Council Sustainability Committee
September 14, 2026

A.R. NUMBER 3.9
SUBJECT: ENVIRONMENTALL Y PREFERRED PURCHASING POLICY
I. Purpose: The purpose of this policy is to practice a continuous improvement approach to understanding and taking appropriate responsibility for any adverse environmental, social, and economic impacts of its purchasing. In doing so, the City of Hayward shall consider impacts on a Life-Cycle basis and prioritize actions according to: alignment with the City’s values, magnitude of impact, and compliance with any applicable regulations. This Policy is adopted in order to align the City’s purchasing with its Strategic Priority to Champion Climate Resilience and Environmental Justice as well as the goals and actions identified in the City’s Climate Action Plan. In doing so, the City seeks to harness the influence of its purchasing to support markets for , and increase accessibility to, more sustainable goods and services.

II. Background: The City’s updated Climate Action Plan (CAP), adopted by the City Council in 2024, includes goals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 55% below the 2005 baseline by 2030 and to achieve carbon neutrality by 2045. The CAP also includes goals to reduce and prevent waste citywide and within City facilities.

Specifically, the CAP states the City’s goal is to move towards a zero-waste future, describing zero waste as “an ongoing set of practices to conserve resources and protect humans and the environment by responsibly producing, consuming, reusing, and recovering food and goods.” CAP Measure SW-1 , obligates the City to minimize waste generation by implementing and enforcing SB 1383 requirements.

Signed into law by Governor Brown in 2016, SB 1383, aims to reduce statewide emissions of methane, reduce organic waste in landfills and recover edible food. SB 1383 also requires local governments to procure certain organic products to support a Circular Economy and requires a specific percentage of recycled content in paper products, compost, and other miscellaneous products. Procurement is regulated by CalRecycle and requires that local governments maintain records of the products purchased to ensure compliance with the law.

III. Application: This policy shall apply to all types of City-funded procurements by all City departments, divisions and employees.

IV. Responsibility: It is the responsibility of department heads and management staff to implement this policy and to make employees aware of its provisions. It is the

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responsibility of all employees to follow the guidelines established in this policy in regard to the purchasing of goods and services.

V. Policy: The City recognizes that its purchases of goods and services can contribute significantly to the success of its sustainability policies and goals. Therefore, the City shall incorporate environmental, economic, and social stewardship criteria into its purchases of products and services. Where Feasible, the City will prioritize sourcing products and services from locally owned businesses to support Hayward’s community and strengthen the Circular Economy. Purchasing locally not only fosters economic resilience but also reduces greenhouse gas emissions associated with product transportation—further reinforcing the City’s commitment to sustainable and community-focused practices.

This policy will align the City’s purchasing policies and procedures with the City’s Climate Action Plan and programs to:
- Protect and conserve natural resources;
- Minimize the City’s contributions to global warming, solid waste, local and global pollution, and toxic chemical exposures to people and the environment;
- Promote human health and well-being;
- Institute practices that reduce waste by increasing product efficiency; - Benefit businesses that provide products and services that use environmentally preferable ingredients and processes; and - Benefit local businesses whenever practicable.

This policy shall not require the City to exclude competition, or to purchase products or services that do not perform adequately or are not available at a Reasonable Price in a reasonable period of time.

Evaluation of prices for goods and services shall factor in life-cycle costs, total product cost over the lifetime of the product use (use, maintenance, and disposal), risk management, regulatory requirements, and penalties for non-compliance.

It is the policy of the City of Hayward to ensure compliance with federal, state and local laws and regulations, including:
a) The latest federal mandates requiring local governments to procure recycled- content products, in accordance with Section6002 (42 U.S.C. § 6962) of the Resource Conservation & Recovery Act (RCRA) and Comprehensive Procurement Guidelines (CPG).

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b) The State of California regulations related to SB 1383, including:
• requiring local agencies to maximize the use of recycled resources and procure recycled-content products, outlined in Title 14 CCR, Division 7, Chapter 12, Article 12; California Public Contract Code § 10406, 10409, 12153, 12200 – 12217, and 22150 – 22154.
• Keeping copies of all invoices, receipts, or other proofs of purchase that detail the procurement of paper products and printing and writing papers by volume and type.
• Keeping written certification(s) from vendors (such as CalRecycle’s Recycling-Content and Recyclable Paper Certification form) and other verification(s) for minimum recycled content, as applicable.

c) The State of California’s Recycled Content Trash Bag Program as outlined in Title 14 CCR, Division 7, Chaper 4, Article 5; California Public Contract Code § 17975 – 17985.
d) The State of California’s Advanced Clean Fleets Regulations as outlined in Title 13 CCR, Division 3, Chapter 1, Article 3.2: California Public Contract Code § 2013- 2013.4.

VI. POLICY IMPLEMENTATION

In order to practice a continuous improvement approach to understanding and taking appropriate responsibility for reducing the adverse environmental, social, and economic impacts of its purchasing, this policy establishes the following implementation hierarchy:
• Core Strategies. These establish overarching Sustainable Procurement strategies to implement over time. They provide value-aligned direction to take into account during project and program planning, and direction from which to build minimum requirements, best practices, and related implementation tools. • Minimum Requirements. These are the specific mandatory requirements for a particular good or service category. They are the actions that support Sustainable Procurement Core Strategies.
• Leadership Opportunities. These are developed to identify (optional) opportunities for continuous improvement among stakeholders. They identify how to go beyond Minimum Requirements in a particular good or service category to further reduce adverse impacts.

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All City of Hayward employees shall review the Core Strategies and follow the Minimum Requirements when planning and designing projects, developing project and operations budgets, developing asset management plans, writing product and service specifications or standards, selecting materials, making purchasing or supplier decisions, and developing and managing City contracts and price agreements as applicable to their roles and responsibilities and/or to a specific project.

A. CORE STRATEGIES

For any of the following Core Strategies, it is understood that they shall be undertaken in conjunction with traditional purchasing considerations, such as budget, product/service performance requirements, and availability. Core Strategies provide direction for decision making with mandated actions implemented through the Minimum Requirements, but also as needed in the absence of specific Minimum Requirements. Prior to making new purchases, employees are also expected to consider: the need for the purchase; opportunities to extend the life of the existing item or material; and meeting the operational need through a different means (e.g. renting vs. purchasing).

1. Utilize processes, technologies, products, or services that reduce consumption of natural resources or chemicals.

2. Employ processes, technologies, products, or services that reduce waste.

3. Invest in processes, technologies, products, or services that reduce the sourcing and use of Carbon-Based Fuels.

4. Seek processes, technologies, products, or services that support a Circular Economy.

5. Seek processes, technologies, products, or services that support biodiversity and healthy, resilient natural habitats.

6. Seek out, specify, and purchase products with lower Embodied Carbon than the status quo.

7. Seek out, specify, and purchase products that minimize exposure of Substances of Very High Concern to people and the environment.

8. Consciously design procurement processes and related programing to support a diverse contractor base, including small, minority, and/or women- owned businesses.

9. Seek out processes, technologies, goods, or services that support transparency in either or both the City’s supply chain or product disposal

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endpoints regarding compliance with environmental regulations and Core Labor and Human Rights in the Workplace.

10. When using social or environmental product labels, seek out social/ecolabels that demonstrate that the product or service was independently certified to a reputable third-party environmental and/or social product or service leadership standard, preferably a multi-attribute standard that evaluates products or services along their entire Life Cycle.

11. Whenever possible, utilize Life Cycle Costing methods to determine the full cost of a product, service, or design.

B. MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS & LEADERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

Minimum Requirements and associated Leadership Opportunities for a specific good or service category shall be defined and communicated through the Sustainable Purchasing Guides in Attachment 1.

Minimum Requirements shall be based off well-researched and tested practices that are readily accessible and have been confirmed to reduce an adverse impact when well-implemented. They can be adopted from other reputable sources (other public agency, nonprofit, subject matter experts, etc.), or developed through a multi- stakeholder engagement process.

Leadership Opportunities shall be well-researched to show that it is reasonable that the proposed action(s) will reduce an adverse impact with relatively low-risk to the City when well-implemented. It is understood that the action[s] is worth pursuing so long as it aligns with the City’s sustainability values, even if the proposed action hasn’t been tried or replicated by another public agency at the time it is proposed.

VII. PROCEDURE:

a) The City Manager or his/her designee shall convene an Environmental Purchasing Committee consisting of staff involved in procuring goods and services. Members of the Committee are intended to represent the various aspects of this program, including but not limited to: businesses, utilities conservation related programs, climate action plan, green procurement, and other related environmental programs.

The Environmental Purchasing Committee is charged with the following responsibilities:

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1. Create, maintain and update Sustainable Purchasing Guides as needed to provide sufficient direction and clarity to carry out this policy in an efficient and accountable manner at the product level. Updates to the Sustainable Purchasing Guides do not automatically trigger updates to this policy; they may be updated separately and thus more frequently, to maintain relevancy. The Committee will collaborate and coordinate efforts before, during, and after any new environmental purchasing policy implementation to ensure mutual program needs are met and confer and resolve problems jointly. The guidelines may address, but are not limited to:
a. Source Reduction
b. Recycled content products
c. Organics recycling
d. Energy and water savings
e. Green building (LEED)
f. Landscape
g. Toxics and pollution
h. Forest conservation
i. Producer responsibility
j. Services

2. Ensure the Sustainable Purchasing Guides are posted on COHnet.

3. Facilitate necessary training or education for City staff to help further implement this policy.

4. Recommend and submit any updates or changes to the aforementioned guidelines and / or policy every two years or as needed to ensure they align with City priorities and requirements.

The Committee will collaborate and coordinate efforts before, during, and after any new environmental purchasing policy implementation to ensure mutual program needs are met and confer and resolve problems jointly.

VIII. Definitions:

Carbon-Based Fuels - means coal, natural gas, renewable biomass, petroleum products, and any other product that contains carbon and emits carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, or other greenhouse gases when combusted, that are used for fuel, heating, cooling, or industrial processes, which processes shall include electricity generation.

