Cal/EPA Joins Green Buying Partnership

For Immediate Release (C-05-96)
Contact: Communications Office (916) 324-9670
February 7, 1996

555 Capitol Mall, Suite 525
Sacramento, CA 95814
(916) 324-9670
FAX (916) 445-5563

SACRAMENTO -- California Secretary for Environmental Protection James M. Strock announced today Cal/EPA's new membership in national Green Seal partnership. This private organization helps coordinate its member's purchase an use of environmentally sensitive products.

"Green Seal is an excellent example of an innovative, private, market-driven program which provides significant environmental improvement. By encouraging the purchase of environmentally friendly products commonly used in offices, Green Seal not only supports emerging businesses and technologies, but also helps spread the individual environmental ethic from the workplace to the home and beyond," Strock said.

Most of Cal/EPA's boards and departments now have "green procurement" policies and active recycling programs. The new partnership with Green Seal will provide additional information and advice on further steps for continuing environmental improvement. In addition, Cal/EPA will work with Green Seal to provide other partners with up-to-date information about product development and technological advancement.

"Advancing environmental technologies and businesses is a key part of Cal/EPA's mission. We see active participation in the Green Seal partnership as natural way of advancing that goal," Strock concluded.

Additional information about the Green Seal partnership can be obtained by calling (202) 331-7337. Copies of the agreement can be obtained by calling (916) 324-9670. The attached fact sheet highlights the benefits of environmentally friendly procurement.

Environmental Impact Figures re: Environmental Partners Program

When 1,000 offices recycle two pounds of paper each week, they will prevent the amount of air pollution (182 tons) equivalent to removing about 29 cars from the road. And the trees preserved by recycling produce will save enough oxygen for over 42,000 people to breathe freely each year.

Recycling one ton of office paper creates 95 % less air pollution than producing virgin paper, and requires 40% less energy.

By switching to recycled paper, each year an office with 350 employees could save the amount of forest that would cover three football fields (360 trees), not to mention the oil, water and energy associated with making Virgin paper. Ordinary paint used for offices and buildings usually contains VOCs (volatile organic compounds) and other harmful chemicals.

By switching to newly developed low or, "zero-VOC" paints, we can significantly reduce air pollution and contamination from toxic waste, creating safer living conditions for humans and wildlife. By switching 500 incandescent light bulbs to compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs), an office building could save 350,000 kWh of energy or the amount of energy needed to power 64 houses (lighting and appliances).

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