Framework for the Assessment of Environmental Performance Standards and Ecolabels for Federal Purchasing
Overview
There are over 460 standards and ecolabels in the marketplace claiming to help purchasers identify and procure more sustainable products and services. This presents the federal acquisition community both great opportunities and challenges. The Framework for the Assessment of Environmental Performance Standards and Ecolabels (Framework) (pdf) provides a transparent, fair and consistent approach to assessing marketplace standards and ecolabels for environmental sustainability and for potential inclusion into EPA’s Recommendations of Specifications, Standards and Ecolabels for Federal Purchasing (Recommendations). The Framework encourages continuous improvement of sustainability approaches and other criteria within standards and ecolabels and the products and services that they address.
Executive Order 14057, the accompanying Federal Sustainability Plan and the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) subpart 23.1 require federal agencies to purchase sustainable products and services to the maximum extent practicable. The Recommendations are identified as one of the required EPA purchasing programs that federal purchasers must utilize to meet the various sustainable purchasing requirements and goals.
Learn more about the Framework development process.
Assessment Against the Framework
In November 2022, EPA announced the expansion of the Recommendations of Specifications, Standards, and Ecolabels for Federal Purchasing and invited managers of standards development organizations, ecolabel programs, and associated conformity assessment bodies to apply for potential assessment against the Framework.
EPA indicated interest in assessing multi-attribute standards and ecolabels that recognize environmental performance leadership and address purchase categories not already included in the Recommendations that support federal goals and mandates regarding climate (e.g., net-zero emissions procurement and low embodied carbon construction materials), safer chemicals (e.g., products that do not contain perfluoroalkyl or polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)), and/or other Administration sustainable acquisition priorities.
In addition, EPA indicated an interest in assessing standards and ecolabels which address purchase categories already included in the Recommendations. See the current list of purchase categories.
In August 2023, EPA announced the first five purchase categories chosen for standard/ecolabel assessment for the expansion of the Recommendations.
- Food Service Ware (e.g. containers, cutlery and dishware)
- Healthcare
- Laboratories
- Professional Services
- Uniforms & Clothing
In September 2024, EPA announced proposed updates to the Recommendations for public comment. Read the federal register notice of EPA's proposed update to the Recommendations and submit a comment to the docket by Oct. 15, 2024.
In addition, EPA implemented two new eligibility criteria that standards and ecolabels must meet to be included in the Recommendations. This includes a requirement for a publicly available and current directory of products and services certified by the standard or ecolabel, and a requirement that all organizations must have a competent conformity assessment or third-party verification program associated with their standard or ecolabel. As part of its draft update, EPA is also proposing to remove six standards and ecolabels that are currently in the Recommendations that were not able to meet these eligibility criteria.
Additional Resources
- Read the federal register notice of EPA's proposed update to the Recommendations and submit a comment to the docket by Oct. 15, 2024.
- Read the November 2022 Federal Register Notice.
- Learn more about the 2022 update to the Framework (pdf).
- Learn more about the Framework development process.
Contact Us
Email [email protected].
The Framework: Sections I – IV
In addition to the scoping questions, the Framework includes four criteria sections:
- Section I: Process for Developing the Standard — Is the standard a voluntary consensus standard? If not, are the procedures to develop, maintain, and update an environmental standard transparent? Do they allow for a balance of different stakeholder interests? Is there an appeals process for disputes?
- EPA indicates in the Recommendations when a standard is not found to be a voluntary consensus standard per OMB A119, but standards and ecolabels that follow other development processes are included in the Recommendations.
- Section II: Environmental Effectiveness of the Standard — Do the environmental criteria in the standard/ecolabel meaningfully and measurably address the issue? Does the standard address key stages in the product lifecycle that may pose environmental and human health risks?
- Standards and ecolabels must meet the baseline criteria within this section in order to be included in EPA’s Recommendations. The criteria also determines the tiering/preference based on whether a standard is multi-attribute or single attribute.
- Section III: Conformity Assessment — For example: Are the procedures and practices by which products are assessed transparent? Are there provisions for independent verification that products meet the standard, if necessary?
- Standards and ecolabels have until December 2023 to demonstrate that their label complies with this section of the Framework, at which point, compliance will be required for inclusion in EPA’s Recommendations.
- Section IV: Management of Ecolabeling Programs — For example: Do the organizational and management practices provide for dispute resolution? Are the practices and fees transparent?
- It is not required to meet this Section to be included in the Recommendations. Where applicable, responses to this section are encouraged to inform potential federal users and other interested parties about the governance and implementation of the ecolabel.