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Circular Economy - economy that is restorative and regenerative by design, and which aims to keep products, components and materials at their highest utility and value at all times, distinguishing between technical and biological cycles
City of Hayward – means the City of Hayward’s elected and appointed officials and staff.

Compostable – means biodegradable during composting to yield carbon dioxide, water, and inorganic compounds and biomass. Compostable materials purchased must be accepted in SB54’s Covered Material Categories List and the refuse hauler’s composting program.

Core Labor and Human Rights in the Workplace - International Labour Organization (ILO) Conventions that the ILO Governing Body has identified as “fundamental” Conventions, covering subjects that are considered to be fundamental principles and rights at work.

Council Sustainability Committee – established by the City Council on September 25, 2007 to focus on alternative energy generation and conservation, including commercial and residential types of energy sources and uses; green building policies for new developments; programs to generally improve green building renovation throughout the City; and productive steps to reduce global warming on the local level.

Embodied Carbon - the greenhouse gas emissions arising from the manufacturing, transportation, installation, maintenance, and disposal of materials or products.

Environmentally Preferable Products – refers to products and services that have a lesser or reduced negative effect on human health and the environment when compared with competing products that serve the same purpose. This comparison analysis may include raw materials acquisition, production, manufacturing, packaging, distribution, reuse, operation, maintenance, disposal of products, or service delivery.

Specifically, factors that should be considered when determining that a product or service has environmentally preferable attributes include but are not limited to:
o Minimization of virgin material used in the product or service Life Cycle o Maximization of recycled materials used in the product or service Life Cycle o Life Cycle Costing of products and services
o Reuse of existing products or materials in product or service Life Cycle o Recyclability, biodegradability and compostability of product o Minimization of packaging
o Reduction of energy and fuel consumption
o Reduction of water consumption
o Toxicity reduction or elimination
o Durability and maintenance requirements
o Ultimate disposal of the product

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o Environmental costs or impact of bringing product to market or point of sale o Produced or manufactured locally or regionally.
o The company that provides the product or service is committed to ethical business standards for production, labor standards, local community well being, and sustainability.

Feasible - means capable of being accomplished in a successful manner within a reasonable period of time, taking into account economic, environmental, legal, social, and technological factors.

Life Cycle - Consecutive and interlinked stages of a goods or services system, from “cradle to grave”, e.g. from resource generation and raw material acquisition through production, use, and final disposal.

Life Cycle Costing – a method for calculating the costs of goods or services throughout their Life Cycle. It includes total cost of ownership (TCO) and positive or negative externalities which can be monetized, both to the organization and to society.

Postconsumer Material – means a finished material which would normally be disposed of as a solid waste, having reached its intended end-use and completed its Life Cycle as a consumer item, and does not include manufacturing or converting wastes.

Practicable – means sufficient in performance and available at a reasonable price.

Producer Responsibility – means an environmental strategy in which producers assume financial and/or physical responsibility for the management of post-consumer products so that those who produce and use those products bear the costs of recycling and proper disposal.

Reasonable Price - means the environmentally preferred or recycled product is available at the same or a lesser total cost compared to the non-preferredd or non-recycled product, if fitness and quality are equal.

Substances of Very High Concern (SVHC): Substances that may have serious and often irreversible effects on human health and the environment. SVHCs are typically defined as those that have one or more of the following attributes:
• Persistent, Bioaccumulative and Toxic (PBT),
• very Persistent and very Bioaccumulative (vPvB),
• very Persistent and Toxic (vPT),
• very Bioaccumulative and Toxic (vBT), or
• known or likely to be:
o carcinogenic,
o mutagenic,
o reproductive or developmental toxicant,

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o neurotoxicant or
o endocrine disrupting.

Sustainable Procurement - A process whereby organizations meet their needs for goods, services, works and utilities in a way that achieves value for money on a Life Cycle basis in terms of generating benefits not only to the organization, but also to society and the economy, while minimizing damage to the environment.

Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) – a method for calculating the full direct cost of a good or service to an organization. It includes the initial cost/price of a good or service, as well associated maintenance, operating, and end-of-life costs.

________________________ ____________________
City Manager Date

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Attachment 1 – Sustainable Purchasing Guides1

Office & Paper Products

1. White Copy Paper

2. Paper Office Supplies

3. Toner Cartridges
Office Equipment & Technology

4. Computers & Monitors

5. Imaging Equipment

6. Servers
Facilities & Operations

7. Refrigerant-Using Equipment

8. Indoor Furniture

9. Janitorial Paper Products

10. Disinfectants

11. Lighting Products
Print Services

12. Print Services
Food Service & Events

13. Single-Use Food Service Ware

14. Reusable Food Service Ware

15. Meetings and Events – see also the Hayward-specific Addendum

16. Bottled Water

1 https://www.stopwaste.org/reducing-waste/protecting-our-environment/sustainable- purchasing/purchasing-guides

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Sustainable Purchasing Guide – White Copy Paper
1 Use this Guide When Purchasing
• White 20# copy paper*
• White 20# multipurpose paper*
Copy and multipurpose papers are used in high volumes to support many of our day-to-day operations. Any white copy paper purchased directly by staff must contain a minimum of 30% post- consumer recycled content to comply with California’s Senate Bill 1383, aka SB 1383, which went into effect January 2022. *Color copy paper is addressed in the “Paper Office Supplies” Sustainable Purchasing Guide How to Purchase
Check with your central procurement office or administrative staff to find out if you have any contracts that employees are required to use to purchase copy paper. When seeking these products in a store or online, check the product details to confirm the product meets the Minimum Requirements listed below. If paper is included in a print management services contract, ensure the vendor is providing paper that meets the following Minimum Requirements as well.

Product Requirements- specify or seek:

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS/SPECIFICATIONS LEADERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES • 30% post-consumer recycled content, AND
• Product has at least one of the following fiber content certifications:
• Green Seal
• FSC certified “Recycled” or “Mix”
SB 1383 Reporting Requirements
Coordinate with your agency’s SB 1383 lead to maintain required documentation, including:
• Records verifying the minimum recycled content of the paper product
• Written documentation from the vendor certifying that the paper product is recyclable
• Invoice or other proof of purchase that includes paper type and volume details
Minimum Requirements plus one or
more of the following:
• 50-100% post-consumer
recycled content
• Any non-post-consumer recycled
content fiber is agricultural
residue fiber
• Bleaching process is Processed
Chlorine Free (PCF)
• Made with Green-e certified
renewable energy
Sustainable Purchasing GuideSustainable Purchasing Guide White Copy Paper

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Sustainable Purchasing Guide – White Copy Paper
2 Ecolabels to Look For
Related Tips
Reduce paper use by:
• Printing double-sided; set printers and copiers to duplex as the default.
• Utilizing electronic document sharing and signature options instead of printing.
• Installing/enabling on-demand printing on multifunction devices. • Reusing the backside of single-sided documents for drafts and notes.
• Asking your IT group about electronic alternatives to paper- intensive processes, prioritizing high-volume uses.

Benefits
Buying paper made with post-consumer recycled content instead of virgin fiber:
• Reduces energy use 31% and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 40%.
• Helps prevent deforestation, which protects wildlife habitats and waterways, and promotes carbon sequestration.
• Creates markets for paper collected in local office and community recycling programs.
• Consumes less water and creates less water pollution. • Prevents paper waste from going into landfills, where it can form methane gas, a potent GHG.

Additional Resources
• SB 1383 Paper Purchasing Requirements Resources from CalRecycle • Alameda County SB 1383 Paper Procurement Resources
• Guide to Environmentally Preferable Paper Office Products in Alameda County • Alameda County Green Purchasing Success Stories: Office Paper • Check the StopWaste Sustainable Purchasing Website for additional implementation resources such as:
compliant product lists, cooperative contract opportunities, SB 1383 tips, and other support tools.

Updated August 2022
ABOUT SENATE BILL 1383
SB 1383 (14 CCR 18993.3 et seq.) set
methane emission reduction targets for
California, with a focus on reducing organic
waste to landfills – a key source of methane
emissions. The regulations established
purchasing requirements for recycled
content paper to ensure strong markets for
recovered paper and to keep paper out of
landfills.

PRODUCT REGISTRIES
Find/verify certified products by using the
following online certified product registries:
• Green Seal Certified Directory
Note: There is not an online certified
product directory for FSC products.

Instead, look for the FSC ecolabel on the
product and/or verify with the product
manufacturer .

An online tool where you can calculate the
environmental impacts (greenhouse gases,
water consumption, toxics, etc.) of your
paper and the associated benefits of paper
reduction efforts and/or buying recycled
content papers.
https://c.environmentalpaper.org/

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Sustainable Purchasing Guide – Paper Office Supplies 1 Use this Guide When Purchasing
• Color copy papers and other printing/writing papers*
• File folders
• Calendars
• Notebooks and notepads
• Sticky notes
• Envelopes
• Shipping and storage materials
• Other paper office supplies
Paper fiber is a common material for many office supplies - from sticky notes to storage boxes. Paper office supplies purchased directly by staff must contain a minimum of 30% post- consumer recycled content when equal in cost and function to comply with California’s Senate Bill 1383, aka SB 1383, which went into effect January 2022.
*20# white copy paper is addressed in the “White Copy Paper” Sustainable Purchasing Guide How to Purchase
Check with your central procurement office or administrative staff to find out if you have any contracts that employees are required to use to purchase office supplies. When seeking these products in a store or online, check the product details to confirm the product meets the Minimum Requirements listed below.

Product Requirements- specify or seek:

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS/SPECIFICATIONS LEADERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES • 30% post-consumer recycled content1
SB 1383 Reporting Requirements
Coordinate with your agency’s SB 1383 lead to maintain required documentation, including:
• Records verifying the minimum recycled content of the paper product • Written documentation from the vendor certifying that the paper product is recyclable
• Invoice or other proof of purchase that includes paper type and volume details
1 Note: It may not be possible to find 30% post-consumer recycled content options in all paper product categories. When that is the case, employees are encouraged to purchase the product option with the maximum percent post-consumer recycled content available (such as 10% or 20% for some categories). SB 1383 reporting requirements still apply; buyers must include justification when reporting purchases of products that have less than 30% post-consumer recycled content.

