Region 8
Serving Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, Wyoming and 27 Tribal Nations
Acquisition
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Choosing products and services that reduce our environmental impact
The United States has 5% of the world's population, yet we consume approximately 25% of its resources. We can reduce our use of resources and the negative impacts of our choices through Environmentally Preferable Purchasing (EPP) (EPA, about EPP). With EPP, purchasing decisions include a product or service's performance, safety, price, and environmental factors such as:
- Recycled content
- Toxic constituents
- Reusability and recyclability
- Energy and water efficiency
By purchasing products and services – at work and at home – that reduce pollution, improve energy efficiency, and conserve natural resources, we can lower costs, improve health and safety, and help protect the environment. EPP also helps create a market demand for preferable products while setting a positive example for the private sector, consumers and other government entities.
What Region 8 is Doing
Recycled Content Paper
We purchase 100% post-consumer recycled content copy paper for our computer printers and copy machines. This change in our purchasing practices proceeded with few operational problems and well exceeds the 30% post-consumer standard established by the EPA's Comprehensive Procurement Guidelines for recycled content products. Purchasing recycled content paper improves the end market for paper collected in recycling programs and encourages market development for products made from recycled content. Because each printer and copier operates differently, some research might be needed to find the best brand of recycled paper to fit your machine. Learn more about recycled paper and EPP.
Use the Paper Calculator to compare the environmental impacts of papers made with different levels of recycled content, ranging from 0% (virgin paper) to 100%. See how using less paper or changing other specifications can reduce environmental impacts.
Green Cleaning
Many cleaning products contain hazardous and toxic materials that present risks to janitorial staff, building occupants, and the environment. 1595 Wynkoop is cleaned with green janitorial products that have a smaller environmental impact. Learn more about janitorial products and EPP.