What are some products that have a “green” alternative?
Due to society’s growing interest, more green alternatives are becoming available everyday. Here is a short list of currently available products: flooring paint windows paper products office supplies furniture electronics office equipment cleaning supplies Many times vendor ...
- Where can I find more information on environmentally preferable purchasing (green purchasing)?
There are many resources available. See FAQ “How do I know it’s really green?” to get you started. The Environmental Protection Agency Web site is an excellent place to get researched based information. Most businesses, state and local government organizations look to EPA to ge ...
- What are the benefits or purchasing green products?
Choosing to buy green or EPP products can provide a variety of benefits from financial, to health and to the environment. Such benefits include improving the safety and health of workers and the public, reducing pollution, conservation of natural resources and energy, developing new, more envir ...
- What is life cycle cost?
Life cycle cost (LCC) is the sum of the actual product cost, maintenance costs, and periodic replacement costs.
- What is a life cycle assessment?
Life cycle assessment is the examination and evaluation of a full product life cycle and its environmental and social impacts from securing the raw materials, manufacturing, operation and disposal.
- What is post-consumer material?
Post consumer material is a material that is recovered or recycled before it is disposed of as waste.
- Where can I find green products?
Many retailers carry green or environmentally preferable products. Ask your vendor and manufacturer if they carry products that are non toxic, reusable, durable, made from recycled materials or can be recycled, energy and water efficient,and made from plant based raw materials In additio ...
- What is a VOC?
A VOC is a volatile organic compound. This compound is a known indoor air pollutant because research suggests that concentrations of VOC’s are 10 times higher indoors as compared to outdoors. It is released into the air from solid or liquid sources. Although there are many sources, in the ...
- Who verifies that a product is environmentally friendly?
Many independent, non-profit third party organizations have taken on the responsibility of conducting comprehensive and rigorous research, evaluations and verifications to ensure that a company, product or service is in compliance with federal and industry certifications, standards and accredi ...
- What does indoor air quality have to do with green purchasing?
One of the primary sources of indoor air pollution is the release of volatile organic compounds (VOC) into the atmosphere. Among several acute and chronic health issues, elevated levels of VOC’s contribute to eye and respiratory irritations. VOCs are emitted into the air from solid and liq ...
- What is a third party certifier?
A third-party certifier is an independent organization that conducts rigorous research, testing, evaluation and verification on a company’s products and services compliance with nationally or internationally legal standards and requirements
- How do I know it’s really green?
The simplest and easiest way to identify a green product is to look for third party certified Florida approved Green Labels. Green products are products that are made from nontoxic materials, made from recycled materials or can be recycled, energy and water efficient and from plant based ra ...
- What is sustainable purchasing?
Sustainable purchasing is examining the economic, social, and environmental impact of a product and/or service. Additional Resources http://pinellas.ifas.ufl.edu/sustainability/green_purchasing.shtml
- Do green products cost more?
Not necessarily. In addition to the upfront, short term cost, consider the long term costs of repair, maintenance, and replacement costs. To adequately assess the true cost of a green product, a life cycle cost analysis should be conducted. Life cycle costs examination evaluates each cost associ ...
- What is environmentally preferable purchasing?
Environmentally Preferable Purchasing ﴾EPP﴿ or Green Purchasing is the buying of goods and services that have a reduced negative impact on human health and the environment as compared to other goods and services serving the same purpose. Additional Resources http://pinellas.ifas. ...
- What is Fair Trade?
Fair Trade is a certification scheme wherein farmers in developing countries are promised a fair-market price for their products. “Fair Trade certification is a market-based model of international trade that benefits over one million farmers and farm workers in 58 developing countries acr ...
- What is green purchasing?
Green Purchasing or Environmentally Preferable Purchasing ﴾EPP﴿ is the buying of goods and services that have a reduced negative impact on human health and the environment as compared to other goods and services serving the same purpose. Additional Resource http://pinellas.ifas.u ...
- How can I make my daily cup of coffee greener?
One way to make your daily Cup of Joe greener is to buy Fair Trade coffee. “Fair trade” means that producers are paid a fair wage for their product, work in decent conditions and follow sustainable farming methods. Coffee was the first commodity in the United States for which there ...
- Is there a tool to help me make better buying decisions?
Before you head out to the stores, ask yourself these questions before you decide to buy: Is my current one sufficient? Can I reuse or refurbish what I have to meet my needs? Can I borrow it from a family member, friend, or neighbor? Can I rent or lease the item if it is used infrequently? Ca ...
- What are green cleaning products?
According to the US Environmental Protection Agency Americans spend an average of 90 percent of our lives indoors. Many common household cleaners contain substances that can lead to a potentially harmful indoor environment. Simple product swaps from the laundry room to the toilet bowl will put ...