Minimum Requirements plus one or
more of the following:
• 50-100% post-consumer
recycled content
• Green Seal certified
• FSC certified “Recycled” or
“Mix”
• Any non-post-consumer recycled
content fiber is agricultural
residue fiber
• Bleaching process is Processed
Chlorine Free (PCF)
• Made with Green-e certified
renewable energy
Sustainable Purchasing GuideSustainable Purchasing Guide Paper Office Supplies

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Sustainable Purchasing Guide – Paper Office Supplies 2 Ecolabels to Look For
Related Tips
Reduce paper use and waste by:
• Utilizing electronic options for calendars, document storage and retention, report distribution, training materials, etc. to reduce the need to purchase office supplies.
• Checking with other departments to see if they have excess supplies you can use.
• Reusing file folders by using labels or turning them inside out. • Making your own notepads from one-sided used paper.
• Recycling paper products using office recycling containers. • Reusing intact boxes and packaging materials.

Benefits
Buying paper office supplies made with post-consumer recycled content instead of virgin fiber:
• Reduces energy use 31% and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 40%.
• Helps prevent deforestation, which protects wildlife habitats and waterways, and promotes carbon sequestration.
• Creates markets for paper collected in local office and community recycling programs. • Consumes less water and creates less water pollution. • Prevents paper waste from going into landfills, where it can form methane gas, a potent GHG.

Additional Resources
• SB 1383 Paper Purchasing Requirements Resources from CalRecycle • Alameda County SB 1383 Paper Procurement Resources
• Guide to Environmentally Preferable Paper Office Products in Alameda County • Alameda County Green Purchasing Success Stories: Office Supplies • Check the StopWaste Sustainable Purchasing Website for additional implementation resources such as:
compliant product lists, cooperative contract opportunities, SB 1383 tips, and other support tools.

Updated August 2022
ABOUT SENATE BILL 1383
SB 1383 (14 CCR 18993.3 et seq.) set
methane emission reduction targets for
California, with a focus on reducing organic
waste to landfills – a key source of methane
emissions. The regulations established
purchasing requirements for recycled
content paper to ensure strong markets for
recovered paper and to keep paper out of
landfills.

PRODUCT REGISTRIES
Find/verify certified products by using the
following online certified product registries:
• Green Seal Certified Directory
Note: There is not an online certified
product directory for FSC products.

Instead, look for the FSC ecolabel on the
product and/or verify with the product
manufacturer .

ATTACHMENT III

Sustainable Purchasing Guide – Toner Cartridges
1 Use this Guide When Purchasing
• Monochrome or color laser toner cartridges for printers No matter the type of printer you have, the cost of the toner over the life of the printer is likely to far exceed the upfront price of that printer. Yet, you can lower toner costs while still getting quality products and reducing associated environmental impacts by choosing remanufactured and/or high-yield toner cartridges.

How to Purchase
Check with your central procurement office or administrative staff to find out if you have any contracts that employees are required to use to purchase toner cartridges - they might be included in office supplies contracts.

When seeking these products in a store or online, check the product details to confirm the product meets the Minimum Requirements listed below. If toner is included as part of a managed print services contract, require the vendor to use toner cartridges that meet the following Minimum Requirements as well.

Product Requirements- specify or seek:

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS/SPECIFICATIONS LEADERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES • Remanufactured toner cartridge
OR
• “High-yield” toner cartridge*
AND
The vendor (or cartridge manufacturer)
offers a free, easily accessible toner
cartridge recycling program.
*Note: pay attention to toner cartridge
expiration dates; a high-yield toner cartridge
may not make sense for a very low-use printer
if the toner would not be used up before
expiring.

Minimum Requirements plus one or more of the following:
• Remanufactured toner cartridge by a company that is
STMC-certified
• Remanufactured AND high-yield toner cartridge*
• The toner cartridge has been tested and documented to be compliant with EPEAT-registered imaging equipment and is labeled as such
(this means the imaging equipment meets
EPEAT’s low-emissions standard when that toner cartridge is used)
• The vendor’s cartridge recycling program sends its spent cartridges to a STMC-certified remanufacturer or to an
original equipment manufacturer (OEM) that incorporates the reclaimed plastic into new toner cartridges
Sustainable Purchasing GuideSustainable Purchasing Guide Toner Cartridges

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Sustainable Purchasing Guide – Toner Cartridges
2 Ecolabels to Look For
Related Tips
• High-yield cartridges can often be identified by their product label including one of the following codes: X, XL, XLL, HY, XHY, etc. For example, the high-yield version of a HP 30A cartridge is HP 30X. • When comparing the price of standard and high-yield toner cartridges, calculate the price per page using the page yield information on each product.
• Watch out for toner cartridges labeled “compatible” but are not remanufactured. These are often single-use “knock-off” products that cannot be remanufactured at the end of their useful life.

Benefits
Using remanufactured toner cartridges:
• Reduces plastic waste and demand for virgin plastic.
• Saves money, as remanufactured toner cartridges are typically 30 to 50% less expensive than “virgin” cartridges offered by OEMs. • Reduces greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions compared to
manufacturing cartridges from new raw materials.
• Creates markets for toner cartridges collected through recycling programs.

Using high-yield toner cartridges:
• Prevents waste by getting more printed pages per cartridge. • Saves money, since their cost per page is typically lower than that of standard-yield toner cartridges.

Additional Resources
• List of STMC-certified companies
• Check the StopWaste Sustainable Purchasing Website for additional implementation resources such as: compliant product lists, cooperative contract opportunities, example specifications, and other support tools.

Updated October 2022

REMANUFACTURED AND

REFILLED ARE NOT THE
SAME
STMC-remanufactured toner cartridges
are thoroughly inspected and cleaned, and
any defective or worn parts replaced. They
are then tested according to reputable
cartridge performance standards to ensure
the product meets or exceeds OEM cartridge
performance. Refilled cartridges only involve
adding toner to a used cartridge, and thus,
are not recommended as a reliable substitute
for OEM cartridges.

WHAT DOES “HIGH-YIELD”
MEAN?
While there is no technical standard for this
term, a high-yield cartridge usually contains
about twice as much toner as an equivalent
standard-yield cartridge, which translates
into more printed pages per cartridge.

BENEFITS CALCULATOR
Use the toner cartridge recycling GHG
reduction calculator developed by the
International Imaging Technology Council
to calculate GHG savings associated with
recycling your toner cartridges.

MORE SAVINGS POSSIBLE
Offices can save money by moving away
from desktop printers and consolidating/
centralizing printers with high-capacity
multi-function devices (MFDs). To learn
more, check out the following guide. While
the guide was written for universities,
many of the same approaches and benefits
apply to office spaces. Ditching Desktop
Printers: A Behavior Change Guide to Cutting
Paper Use, Energy Consumption, and Costs

ATTACHMENT III

Sustainable Purchasing Guide – Computers & Monitors
1 Use this Guide When Purchasing
• Desktop computers
• Laptops
• Tablets
• Monitors
• Electronic displays/signage
Electronics are key feature of most workplaces
today. Consequently, purchasing more sustainable
electronics represents a significant opportunity to
further an agency’s sustainability goals - whether
focused on energy consumption, toxics reduction,
human/worker rights, and/or waste reduction.

How to Purchase
Check with your information technology (IT) and/or central procurement office to find out if you have any electronics standards (brand/model) and/or existing contracts that employees are required to use to purchase IT equipment. When you are seeking these products in a store or online, check the product details to confirm it meets the Minimum Requirements listed below.

Product Requirements - specify or seek:

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS/SPECIFICATIONS
• Product currently has at least one of the
following multi-attribute certifications:
• EPEAT Silver Registered
• TCO Certified

LEADERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
Minimum Requirements plus one or more of the
following:
• EPEAT Gold Registered
• TCO Certified
Sustainable Purchasing GuideSustainable Purchasing Guide Computers & Monitors
Ecolabels to Look For

ATTACHMENT III

Sustainable Purchasing Guide – Computers & Monitors
2 Related Tips
Recycling Electronics:

Check with your IT department regarding data security and related electronic disposition requirements. Otherwise, to ensure hazardous materials do not end up in the environment and to foster material reuse, electronics should be recycled by a collector/recycler approved to participate in California’s Covered Electronics Waste Recycling Program or by an
electronics recycler certified to either the R2 or e-Stewards standard. For the latter, you can find certified electronics recyclers by using the R2 or e-Stewards online directories.

Save Energy:
• Keep product sleep settings enabled - Let your equipment “go to sleep” after a period of inactivity. This is the single most effective means of saving energy.
• Switch off equipment that will not be used for more than 2 hours (unless updates are being administered during a specified time frame)
• Make sure equipment is plugged into a power strip/surge protector. When the equipment is not in use for extended periods, switch off the power strip to prevent equipment from drawing power even when turned off. If you don’t use a power strip, unplug equipment when it’s not in use.

Benefits
EPEAT-registered and TCO-certified computers:
• Use 30-65% less energy than non-certified computers, depending on usage. Energy reductions also equate to greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reductions.
• Reduce or eliminate toxic heavy metals such as lead, cadmium, and mercury. • Are designed for repair, reuse, and recycling, thus supporting waste reduction practices.

About the Ecolabels
EPEAT is well-known ecolabel for electronic products. The product standards associated with EPEAT involve multi-attribute, life-cycle criteria, including design for recycling and toxics reduction. Some criteria are required and some are optional, with products earning higher ratings for meeting more optional criteria. Thus, EPEAT products can be rated Bronze, Silver, or Gold, depending on the product’s level of criteria achievement.

TCO is a well-regarded ecolabel for electronic products. TCO certifies products against multi-attribute, life- cycle criteria, including social criteria, such as factory working conditions.

Both EPEAT and TCO products also meet ENERGY STAR criteria for energy efficiency.

