA’s standards for energy efficiency. View Energy Star Standards
FEMP Energy Efficient Item	The product is in the top 25% for energy efficiency in their product group. View FEMP Designations
S.N.A.P. Approved	The product meets the EPA’s Significant New Alternatives Program as a substitute for ozone depleting substances. View SNAP Approval Process
EPEAT	The product is registered with the Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool (EPEAT). There are 3 levels: Gold, Silver and Bronze. View EPEAT Criteria
PRIME Item	The product is in the Navy’s Plastics Removal in Marine Environment Program and has biodegradable packaging. View Overview of PRIME
NESHAP Compliant	The product is free of air pollutants and meets Clean Air Act requirements. View Clean Air Act
Green Seal	The product meets Green Seals’ standards for environmentally preferred products. View Green Seal Standards
WaterSense	The product meets or exceeds the EPA’s water efficiency standards. View EPA Standards
Bio-Preferred	The product meets or exceeds the USDA’s bio-based content standards. View Bio-Preferred Standards
Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)	The wood in this product meets the Forest Stewardship Council’s criteria and standards. View FSC Standards
GreenGuard	The product meets GREENGUARD requirements for acceptable air quality standards. View GREENGUARD Standards
Biodegradable	The product is biodegradable and meets 40 CFR 796. View Biodegradable Testing Guidelines
Low VOC	The product meets the volatile organic compound (VOC) limits as listed by the California Air Resources Board. View ARB Standards
EPA Primary Metals Free	The product does not contain cadmium, lead or mercury. View 31 Priority Chemicals List

For more information on GSA’s eco-friendly guidelines, visit their Buy Green Page.