Purchasing For Green HotelsPurchasing For Green Hotels

Solutions for Revenue, Health Solutions for Revenue, Health and Communicationand Communication

Purchasing For Green HotelsPurchasing For Green Hotels

Heidi SiegelbaumHeidi SiegelbaumSteve GersmanSteve Gersman

In 20 minutes…In 20 minutes…

• The Story of StuffThe Story of Stuff• What is Green PurchasingWhat is Green Purchasing• Product CategoriesProduct Categories• Standards and CertificationStandards and Certification• BenefitsBenefits• The ProcessThe Process• Where to Go for HelpWhere to Go for Help

What is Purchasing Really About?What is Purchasing Really About?

THE STORY OF STUFFTHE STORY OF STUFF• http://www.storyofstuff.comhttp://www.storyofstuff.com• This is the story of everything your This is the story of everything your

hotel buys. That story?hotel buys. That story?• Extraction, Production, Distribution, Extraction, Production, Distribution,

Consumption and DisposalConsumption and Disposal

Production of Stuff includes PeopleProduction of Stuff includes People

• Along the way of making products or Along the way of making products or “stuff”, we affect societies, cultures, “stuff”, we affect societies, cultures, environment and peopleenvironment and people

• We live in a finite planet which means We live in a finite planet which means the resources are not endless and will in the resources are not endless and will in fact run out if not managed for long fact run out if not managed for long term useterm use

• Drinking water and food are great Drinking water and food are great examples examples

Changing The Face of ProductionChanging The Face of Production

What is Green Purchasing?What is Green Purchasing?• Environmentally Preferable Purchasing Environmentally Preferable Purchasing

Purchasing products and services that Purchasing products and services that have a lesser or reduced effect on human have a lesser or reduced effect on human health and the environment when health and the environment when compared with competing products or compared with competing products or services that serve the same purposeservices that serve the same purpose

Drivers Drivers • Reduce costs, increase profitReduce costs, increase profit• Reduce storage and handlingReduce storage and handling• Reduce worker risks and liabilitiesReduce worker risks and liabilities• Respond to guest interests in your green Respond to guest interests in your green

practicespractices• Help protect local environmentHelp protect local environment• Marketing differentiationMarketing differentiation• Improve associate and guest healthImprove associate and guest health• Reduce environmental impacts overallReduce environmental impacts overall

Product CategoriesProduct Categories• Office supplies: all paper, office Office supplies: all paper, office

equipmentequipment• F&B: electronics, kitchen equipment, F&B: electronics, kitchen equipment,

and foodand food• Hotel wide: Lighting, carpets, interior Hotel wide: Lighting, carpets, interior

design elements, cleaning productsdesign elements, cleaning products• Rooms: bedding, furniture, drapes, Rooms: bedding, furniture, drapes,

amenitiesamenities

Getting StartedGetting Started

Ideally, a green purchasing Ideally, a green purchasing strategy should fit into an overall strategy should fit into an overall environmental management plan– environmental management plan– otherwise, choices tend to be otherwise, choices tend to be opportunistic or champion drivenopportunistic or champion driven

StepsSteps1.1. Create a baseline- what are you Create a baseline- what are you

purchasing now. Who is involved and purchasing now. Who is involved and how are decisions made?how are decisions made?

2.2. Determine objectives and priorities and Determine objectives and priorities and draft a purchasing policydraft a purchasing policy

3.3. Form a cross-department team with Form a cross-department team with dedicated lead dedicated lead

4.4. Look at existing listsLook at existing lists5.5. Pilot test products with usersPilot test products with users

BarriersBarriers• Habit- people don’t like changeHabit- people don’t like change• Product love- users develop unusually strong Product love- users develop unusually strong

commitments to certain products they don’t commitments to certain products they don’t want to give upwant to give up

• No user testing of new green productsNo user testing of new green products• Supplier love- your suppliers may feel Supplier love- your suppliers may feel

threatened and you really like your suppliersthreatened and you really like your suppliers• Perception: green products don’t perform or Perception: green products don’t perform or

are tackyare tacky

GreenwashingGreenwashing

• Misleading claims by sellers or Misleading claims by sellers or manufacturers about the green manufacturers about the green attributes of product or serviceattributes of product or service

• YouYou are particularly vulnerable: early are particularly vulnerable: early stages of innovation, green stages of innovation, green explosion of products and you know explosion of products and you know what elsewhat else

Six Sins of GreenwashingSix Sins of GreenwashingA Terrachoice 2007 Report revealed that most A Terrachoice 2007 Report revealed that most

products didn’t live up to their green claims. products didn’t live up to their green claims.