Updated October 2022

PRODUCT REGISTRIES
Find/verify certified computer and
monitor products by using the
following online certified product
registries:
• EPEAT Product Registry
• TCO Product Registry

BENEFITS CALCULATOR
Calculate the environmental benefits
of purchasing EPEAT products, such
as energy & GHG emission savings,
toxics reductions, and more.
• EPEAT Benefits Calculator

ATTACHMENT III

Sustainable Purchasing Guide – Imaging Equipment
1 Use this Guide When Purchasing
• Copiers
• Printers
• Multi-function devices (MFDs)
• Scanners
• Plotters
Office electronics such as printers and copiers continue to be a mainstay for most offices. Consequently, purchasing more sustainable electronics represents a significant opportunity to further an agency’s sustainability goals - whether focused on energy consumption, toxics reduction, and/or waste reduction.

How to Purchase
Check with your information technology (IT) and/or central procurement office to find out if you have any electronics standards (brand/model) and/or existing contracts that employees are required to use to purchase IT equipment. When you are seeking these products in a store or online, check the product details to confirm it meets the Minimum Requirements listed below.

Product Requirements - specify or seek:

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS/SPECIFICATIONS
• EPEAT Silver Registered
AND
• Auto-duplex capability enabled (for printers, copiers, MFDs) • Double-sided scanning capability (for scanners/MFDs)

LEADERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
Minimum Requirements plus one or more of the following:
• EPEAT Gold Registered
Sustainable Purchasing GuideSustainable Purchasing Guide Imaging Equipment
Ecolabels to Look For

ATTACHMENT III

Sustainable Purchasing Guide – Imaging Equipment
2 Related Tips
Consolidate MFDs and Invest in a Print Management System Switching to shared MFDs with a print management system that supports user-specific hold/release print queues can dramatically reduce energy use and ink cartridge and paper consumption. Even moving to shared MFDs without a print management system and eliminating/reducing desktop printers and scanners is a positive step -contributing to waste reduction and cost savings.

Leasing
Many MFD equipment manufacturers offer leasing programs, which may be cost-effective, and ensures manufacturer take- back of the product for remanufacturing/recycling.

Recycling Electronics
Check with your IT department regarding data security and related electronic disposition requirements. Otherwise, to ensure hazardous materials do not end up in the environment and to foster material reuse, electronics should be recycled by an electronics recycler certified to either the R2 or e-Stewards standard. You can find a nearby certified responsible electronics recycler by using the R2 or e-Stewards online directories.

Benefits
• Duplex printing reduces paper use versus one-sided printing - saving money, reducing waste, and reducing natural resource use.
• Average operating savings from moving from desktop to shared/centralized MFDs run between 30 and 40 percent and can range as high as 60 percent.

Additional Resources
• Alameda County Green Purchasing Success Stories: Multi-Function Devices • Check the StopWaste Sustainable Purchasing Website for additional sustainable procurement resources.

About EPEAT
EPEAT is well-known ecolabel for electronic products. The product standards associated with EPEAT involve multi-attribute, life-cycle criteria, including design for recycling and toxics reduction. Some criteria are required and some are optional, with products earning higher ratings for meeting more optional criteria. Thus, EPEAT products can be rated Bronze, Silver, or Gold, depending on the product’s level of criteria achievement.

EPEAT products also meet ENERGY STAR criteria for energy efficiency.

Updated October 2022

PRODUCT REGISTRY
Find/verify certified imaging
equipment by using the following
online certified product registry:
• EPEAT Product Registry

BENEFITS CALCULATOR
Calculate the environmental benefits
of purchasing EPEAT products, such
as energy & GHG emission savings,
toxics reductions, and more.
• EPEAT Benefits Calculator

ATTACHMENT III

Sustainable Purchasing Guide – Servers
1 Use this Guide When Purchasing
• Servers - blade, multi-node, pedestal, or rack-mounted Servers are the backbone of our networks and online
applications. Data centers are also some of the most
energy intensive buildings to operate, consuming 10 to 50 times the energy per floor space of a typical commercial office building. Data centers are also water intensive - among the top-ten water-consuming industrial or
commercial industries in the U.S. While smart data center design is key to reducing impacts, the server equipment itself plays a significant role in reducing both energy and cooling loads within data centers.

How to Purchase
Check with your information technology (IT) and/or central procurement office to find out if you have any electronics standards (brand/model) and/or existing contracts that employees are required to use to purchase IT equipment. When you are seeking these products in a store or online, check the product details to confirm it meets the Minimum Requirements listed below.

Product Requirements - specify or seek:

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS/SPECIFICATIONS
• Product currently has at least one of the
following multi-attribute certifications:
• EPEAT Bronze Registered
• TCO Certified

LEADERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
Minimum Requirements plus one or more of the
following:
• EPEAT Silver or Gold Registered
• TCO Certified
Sustainable Purchasing GuideSustainable Purchasing Guide Servers
Ecolabels to Look For

ATTACHMENT III

Sustainable Purchasing Guide – Servers
2 Related Tips
Recycling Electronics:

Check with your IT department regarding data security and related electronic disposition requirements. Otherwise, to ensure hazardous materials do not end up in the environment and to foster material reuse, electronics should be recycled by an electronics recycler certified to either the R2 or e-Stewards standard. You can find a nearby certified responsible
electronics recycler by using the R2 or e-Stewards online directories.

Save Energy:
• Verify that the default processor power management setting is enabled in the BIOS and/or through a management controller, service processor, and/or the operating system.
• Optimize server utilization and turn off unused servers. • Consolidate and virtualize applications.

Benefits
EPEAT-registered and TCO-certified servers:
• Use 22% less energy on average than non-certified servers.

Energy reductions also equate to greenhouse gas (GHG)
emission reductions.
• Are designed for repair, reuse, and recycling, thus supporting waste reduction practices.
• Utilize post-consumer recycled content in plastic
components, thus supporting markets for recycled materials.

About the Ecolabels
EPEAT is well-known ecolabel for electronic products. The product standards associated with EPEAT involve multi-attribute, life-cycle criteria, including design for recycling and toxics reduction. Some criteria are required and some are optional, with products earning higher ratings for meeting more optional criteria. Thus, EPEAT products can be rated Bronze, Silver, or Gold, depending on the product’s level of criteria achievement.

TCO is a well-regarded ecolabel for electronic products. TCO certifies products against multi-attribute, life- cycle criteria, including social criteria, such as factory working conditions.

Both EPEAT and TCO products also meet ENERGY STAR criteria for energy efficiency.

Updated October 2022

PRODUCT REGISTRIES
Find/verify certified servers by using
the following online certified product
registries:
• EPEAT Product Registry
• TCO Product Registry

BENEFITS CALCULATOR
Calculate the environmental benefits
of purchasing EPEAT products, such
as energy & GHG emission savings,
toxics reductions, and more.
• EPEAT Benefits Calculator

IF YOU OPERATE A DATA
CENTER...

Both the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency and Department
of Energy have resources to help data
center operators optimize their data
centers to reduce energy and water
use.
• Center of Expertise for Energy
Efficiency in Data Centers
• ENERGY STAR resources for Data
Centers

ATTACHMENT III

Sustainable Purchasing Guide – Refrigerant-Using Equipment 1 Use this Guide When Purchasing
• Commercial ice machines
• Commercial refrigerators and freezers
• Lab grade refrigerators and freezers
• Light commercial HVAC equipment
• Residential refrigerators and freezers
• Room air conditioners
• Vending machines
Purchasing more sustainable refrigerant-using appliances and HVAC equipment can significantly reduce energy consumption and contribute less to global warming than conventional alternatives.

How to Purchase
Check with your facility maintenance department and/or central procurement office to find out if you have any standards and/or existing contracts employees are required to use to purchase appliances and/ or HVAC equipment. When you are seeking these products in a store or online, check the product details to confirm that it meets the Minimum Requirements listed below.

Product Requirements - specify or seek:

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS/SPECIFICATIONS LEADERSHIP OPPORTUNITY • Product currently has an ENERGY STAR
certification
• The refrigerant type is listed as “lower impact on
global warming”
• Product currently has an ENERGY STAR Most
Efficient certification (which automatically uses
a climate-friendly refrigerant)
Eco-Labels to Look For
Sustainable Purchasing GuideSustainable Purchasing Guide Refrigerant-Using Equipment

ATTACHMENT III

Sustainable Purchasing Guide – Refrigerant-Using Equipment 2 Large Refrigerant-Using Building
Equipment
The ENERGY STAR program does not cover all types of
HVAC equipment and appliances. Even for certain large
equipment it does cover—such as geothermal systems,
air-source and mini-split heat pumps, and central or mini- split air conditioners—it doesn’t specifically address the use of climate-friendly refrigerants. To identify products that do use lower-impact refrigerants, purchasers will
need to use different strategies. For example, they can:
• Work with designers and/or equipment suppliers
to request equipment with a low-GWP refrigerant,
whenever feasible, when designing new capital
projects or replacing equipment at end-of-life.
• Look for large HVAC systems that use “natural”
refrigerants such as propane (R-290) and isobutane
(R600a), which both have a GWP of 3. Some of
these larger systems are ENERGY STAR-certified.
• Consider and mitigate any potential fire safety
issues associated with some “natural” refrigerants
(e.g., ammonia, propane, butane). This may include
siting the equipment in an insulated area to protect
against potential lightning strikes and overheating of
these flammable refrigerants.

Benefits
• Saves energy and money: Purchasing ENERGY STAR-certified appliances and HVAC equipment ensures that it is among the most energy-efficient products of its kind on the market, reducing energy costs. Ask your utility if any ENERGY STAR-certified appliances or HVAC equipment qualifies for utility rebates, which lower their initial cost.
• Reduces impact on climate change: Purchasing energy-efficient appliances and HVAC equipment that use refrigerants with a lower impact on global warming reduces greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to climate change, which has been linked to sea level rise as well as increasingly severe wildfires and storms. • Future proofs your investment: Choosing appliances and HVAC products that use climate-friendly refrigerants will increase the likelihood that replacement refrigerants will be available and not prohibited by new regulations phasing out high-GWP refrigerants.

