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PRODUCT REGULATORY TASK GROUP

Position Statement on Environmentally Preferable Purchasing Practices

The Society of the Plastics Industry, Inc. (SPI) supports the stated aims and objectives1 of the Federal Government's Environmentally Preferable Purchasing Program, and the Five Guiding Principles2 developed by the EPA in support of that program. SPI believes that when making purchasing decisions it is appropriate to include consideration of relevant and accurately characterized environmental impacts of products along with the traditional considerations of total cost, performance, product safety and availability.

SPI believes that the proper assessment of the environmental impact of a product must be based on accurate information gathered and analyzed through the use of sound scientific techniques. Comparison of the environmental impacts of competing products must involve consideration of multiple attributes, not focus on a single attribute, and must consider the importance and scale of the differences between the environmental impacts of products.

SPI believes that any guidelines to help purchasers make environmental assessments, or any EPP program developed by federal, state or local governments or other institutions or organizations, must emphasize the use of sound science and consideration of multiple attributes. Such guidelines and programs should not include language and/or product lists that would prejudice purchasers against a type or class of product. SPI believes the process used to develop such guidelines and programs must be open and transparent, and rely on substantial input from affected parties.

November 13, 2002

1 EPA has interpreted this as the purchasing of "products and services [that] have a lesser or reduced effect on human health and the environment when compared to other products and services that serve the same purpose."

2 The United States Environmental Projection Agency has Five Guiding Principles central to the EPA program designed to help Executive agencies begin the process of identifying and purchasing environmentally products and services.

  1. Environment + Price + Performance = EPP
  2. Pollution Preventio
    3. n
  3. Life Cycle Perspective/Multiple Attributes
  4. Comparison of Environmental Impacts
  5. Environmental Performance Information


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