• No ProofNo Proof

• FibbingFibbing

• VaguenessVagueness

• IrrelevanceIrrelevance

• Hidden Trade-OffHidden Trade-Off

• Lesser of Two EvilsLesser of Two Evils

CriteriaCriteria• Less toxicLess toxic• Recycled content and recyclable locallyRecycled content and recyclable locally• Remanufactured or reconditionedRemanufactured or reconditioned• Durable with warrantiesDurable with warranties• Energy efficientEnergy efficient• Water efficientWater efficient• Take back potentialTake back potential• BiobasedBiobased• Reduced life cycle impactsReduced life cycle impacts

Standards and Certification OrgsStandards and Certification Orgs

• EPA: Environmentally Preferable EPA: Environmentally Preferable Purchasing program (Comprehensive Purchasing program (Comprehensive Purchasing Guidelines), Energy Star Purchasing Guidelines), Energy Star and Design for Environmentand Design for Environment

• GreenSealGreenSeal• EcoLogoEcoLogo• Responsible PurchasingResponsible Purchasing

Performance Standards OrgsPerformance Standards Orgs

• National Institute for Standards National Institute for Standards and Technology (NIST)and Technology (NIST)

• ASTM InternationalASTM International• ISO ISO • Scientific Certification SystemsScientific Certification Systems• Master Painters InstituteMaster Painters Institute

Local HelpLocal HelpSeattleSeattle

www.seattle.gov/environment/purchasing.htmwww.seattle.gov/environment/purchasing.htm

King CountyKing Countywww.metrokc.gov/procure/greenwww.metrokc.gov/procure/green

EcologyEcologywww.ecy.wa.gov/beyondwaste/epp/stand_certifications.htmwww.ecy.wa.gov/beyondwaste/epp/stand_certifications.htmll

Product Specific CriteriaProduct Specific Criteria• Electronics: EPEATElectronics: EPEAT• Green Building Products: US Green Building Green Building Products: US Green Building

CouncilCouncil• Forest Products: Forest Stewardship Forest Products: Forest Stewardship

CouncilCouncil• Recycled Content Products: EPA’s CPGRecycled Content Products: EPA’s CPG• Food: Organic Trade AssociationFood: Organic Trade Association• Low Emission: GreenguardLow Emission: Greenguard

Priority: Electronics Priority: Electronics • Loaded with the nasties: mercury, Loaded with the nasties: mercury,

cadmium, lead, hexavalent chromium, cadmium, lead, hexavalent chromium, PVCsPVCs

• Planned obsolescencePlanned obsolescence

• Exploding number of gadgets/upgradesExploding number of gadgets/upgrades

• Many recyclers export it as a product Many recyclers export it as a product with value but it’s really electronic trash with value but it’s really electronic trash

Electronics In ContextElectronics In ContextEnvironmentally Preferable Electronics Assessment Environmentally Preferable Electronics Assessment

Tool:Tool: www.epeat.netwww.epeat.net

Northwest Product Stewardship CouncilNorthwest Product Stewardship Council www.productstewardship.netwww.productstewardship.net

Electronics Take back CoalitionElectronics Take back Coalition

www.computertakeback.comwww.computertakeback.com

Basel Action Network Basel Action Network

www.ban.orgwww.ban.org

Cleaning Chemicals: PriorityCleaning Chemicals: Priority• Indoor air quality- corrosive chemicals, Indoor air quality- corrosive chemicals,

solvents, asthmagenssolvents, asthmagens• Chemicals in products very poorly Chemicals in products very poorly

regulated - most chemicals used in regulated - most chemicals used in products and personal care products products and personal care products have never been tested have never been tested

• Raises workmen’s compensation and Raises workmen’s compensation and liability issuesliability issues

Energy Star CalculatorEnergy Star Calculatorwww.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=bulk_purchasing.bus_purchasingwww.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=bulk_purchasing.bus_purchasing