PRODUCT REGISTRIES
Find/verify refrigerant-using equipment by using
the following online certified product registries:
• ENERGY STAR
• ENERGY STAR Most Efficient
How to Identify Appliances and HVAC Equipment that
Use Climate-Friendly Refrigerants
The ENERGY STAR Product Finder makes it
easy to identify models that use climate-friendly
refrigerants. When purchasing the product types
listed above, use the “Refrigerant Type” filter and
select the option labeled “lower impact on global
warming. ”

ATTACHMENT III

Sustainable Purchasing Guide – Refrigerant-Using Equipment 3 Updated June 2025
Related Tips
Implement Refrigerant Leak Detection and Maintenance Best Practices It’s important to prevent and quickly respond to refrigerant leaks, because when they’re released from equipment that’s when they contribute to climate change. To prevent refrigerant releases, take these steps:
• Adopt a refrigerant management plan and mission statement. • Conduct an inventory of all systems that use refrigerants. • Determine the type and amount of refrigerant each piece of equipment uses. • Do not “top off” refrigerant, when refilling.
• Check for leaks regularly.
- Require contractors and facilities staff to
keep a leak detection tracking schedule for
equipment.
- Consider using automatic leak detection
equipment.
• Repair refrigerant leaks promptly.
• Use U.S. EPA-certified technicians to conduct
repairs.
• Reclaim refrigerant in equipment at the end of its
useful life (using U.S. EPA-certified reclamation
companies).
• Keep records of all refrigerant purchases, leaks, repairs, storage, and disposal.

Additional Resources
• The California Air Resources Board (CARB) Refrigerant Management Program identifies legal requirements that facilities with equipment containing more than 50 pounds of high-GWP refrigerant must follow in order to minimize refrigerant emissions. These include conducting and reporting periodic leak inspections, promptly repairing leaks, and keeping service records onsite.
• New York State Assessment of Natural Refrigerants: A Report to the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation by Effecterra (2023).
• Go to the StopWaste Sustainable Purchasing website for additional implementation resources such as other Sustainable Purchasing Guides, compliant product lists, contracting resources, and other support tools.

ATTACHMENT III

Sustainable Purchasing Guide – Indoor Furniture
1 Use this Guide When Purchasing
• Chairs and stools
• Desks and workstations
• Tables
• Bookcases and shelving
• Filing and storage cabinets
• Lounge furniture (e.g., couches, side chairs)
Furniture can contain hidden toxic chemicals that can off-gas or leach out over time, posing risks to human health. The Minimum Requirements in this guide focus on reducing exposures to harmful chemicals, among other beneficial attributes.

How to Purchase
Prior to purchasing new furniture, check for surplus furniture available from other departments. Otherwise, check with your central procurement office or administrative or facilities staff to find out if you have any furniture standards (required brand/model) and/or contracts that employees are required to use to purchase furniture.

When you are seeking these products in a store or online, check the product details to confirm it meets the Minimum Requirements listed below. If furniture is being specified by hired consultants, such as architects or interior designers, ensure they are referencing these Minimum Requirements as well.

Product Requirements - specify or seek:

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS/

SPECIFICATIONS

LEADERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
• Product is BIFMA LEVEL 1
certified or higher with Credit

7.4.4: Targeted Chemical
Elimination achieved
Minimum Requirements plus one or more of the following:
• Product is BIFMA LEVEL 2 certified or higher with Credit

7.4.4: Targeted Chemical Elimination achieved
• Product is Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified (for wood or bamboo)
• Product contains post-consumer recycled content
• Manufacturer or vendor has an end-of-life take-back and recycling program
• If upholstered, fabric has one of the following
certifications: Cradle to Cradle, GOTS, GreenScreen,
NSF/ANSI 336 (FACTS label), or OEKO-Tex 100
Sustainable Purchasing GuideSustainable Purchasing Guide Indoor Furniture

ATTACHMENT III

Sustainable Purchasing Guide – Indoor Furniture
2 Ecolabels to Look For
Other Certifications for Furniture
Furniture is a complex purchasing category with many
sustainability certifications. While the following certifications support safer chemistry and transparency, they are not
currently recommended as minimum requirements due to
limited availability of certified products.

GreenScreen eliminates the “hazardous handful”—formaldehyde, flame retardants, PFAS, antimicrobials, and PVC (vinyl)—but currently there are only certified textiles. However, there may be certified furniture products in the future.

Cradle to Cradle Certified and Cradle to Cradle Material Health Certificate at the silver level or above addresses the “hazardous handful” to an extent, but is more commonly used for building materials and finishes. Cradle to Cradle Certified evaluates a product across five sustainability categories, while the Material Health Certificate focuses solely on the chemical safety of materials used in the product.

Declare Red List Free is a label from the International Living Future Institute indicating that a product contains none of the harmful chemicals on the Living Building Challenge Red List. It is primarily a transparency tool, based on disclosed ingredients, but some products do have third-party verification.

PRODUCT REGISTRY
Find/verify certified furniture products by
using the following online certified product
registry:
• BIFMA LEVEL Product Registry
Note: There is no online certified product
directory for FSC products. Instead, look for the
FSC ecolabel on the product and/or in product
documentation from the manufacturer.

How to Identify BIFMA Level Certified Furniture
with Credit 7.4.4
The BIFMA LEVEL product registry makes it
easy to identify furniture that meets credit

7.4.4. To find these products, expand the
“Sustainability Criteria” filter and select
“Targeted Chemical Elimination (7.4.4). ” You
can further refine your search by category
and subcategory of furniture products,
LEVEL rating, brand, and more.

WHAT IS BIFMA LEVEL CREDIT 7.4.4?
BIFMA LEVEL is a third-party verified, multi-attribute
certification that evaluates furniture across four categories:
materials, energy, human health, and social responsibility.

Products earn points toward a LEVEL 1, 2, or 3 rating.

The higher the rating, the more rigorous the sustainability performance.

BIFMA LEVEL Credit 7.4.4 is an optional credit
that requires manufacturers to restrict high-priority
toxic chemicals known as the “hazardous handful”:
formaldehyde, flame retardants, antimicrobials, PFAS,
and PVC (vinyl). This credit aligns with Healthcare Without Harm’s Healthy Interiors criteria and is also supported by the Center for Environmental Health and Practice
Greenhealth.

ATTACHMENT III

Sustainable Purchasing Guide – Indoor Furniture
3 Updated June 2025
Benefits
• Enhances indoor air quality: Selecting low-emitting furniture reduces exposure to toxic chemicals that can off- gas into indoor environments, improving air quality and occupant health. • Reduces exposure to harmful chemicals: Choosing greener furniture helps minimize contact with substances linked to cancer, hormone disruption, asthma, and other health concerns. • Supports green building goals: Purchasing BIFMA LEVEL certified furniture can help earn points from green building certifications like LEED and WELL.

Related Tips
• Choose modular, configurable, or easily repairable furniture to extend product life, support future reconfiguration, and reduce the need for new purchases over time.
• Consider refurbishing or reupholstering existing furniture and purchasing remanufactured furniture.

Additional Resources
• Check out the Center for Environmental Health (CEH) toolkit Kicking Toxic Chemicals Out of Office Furniture for detailed information on health concerns, product recommendations, and practical tools to support safer furniture purchasing.
• Go to the StopWaste Sustainable Purchasing website for additional implementation resources such as other Sustainable Purchasing Guides, compliant product lists, contracting resources, and other support tools.

Cradle to Cradle recognizes textiles that are designed for a circular economy, focusing on material health, reuse, renewable energy, water stewardship, and social fairness.

GOTS ensures textiles are made with certified organic fibers and meet rigorous environmental and social criteria throughout the entire supply chain.

GreenScreen identifies textiles made with chemicals that have been assessed and benchmarked to avoid the most hazardous substances.

NSF/ANSI 336 (FACTS) evaluates textiles based on a point-based system that covers environmental, health, and social impacts, providing a transparent sustainability scorecard.

OEKO-TEX 100 certifies that every component of a textile product has been tested for harmful substances and is safe for direct human contact.

Certifications for Fabric for Upholstered Furniture
While BIFMA LEVEL with Credit 7.4.4 ensures safer furniture overall, these fabric certifications provide deeper, specialized guarantees around chemical safety, organic sourcing, circularity, social compliance, and/or material transparency specifically for the textiles used. If you have a choice of fabrics, look for one or more of these certifications, based on your organization’s priorities:

ATTACHMENT III

Sustainable Purchasing Guide – Janitorial Paper Products 1 Use this Guide When Purchasing
• Paper towels
• Toilet tissue
• Toilet seat covers
• Facial tissue
Janitorial paper products are single-use items primarily used in facility restrooms and break rooms. They may be purchased as stand-alone items or included in a custodial services contract. Any janitorial paper products purchased directly by staff must comply with the minimum post-
consumer recycled fiber requirements established by
California’s Senate Bill 1383, aka SB 1383, which went into effect January 2022.

How to Purchase
Check with your central procurement office or administrative or facilities staff to find out if you have any contracts that employees are required to use to purchase janitorial paper products. When seeking these products in a store or online, check the product details to confirm the product meets the Minimum Requirements listed below. If janitorial paper products are included in your custodial service contracts, ensure they are providing products that meet the following Minimum Requirements as well.

Product Requirements - specify or seek:

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS/SPECIFICATIONS LEADERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES • Toilet tissue shall contain a minimum 45%
post-consumer recycled content
• Paper towels shall contain a minimum 40%
post-consumer recycled content
• Toilet seat covers shall contain a minimum
20% post-consumer recycled content
• Facial tissue shall contain a minimum 10%
post-consumer recycled content
• Comply with SB1383 documentation
requirements
(see page 2 for more details)
Minimum Requirements plus one or more of the
following:
• Higher % post-consumer recycled content than the
specified minimum for the product category
• Green Seal, UL ECOLOGO, and/or FSC certified
“Recycled” or “Mix”
• Bleaching process is processed chlorine free (PCF)
• No individual item wrapping
• Available in bulk quantities
• Does not contain intentionally-added fragrances,
dyes, or antimicrobials
Sustainable Purchasing GuideSustainable Purchasing Guide Janitorial Paper Products

ATTACHMENT III

Sustainable Purchasing Guide – Janitorial Paper Products 2 SB 1383 Reporting Requirements
Coordinate with your agency’s SB 1383 lead to maintain required documentation, including:
• Records verifying the minimum recycled content of the paper products • Invoices or order forms that include paper type and volume details • Applicable documentation if compliant products are not available or are cost-prohibitive
Ecolabels to Look For
Please note: Green Seal updated its logo in Oct 2024. Products may still display the old logo during the transition period.

