Green Purchasing

Green Purchasing Executive Order

On April 26, 2008, Governor Paterson released a Green Purchasing Executive Order which requires state agencies to purchase environmentally-friendly products and develop sustainability and stewardship programs.  New York purchases over $9 billion worth of goods and services annually, leaving a substantial environmental footprint.  The new policy ensures that agencies are using this purchasing power to reduce the environmental impacts of the state’s operations, create markets for sustainable technologies, reduce disposal costs, and create jobs in environmentally preferable goods. 

CEC and the Alliance for a Toxic Free Future (ATFF) were instrumental in obtaining the green purchasing policy.  We researched model state policies and developed a proposed Executive Order which was submitted to former Governor Eliot Spitzer.  The Governor's office then asked us to work with state agencies to refine the proposal.  When we reached agreement, the Order was sent to the Governor by an unprecedented coalition of seven state agencies, including the Departments of Health and Environmental Conservation.  The Executive Order was issued in April 2008 and is being implemented by the Office of General Services and the Department of Environmental Conservation.

View Executive Order

CEC is working with ATFF groups and the state agencies to implement the Executive Order, and is seeking representation on the Green Purchasing Advisory Council. 

Governor's Press Release

“Directing all state agencies to purchase safer, healthier products will provide enormous health and environmental benefits plus cost savings, while also helping to green the marketplace.”

Barbara Warren, Executive Director of Citizen’s Environmental Coalition

Green Purchasing Legislation

CEC is advocating for passage of legislation that will help New York to "green the marketplace" and promote healthy, safe products.  On April 15, 2008 during the annual Earth Day Lobby Day, the New York State Assembly passed the “Healthy and Green Procurement Act” (A.7483-A) by a vote of 116 to 11.

View Healthy and Green Procurement Act bill

The Assembly bill is modeled after the Executive Order, however it is more comprehensive.  Specifically, the bill creates minimum requirements for recycled content in purchased goods, waste reduction, green buildings and energy efficiency.  In addition, products that are made with priority toxic substances, such as persistent, bioaccumulative toxic chemicals (PBTs), carcinogens, and bisphenol A, will not be purchased, whenever there are safer alternative products available.  CEC and ATFF are seeking its passage to ensure that green purchasing becomes the law of the land as Orders are sometimes rescinded after Governors leave office. 

For more information, contact CEC Executive Director Barbara Warren at 518-462-5527 X13 or warrenba@msn.com