This tool covers commercial appliances, This tool covers commercial appliances, foodservice, heating & cooling, lighting, foodservice, heating & cooling, lighting, electronics, office products and electronics, office products and construction productsconstruction products

Building Tools and ProgramsBuilding Tools and ProgramsSeattle Green Building ProgramSeattle Green Building Program www.seattle.gov/dpd/greenbuildingwww.seattle.gov/dpd/greenbuilding

BEES BEES www.bfrl.nist.gov/oae/software/beeswww.bfrl.nist.gov/oae/software/bees

Building Energy Software Tools Directory Building Energy Software Tools Directory www.eere.energy.gov/buildings/tools_directory/subjecwww.eere.energy.gov/buildings/tools_directory/subjec

ts_sub.cfmts_sub.cfm

Whole Building Design Guide Tools IndexWhole Building Design Guide Tools Indexwww.wbdg.org/tools/tools.phpwww.wbdg.org/tools/tools.php

Paper toolsPaper tools

Paper CalculatorPaper Calculator http://www.edf.org/papercalculator.orghttp://www.edf.org/papercalculator.org

Paper ChoicesPaper Choices www.conservatree.orgwww.conservatree.org

Forest Stewardship Council:Forest Stewardship Council: www.fscus.orgwww.fscus.org

CarpetsCarpets

Spanking brand new standardSpanking brand new standardNational Sanitation Foundation (NSF)National Sanitation Foundation (NSF)140-1007 (low VOCs, recycled 140-1007 (low VOCs, recycled

content)content)

Other SubjectsOther SubjectsCleaningCleaning

www.ofee.govwww.ofee.gov & & www.ewg.orgwww.ewg.org

Paper Paper www.edf.org/papercalculatorwww.edf.org/papercalculator

Renewable EnergyRenewable Energy www.green-e.orgwww.green-e.org

Low Emissions ProductsLow Emissions Productswww.greenguard.orgwww.greenguard.org

Sleeping LadySleeping Lady• Office supplies purchased through Office supplies purchased through

Corporate ExpressCorporate Express• GreenSeal, Energy Star, and Green GreenSeal, Energy Star, and Green

Hotel Association used to identify Hotel Association used to identify productsproducts

• Local, wild, hormone free and organic Local, wild, hormone free and organic food served where possiblefood served where possible

• Compostable disposable cupsCompostable disposable cups

Sleeping LadySleeping Lady• Indoor Air quality and Health: Furniture Indoor Air quality and Health: Furniture

is low VOC, easily upholstered and is low VOC, easily upholstered and solvent/formaldehyde freesolvent/formaldehyde free

• All natural latex foam, jutte webbing, All natural latex foam, jutte webbing, formaldehyde free stains and FSC formaldehyde free stains and FSC wood among otherwood among other

• Some of their practices qualify for LEED Some of their practices qualify for LEED points as wellpoints as well

The Umbrella Tells AllThe Umbrella Tells All

Life cycle and consumption:Life cycle and consumption:THE STORY OF STUFF (FAB)THE STORY OF STUFF (FAB)

www.storyofstuff.comwww.storyofstuff.com

Gracious ThanksGracious Thanks• EcoLogo- Scot CaseEcoLogo- Scot Case• Ecology EPP program- Tina SmimichEcology EPP program- Tina Smimich• King County Procurement- Karen HamiltonKing County Procurement- Karen Hamilton• Pacific NW Pollution Prevention Resource Pacific NW Pollution Prevention Resource

CenterCenter• King County/Seattle Public Health- Tracee King County/Seattle Public Health- Tracee

MayfieldMayfield• Responsible PurchasingResponsible Purchasing• Seattle Sustainable Purchasing- Shirli AxelrodSeattle Sustainable Purchasing- Shirli Axelrod• Sleeping Lady, Rebecca DarleySleeping Lady, Rebecca Darley

Thank you!Thank you!

Cascadia Sustainable TourismCascadia Sustainable Tourism Heidi@cascadiasustain.comHeidi@cascadiasustain.com(206) 784-4265(206) 784-4265

Steve@cascadiasustain.comSteve@cascadiasustain.com(425) 922-0102(425) 922-0102