Related Tips
Reduce janitorial paper-related waste to landfills by:
• Installing hand dryers in restrooms and removing paper towel dispensers.
• Composting paper towel waste.
• Switching to coreless toilet paper rolls when selecting new dispensers.

Benefits
Buying janitorial paper products made with post-consumer recycled content:
• Creates markets for paper collected in local office and residential recycling programs. • Reduces energy use and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions: producing 30% post-consumer recycled content tissue instead of 100% virgin tissue reduces GHG emission by 21%. • Protects forests, which promotes biological diversity. • Reduces water pollution: PCF papers do not use chlorine-containing compounds in the bleaching process, thus reducing the release of dioxins and other harmful pollutants into waterways.

Additional Resources
• SB 1383 Paper Purchasing Requirements Resources from CalRecycle • Alameda County SB 1383 Paper Procurement Resources
• Alameda County Paper Towel Waste Reduction Practices
• Alameda County Green Purchasing Success Stories: Janitorial Paper Products • Check the StopWaste Sustainable Purchasing Website for additional implementation resources such as:
compliant product lists, contracting resources, and other support tools.

Updated Dec 2024

ABOUT SENATE BILL
1383
SB 1383 (14 CCR 18993.3 et seq.)
set methane emission reduction
targets for California, with a focus on
reducing organic waste to landfills –
a key source of methane emissions.

The regulations established
purchasing requirements for recycled
content paper to ensure strong
markets for recovered paper and to
keep paper out of landfills.

PRODUCT REGISTRIES
Find/verify certified products by
using the following online certified
product registries:
• Green Seal Product Registry
• UL SPOT Product Registry
(filter by product type and UL
ECOLOGO certification)

ATTACHMENT III

Sustainable Purchasing Guide – Disinfectants
1 Use this Guide When Purchasing
• Disinfectants for non-porous surfaces (e.g., tile, metal, glass, rigid plastic, laminated surfaces)
Disinfectants are inherently toxic, as they are formulated to kill living organisms.

As a result, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) and California Department of Pesticide Regulation (CA DPR) register all surface disinfectants as pesticides. Although all “antimicrobial” products have risks, many conventional disinfectants, such as chlorine bleach, pose more serious risks to custodial workers and building occupants because they contain active ingredients that have been found to cause asthma, cancer, skin sensitization, or other health hazards. Yet, surface disinfectants with more benign health and environmental impacts than conventional disinfectants are readily available, cost effective, and have equivalent or greater efficacy in killing bacteria, viruses, and fungi.

How to Purchase
Check with your central procurement office or administrative or facilities staff to find out if you have any contracts that employees are required to use when purchasing cleaning products. When seeking disinfectants in a store or online, check the product label to confirm it meets the Minimum Requirements listed below. If disinfectants are included in your custodial service contracts, require vendors to provide products that meet the following Minimum Requirements as well.

Product Requirements - specify or seek:

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS/SPECIFICATIONS LEADERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES • The product many only contain the following active
ingredients:
• Hydrogen Peroxide
• Citric, Lactic, or Caprylic/Octanoic Acid
• Ethanol or Isoproponol
• Must be registered by the U.S. EPA and be on the
U.S. EPA’s List N: Disinfectants for Coronavirus
(COVID-19)
• Non-aerosol
Minimum Requirements plus one or more of the
following:
• Concentrated products with a built-in or
compatible closed-loop dilution control
system
• U.S. EPA Design for the Environment (DfE)
certified
• Not a single-use disposable wipe product
• Fragrance-free
• Packaging is recyclable in your municipal
system
Sustainable Purchasing GuideSustainable Purchasing Guide Disinfectants

ATTACHMENT III

Sustainable Purchasing Guide – Disinfectants
2 Updated Dec 2024
Related Tips
• Clean first, then disinfect when needed. Disinfectants need a mostly-clean surface to be effective. Always clean the surface first with a multi-purpose cleaner and then apply the disinfectant.
• Limit the use of disinfectant to potential/known exposure areas (such as diaper-changing areas, toilets, shower floors, etc.). Otherwise, using a multi-purpose cleaner without the use of a disinfectant is enough to effectively clean the surface. Over time, overuse of disinfectants can build bacteria resistance to disinfecting chemicals, thus eliminating their efficacy.
• Read the product label or literature carefully to make sure the disinfectant is registered to effectively kill the bacteria, virus, or fungus you are targeting. Some disinfectants are limited in what organisms they are effective against.
• Have the product vendor provide training on the proper use, storage, and disposal of disinfectants, especially concentrated products. Failing to use products and dispensing systems according to the manufacturer’s instructions can result in poor product performance, costly overuse, and/or harmful exposure to concentrated chemicals.
• Safely dispose of unused cleaning chemicals by using StopWaste’s re:source online tool to find applicable disposal facilities in your area.

Benefits
Using disinfectants with safer active ingredients:
• Reduces staff and building occupant exposure to chemicals that are linked to serious health issues such as asthma and cancer.
• Reduces the amount of persistent, toxic chemicals going down the drain that harm aquatic life.

PRODUCT REGISTRIES
Find/verify certified disinfectants by using the
following online certified product registries:
• EPA DfE certified disinfectants product
registry
Additional Resources
• U.S. EPA List N: Disinfectants for Coronavirus (COVID-19) • SF Environment COVID-19 Safer Disinfectant Resources
• Alameda County Green Purchasing Success Stories: Janitorial Cleaning Products • Check the StopWaste Sustainable Purchasing Website for additional implementation resources such as:
compliant product lists, contracting resources, and other support tools.

WANTED: SHORT DWELL TIMES
All disinfectants have a required “dwell” time
(i.e., the amount of time you have to keep the
surface visibly wet) to effectively neutralize the
specified bacteria, virus, or fungus. Some of
these dwell times are impractically long. When
selecting a product, check the required dwell
time - the shorter it is, the more likely the dwell
time will be followed by the end user.

Ecolabels to Look For

ATTACHMENT III

Sustainable Purchasing Guide – Lighting Products
1 Use this Guide When Purchasing
• Lamps (light bulbs)
• Luminaires (light fixtures - interior and exterior)
• Lighting retrofit kits
In 2022, California passed AB 2208, which bans the sale of most fluorescent lamps—including compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) and fluorescent tube lamps (e.g., linear, u-shaped, circular). As a result, government agencies, businesses, and consumers must transition to LED lamps, retrofit kits compatible with existing fixtures, or new luminaires. This Sustainable Purchasing Guide is intended to help purchasers select high-performance LED lighting products that also offer environmental benefits such as reducing toxic chemicals like lead and preventing light pollution.

How to Purchase
Check with your central procurement office, facilities staff, or energy manager to find out if you have any contracts for products or services that employees are required to use to purchase lighting products. When seeking these products in a store or online, check the product details to confirm it meets the Minimum Requirements listed below. If lighting is included in a construction project, confirm that the designer and contractor are informed about the following Minimum Requirements as well.

Product Requirements - specify or seek:

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS/SPECIFICATIONS LEADERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES • All lamps, retrofit kits, and fixtures (except emergency and specialty products) must use LEDs as their only light source • The following types of lighting equipment must be certified by the DesignLights Consortium (DLC) or ENERGY STAR:
- All luminaires and retrofit kits
- Linear and u-shaped tube lamps (e.g., T8s, T5s)
- Four-pin replacement lamps for CFLs
• Outdoor luminaires must be dark-sky friendly, which
means they:
- Are fully shielded (eliminate upward-directed light)
- Are directional (light only the area that needs it)
- Minimize blue-light emissions (use “warmer” color lights) Minimum Requirements plus one or
more of the following:
• DLC Premium certification
• Labeled RoHS-compliant, which
means it is free of lead and other
persistent toxic chemicals
• Dimmable
• Compatible with programmable
lighting systems such as timers and
sensors
• Outdoor luminaires are DLC Luna
certified or DarkSky Approved
Sustainable Purchasing GuideSustainable Purchasing Guide Lighting Products

ATTACHMENT III

Sustainable Purchasing Guide – Lighting Products
2 Eco-Labels to Look For
Related Tips
When shopping for LED lamps/bulbs, consider the following factors:
• Brightness: Look for products with an equivalent number of lumens to the lamp or fixture you’re replacing. • Energy consumption: Look for products with a lower wattage that still provide the brightness you need.

Choosing energy-efficient options reduces both environmental impacts and annual operating costs.

Dimmable products can lower electricity consumption even more. • Lifespan: Look for products with a long expected life, typically measured in hours, to reduce replacement frequency and waste.
• Color temperature: LED lighting is labeled with its correlated color temperature (CCT) on the Kelvin (K) scale, ranging from warm to cool tones. Lower CCTs (2700K–3000K) produce a warm, yellowish light, while higher CCTs (4200K–5000K) emit a cooler, bluish light. Offices often prefer a neutral range of around 3500K.

Did Y ou Know?
• LED lamps and retrofit kits are often compatible with existing light fixtures with no need to replace fixtures.

Some LED lamps have a built-in driver, so they can work even after the ballast fails. • It is often cost-effective to replace a fluorescent lamp with an LED lamp even before it fails since the energy savings typically covers the cost of the new lamp in a year or less. • In California, fluorescent light bulbs, which contain mercury, must be handled as hazardous waste—they cannot be thrown in the trash or crushed. LED bulbs, while safer, still contain electronic components and small amounts of heavy metals, so they also must be collected and recycled properly. Local agencies should store used bulbs separately and check with CalRecycle or their local hazardous waste program for approved disposal or recycling options. For more information about managing mercury-containing lamps, see DTSC
Managing Waste Fluorescent Bulbs and Other Mercury-Containing Lamps Fact Sheet.

PRODUCT REGISTRIES
Find/verify certified lighting
products by using the following
online certified product registries:

For All Lighting Equipment
• Design Lights Consortium (DLC)
Qualified Product List (QPL)
• ENERGY STAR Product Registry:

Light Fixtures (Downlights)
For Outdoor Fixtures Only
• Dark Sky Approved Products List
• DLC Luna QPL

ATTACHMENT III

Sustainable Purchasing Guide – Lighting Products
3 Why Is Light Pollution a Problem?
The inappropriate or excessive use of artificial light – known as light pollution – can have serious environmental consequences for humans, wildlife, and our climate. Much outdoor lighting used at night is overly bright, poorly targeted, improperly shielded, and in many cases, completely unnecessary.

To minimize harmful light pollution, outdoor lighting should:
• Eliminate upward-directed light (i.e., lighting fixtures should be on either the DLC Luna or DarkSky Approved
products lists).
• Only be on when needed.
• Only light the area that needs it.
• Be no brighter than necessary.
• Minimize blue light emissions.

Additional Resources
• Check the DesignLights Consortium website for lighting specifications, how-to guides, case studies, etc. • Read Farewell to Fluorescent Lighting by the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy (ACEEE), which provides more information on the economic (and environmental) benefits of transitioning to LEDs. • Go to the StopWaste Sustainable Purchasing website for additional implementation resources such as other Sustainable Purchasing Guides, compliant product lists, contracting resources, and other support tools.

Updated June 2025
“Light pollution disrupts wildlife, impacts
human health, wastes money and energy,
contributes to climate change, and blocks our
view of the universe. ”
~Dark Sky
Learn more about light pollution
at Dark Sky.

ATTACHMENT III

Sustainable Purchasing Guide – Print Services
1 Use this Guide When Purchasing
• Print services for paper-based print jobs
Print services are often used for high-volume print jobs, mailers, and specialty printing. If your agency directly uses the resulting print job materials, the paper used for the print job must contain a minimum of 30% post-consumer
recycled content to comply with California’s Senate Bill 1383, aka. SB 1383, which went into effect January 2022.

How to Purchase
Check with your central procurement office or administrative staff to find out if you have any contracts or preferred vendors that employees are required to use for print services. Before initiating the print job order, ensure the vendor can provide paper that meets the following Minimum Requirements.

Product Requirements- specify or seek:

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS/SPECIFICATIONS LEADERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES • 30% post-consumer recycled content, AND
• For print jobs using 20# white copy or
multipurpose paper, the paper has at least one of
the following certifications:
• Green Seal
• FSC certified “Recycled” or “Mix”
SB 1383 Reporting Requirements
Coordinate with your agency’s SB 1383 lead to
maintain required documentation, including:
• Records verifying the minimum recycled content
of the paper product
• Written documentation from the vendor
certifying that the paper product is recyclable
• Invoices or other proofs of purchase that include
paper type and volume details
Minimum Requirements plus one or more of the
following:

Vendor:
• Certified as a California Green Business
• Certified B-Corporation
Paper:
• 50-100% post-consumer recycled content
• Green Seal or FSC certified “Recycled” or “Mix”
• Any non-post-consumer recycled content fiber is
agricultural residue fiber
• Bleaching process is Processed Chlorine Free
(PCF)
• Made with Green-e certified renewable energy
Sustainable Purchasing GuideSustainable Purchasing Guide Print Services (Paper-Based)

ATTACHMENT III

Sustainable Purchasing Guide – Print Services
2 Related Tips
Reduce costs and/or waste by:
• Designing print media to be double-sided.
• Designing print media with no-ink edges (reduces paper waste compared to using bleed-to-edge designs).
• For reoccurring events, designing key media to be reusable (e.g., durable, no date-specific content).
• Limiting the use of dark or brightly colored papers, as they are more difficult to recycle.

Benefits
Supporting certified California Green Businesses:
• Reduces energy use and greenhouse gas emissions, as certified businesses utilize energy-efficient strategies.
• Reduces waste to landfills, as certified businesses follow waste reduction and recycling best practices.
• Reduces water consumption, as certified businesses follow water conservation best practices for their industry.

About the California Green Business Program
The California Green Business Program is a network of local programs operated by counties and cities throughout California. Businesses that apply receive personal attention from the public agencies and utilities that serve them. The program helps local businesses conserve energy and water, minimize waste, prevent pollution, and shrink their overall carbon footprint. A directory of certified businesses is available at: https://www.greenbusinessca.org/.

About Certified B-Corporations
B Corp Certification is a designation that a business is meeting high standards of verified performance, accountability, and transparency on factors from employee benefits and charitable giving to supply chain practices and input materials. More information and a directory of certified businesses is available at: https://www.bcorporation.net/en-us/certification.

Additional Resources
• SB 1383 Paper Purchasing Requirements Resources from CalRecycle • Alameda County SB 1383 Paper Procurement Resources
• Alameda County Green Purchasing Success Stories: Print Services • Check the StopWaste Sustainable Purchasing Website for additional implementation resources such as:
compliant product lists, SB 1383 tips, and other support tools.

Updated October 2022
ABOUT SENATE BILL 1383
SB 1383 (14 CCR 18993.3 et seq.) set
methane emission reduction targets for
California, with a focus on reducing organic
waste to landfills – a key source of methane
emissions. The regulations established
purchasing requirements for recycled
content paper to ensure strong markets for
recovered paper and to keep paper out of
landfills.

An online tool where you can calculate the
environmental impacts (greenhouse gases,
water consumption, toxics, etc.) of your
paper and the associated benefits of paper
reduction efforts and/or buying recycled
content papers.
https://c.environmentalpaper.org/

ATTACHMENT III

Sustainable Purchasing Guide – Single-Use Food Service Ware 1 Use this Guide When Purchasing
• Disposable food service ware items including
cold and hot cups, plates and bowls, takeout
containers and trays, lids, cutlery, straws and
stirrers and napkins
• Catering services
• Event/meeting planning services
While food service ware may not be the first thing you
think of when planning an event, being thoughtful
about how food and beverages are served can support
reducing waste and exposure to toxic chemicals,
among other sustainability goals. As part of your planning, first assess whether reusables are available and practical for the application. If disposables are necessary, be sure to also check with your hauler/composter/ facility ahead of time regarding what types of items they accept.

How to Purchase
Check with your central procurement office or administrative staff to find out if you have any contracts that employees are required to use to purchase food service ware. When seeking these products in a store or online, check the product details to confirm the product meets the Minimum Requirements listed below.

Product Requirements- specify or seek:

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS/SPECIFICATIONS LEADERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES • No StyrofoamTM or expanded polystyrene containers
• Paper-based food service ware & napkins contain a
minimum 40% post-consumer recycled content (or lack
of availability documentation is provided per SB 1383)
(see related SB 1383 reporting requirements on page 2)
• Paper-based food service ware items are:
• Uncoated (i.e. no plastic-lined paper plates, cups, etc.) and/or
• BPI, CMA, or Vincotte OK Compost certified
Minimum Requirements plus one or more of
the following:
• No plastic, including no “compostable”
plastic
• Food service ware is GreenScreen
certified
• Paper-based food service ware is
unbleached or labeled processed
chlorine free (PCF)
• Napkins are Green Seal, UL ECOLOGO or
FSC certified (FSC “Recycled” or “Mix”)
Sustainable Purchasing GuideSustainable Purchasing Guide Single-Use Food Service Ware

ATTACHMENT III

Sustainable Purchasing Guide – Single-Use Food Service Ware 2 SB 1383 Reporting Requirements
Coordinate with your agency’s SB 1383 lead to maintain required documentation, including:
• Records verifying the minimum recycled content of the paper products • Invoices or order forms that include paper type and volume details • Applicable documentation if compliant products are not available or are cost-prohibitive
Ecolabels to Look For
Related Tips
To reduce waste:
• Understand before you purchase the composting and recycling options available at the event facility.
• If using all reusables is not feasible, consider a hybrid approach that targets reusables for some items, such as water pitchers, platters, serving and/or individual utensils, and allows disposables for the remaining items.
• Encourage participants to bring their own reusable mugs, water bottles, and/or utensils.

Benefits
Using reusables when you can:
• Saves money vs. repeat disposable purchases for reoccurring events. • Reduces potential for wayward litter that ends up harming aquatic life.

BPI, CMA, OK Compost, or GreenScreen certified products:
• Reduces exposure to toxic chemicals commonly found in disposable food service ware products (primarily per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or “PFAS” chemicals).

Additional Resources
• Avoiding Hidden Hazards: A Purchaser’s Guide to Safer Foodware • ReThink Disposable - Resources for businesses, governments, and communities on using reusables instead of disposables. Great case studies and more!
• Check the StopWaste Sustainable Purchasing Website for additional implementation resources.

Updated May 2023

ABOUT PFAS CHEMICALS
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances,
aka “PFAS”, are a toxic family of
“nonstick” fluorinated chemicals that
are ubiquitous in food ware and food
packaging. People can ingest PFAS
through packaged food and even
contaminated drinking water. PFAS
are hormone disrupting chemicals that
have also been linked to a wide range
of adverse health effects.

BPI, CMA, OK Compost or GreenScreen
certified products do not contain PFAS.

PRODUCT REGISTRIES
Find/verify certified products by using
the following online certified product
registries:
• BPI Certified Products
• CMA Accepted Items
• GreenScreen Certified Products
Note: There is not an online certified
product directory for Vincotte OK
Compost products. Instead, look
for the OK Compost ecolabel on the
product.

ABOUT SENATE BILL 1383
SB 1383 (14 CCR 18993.3 et seq.)
set methane emission reduction
targets for California, with a focus on
reducing organic waste to landfills – a
key source of methane emissions. The
regulations established purchasing
requirements for recycled content
paper to ensure strong markets for
recovered paper and to keep paper out
of landfills.

ATTACHMENT III

Sustainable Purchasing Guide – Reusable Food Service Ware 1 Use this Guide When Purchasing
or Renting
• Reusable food service ware items including, but
not limited to: cups, mugs, pitchers, plates, bowls,
trays, serving dishes, straws, storage containers, and
utensils
• Catering services
• Event/meeting planning services
Compared to single-use disposable food service ware,
reusables prevent waste and save money. Reusables
are typically a great fit for dining-in applications (e.g., breakrooms, cafeterias); recurring meal programs; and meetings, events, and conferences where food will be served. When selecting the best type of reusable food service ware to invest in, take into account performance needs, heat tolerance (e.g., in microwaves or dishwashers), chemical tolerance (e.g., to dishwashing sanitizers), and durability.

Purchasing Requirements
When seeking these products in a store or online, check the product details to confirm that it meets the Minimum Requirements listed below. Also work with caterers and event/meeting planners to prioritize reusables that meet the following requirements. Formal procurement specifications should also incorporate the Minimum Requirements and any applicable Leadership criteria.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS/SPECIFICATIONS LEADERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES • Product is made only of glass, stainless
steel, ceramics (e.g., stoneware, bone
china, porcelain), solid wood, silicone, or
polypropylene (#5) plastic*.
• Product does not have a Prop 65 warning
label indicating that the product contains
a chemical that is known to the State of
California to cause cancer, birth defects, or
other reproductive harm.
*Referring to polypropylene products designed for
reuse, not disposable polypropylene products.

Minimum Requirements plus one or more of the
following:
• Product is GreenScreen certified
• Microwave- and dishwasher safe
• Product has a specific end-user accessibility
profile, such as:
• Easy to safely grip, hold, or open
• Lightweight
• Easy to see (high contrast colors)
• Non-breakable when dropped
• Designed to minimize potential burns (e.g.,
insulated, secure lid)
Sustainable Purchasing GuideSustainable Purchasing Guide Reusable Food Service Ware

ATTACHMENT III

Sustainable Purchasing Guide – Reusable Food Service Ware 2 Ecolabels to Look For
Related Tips
• Consider using a reusable food service ware system—a turnkey service where a vendor provides reusable food service ware, collects it after use, sanitizes it at their facility, and returns it for reuse. A list of service providers can be found on StopWaste’s website.
• For office breakrooms, provide microwave- and dishwasher-safe reusable food service ware and identify who will be responsible for cleaning and putting it away.
• Consider establishing a food service ware “library” in your office where employees can check out sets for meetings, events, or personal use (e.g., lunch kits). To prevent breakage, use dividers when storing, transporting, or washing glass and ceramic food service ware. • For new construction or tenant improvement projects that include a breakroom, consider including elements that support reusable food service ware, such as storage cabinets, sinks, and dishwashers. • Jurisdictions in Alameda County can use Measure D funds to purchase dishwashers and reusable food service ware.

Benefits
• Reuse saves money. Case studies repeatedly show cost savings when switching from disposable food service ware to reusables. • Reuse protects our oceans and helps curb plastic pollution. Eight of the top 10 most commonly found plastic pollution items during International Coastal Cleanup events are food and beverage packaging. • Reuse helps prevent climate change. Over its lifecycle, reusable food service ware generates lower greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions compared to disposable alternatives.
• Reuse saves water. Even taking washing into account, reusable food service ware uses less water over its lifecycle than disposables.

For specific data and example metrics on the benefits listed above, check out Upstream’s Reuse Wins report.

Additional Resources
• StopWaste’s Reusable Foodware Website, featuring links to success stories, grant opportunities, and more. • Upstream’s Reuse Resources: The Reuse Policy Playbook, Switching to Reuse, and the Reuse Wins report. • ReThink Disposable in California, a program of Clean Water Action and Clean Water Fund. • Check the StopWaste Sustainable Purchasing Website for additional implementation resources such as:
compliant product lists, contracting resources, and other support tools.

PRODUCT REGISTRIES
Find/verify certified products by using
the following online certified product
registry
• GreenScreen Certified Products

TOXIC CHEMICALS IN

REUSABLES
The Minimum Requirements in this
guide do not allow the following
materials due to toxic chemical
concerns:

Melamine-formaldehyde resin
(MFR or melamine). The U.S. FDA
considers melamine food ware safe
only if it’s heated below 160 degrees.

Microwaves and dishwashers typically
exceed that, which means melamine
(a possible carcinogen) can leach
into food. Melamine is also often used
as a binder in fiber-based products,
so bamboo reusable foodware is not
recommended.

Polycarbonate. This type of plastic
often contains bisphenols (e.g., BPA/
BPS), which are on California’s Prop
65 list of chemicals known to cause
reproductive harm.

Styrene-Acrylonitrile Resin (SAN).

This type of plastic is on California’s
Prop 65 list of chemicals known to
cause cancer.

GreenScreen-certified products are free of melamine,
bisphenols, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances
(PFAS), and other toxic chemicals of concern.

Updated November 2025

ATTACHMENT III

Sustainable Purchasing Guide – Meetings and Events
1 Use this Guide When Planning
• Trainings and workshops
• Committee and council meetings
• Employee celebrations and appreciation events
• Other meetings and events
Operations and Engagement Guidance
• Promote Sustainable Travel: Select meeting locations that are transit-accessible, close to participants, and support virtual engagement. In addition, minimize travel impacts by encouraging carpooling, public transit, and remote participation. • Facilitate Proper Waste Sorting: Ensure waste streams can handle all generated waste. Clearly label trash, recycling, and compost containers and place them together in convenient locations. Train custodial staff on proper sorting.
• Build Awareness: Communicate the meeting or event’s sustainability practices, benefits, and practical ways participants can support them.
• Track Your Success: Monitor waste diversion, recycling, and composting rates, as well as participation in sustainable practices, to evaluate and identify opportunities for improvement. • Support Local Businesses: Support local green businesses whenever possible for food, beverages, catering, supplies, and more. Check out the Alameda County Green Business Program for ideas.

Purchasing and Waste Prevention Guidance

SUPPLIES
Purchasing Guidance
• When using copy paper, ensure it contains 30% post-consumer recycled content and is certified by Green Seal or FSC, which is consistent with StopWaste's Sustainable Purchasing Guide for White Copy Paper.

Coordinate with your agency’s SB 1383 lead to maintain required documentation. • When buying other paper office products, ensure they meet StopWaste's Sustainable Purchasing Guide for Paper Office Supplies.
• For reoccurring events, choose signage, banners, and decorations that can be reused (e.g., no specific date references, choose durable materials like cloth).

Waste Reduction Guidance
• Follow paper-reduction best practices by using electronic media, QR codes, electronic signage, double-sided printing, reusable name tags, whiteboards, etc.
• For SWAG and other give-aways, offer raffles, reusable items, and food items (e.g., mints). For events with special themes, consider a reusable souvenir cup as a keepsake.

Sustainable Purchasing GuideSustainable Purchasing Guide Meetings and Events

ATTACHMENT III

Sustainable Purchasing Guide – Meetings and Events
2 Purchasing and Waste Prevention Guidance - continued

FOOD AND BEVERAGES
Purchasing Guidance
• Require participants to RSVP to ensure you order only what is needed. • Maximize plant-based, organic, and locally-sourced food choices. • Select food that doesn’t require plates and utensils (e.g., sandwiches). Avoid individually packaged food items and meals.
• Use bulk beverage service (e.g., refill stations, pitchers, carafes, shared sweeteners/creamers) instead of single-use bottles, cans, or packets.

Waste Reduction Guidance
• Encourage participants to take home leftovers or donate usable leftover food. See StopWaste’s Best Practices to Reduce Surplus Edible Food for guidance.

FOOD SERVICE WARE
Purchasing Guidance
• Maximize the use of reusable food service ware and choose items that meet StopWaste's Sustainable Purchasing Guide for Reusable Food Service Ware.
• If buying disposables, choose items that meet StopWaste's Sustainable Purchasing Guide for Single-Use Food Service Ware.

Waste Reduction Guidance
• Encourage participants to bring their own reusable water bottle and/or travel mug for coffee/tea. • Promote cup reuse by providing washable writing utensils (e.g., dry erase markers, wax pencils) or reusable drink markers (e.g., silicone bands) for attendees to label their cups.

Benefits
• Reduces Waste and Saves Money: Implementing sustainable practices—like using digital materials, reusable dishware, and careful food planning—can significantly cut waste and lower costs. • Models Sustainable Practices: Meetings can serve as an opportunity to showcase sustainable practices and motivate attendees to integrate them into their own routines.

Additional Resources
• Sustainable Purchasing Leadership Council Case Study: Green & Healthy Meetings and Events (Alameda County)
• StopWaste’s Stop Food Waste website
• Check the StopWaste Sustainable Purchasing Website for additional implementation resources such as:
compliant product lists, contracting resources, and other support tools.

Updated January 2026

ATTACHMENT III

Sustainable Purchasing Guide
Bottled Water

Background
On February 23, 2010, the Hayward City Council adopted Resolution No. 10-016, which resolved that the City work to achieve the “elimination of the purchase of bottled water for government operations and government sponsored events.

Purchasing Requirements
Where feasible, in lieu of purchasing single serving bottled water, provide tap water using reusable water pitchers kept in good sanitary conditions.

Exceptions
Purchase of single serving bottled water is allowable for:
• Public safety emergencies, investigations, and extended deployments public safety personnel; or
• Situations where there are no reasonable alternatives to bottled water, such as large public events and when large quantities of water may need to be distributed for health and safety reasons.

ATTACHMENT III

Attachment 2 - Compliant Product Lists2

Compliant product lists identify specific products that meet the Minimum Requirements established in the Sustainable Purchasing Guides.

Use these lists to:
• Filter by product attributes to find compliant items for online shopping or vendor catalogs
• Reference product data when creating bid sheets for competitive solicitations • Verify that products in retail or catalog purchases meet sustainability standards Available Lists
• White Copy Paper — SB 1383 Compliant (September 2023) • Paper Office Supplies — SB 1383 Compliant (September 2023) • Napkins — SB 1383 Compliant (September 2023)
• Janitorial Paper Products — SB 1383 Compliant (September 2023) • Disinfectants (December 2024)

2 Copied on 5/22/2026 from https://www.stopwaste.org/reducing-waste/protecting-our- environment/sustainable-purchasing/compliant-product-lists

ATTACHMENT III