• Coffee
• Juice
• Milk
• Tea
• Water
• Etc.

Preferred specifications

Purchasers should include these specifications, unless not possible:

• EO 20-01: State Efficiency and Environmental Performance (SEEP)
  • “When making purchasing, construction, leasing, and other decisions that affect state government’s emissions of greenhouse gases (GHGs) or other toxic substances, agencies shall explicitly consider the benefits and costs (including the social costs of carbon) of available options to avoid those emissions. Where cost-effective and workable solutions are available that will reduce or eliminate emissions, decision makers shall select the lower-emissions options.” It further states that “reducing…the use of dangerous toxics in the products state agencies purchase will all have a direct positive effect on human health, particularly for vulnerable children.”
  • State employees and food service providers should avoid serving bottled water at state-sponsored events in order to save money and reduce waste.
  • In addition, state agencies should include water fountains and water bottle refill stations on their contracts and look for opportunities to install them in their facilities.
• State employees and food service providers should offer plant-based beverages (e.g., almond or soy milk) at state-sponsored events and venues.
• Pursuant to DES policy DES-090-09: Purchases of Washington Grown Food and RCW 39.26DES-090-09: Purchases of Washington Grown Food.090(9)(a-b), “All food contracts must include a Plan for acquiring Washington Grown Food.”
• Additional desirable environmental and health attributes of beverages include the following third-party certifications:
  • CCOF, Oregon Tilth, USDA Organic, or an equivalent organic product certifier approved by the state.
  • Fair Trade (various certifications for coffee, tea and cocoa).
  • Rainforest Alliance.
  • Green-e (made with renewable energy).
• For more information, see RPN’s Fair Trade Purchasing Guide for Cities and Towns

Laws, rules, and executive orders

These laws, rules, and executive orders must be included in the contract language:

• EO 20-01: State Efficiency and Environmental Performance (SEEP)
• DES-090-09: Purchases of Washington Grown Food
• RCW 39.26DES-090-09: Purchases of Washington Grown Food.090(9)(a-b)
• RPN’s Fair Trade Purchasing Guide for Cities and Towns

Find these products on statewide contracts

Find products that meet Washington’s green purchasing specifications:

• Contract 04518: Bulk Food: Frozen, Chilled, Canned, Refrigerated, and Dry Goods

End of life

Surplus goods that still can be used

• Use surplus disposal to get rid of items you no longer need. Keep materials out of landfills and make funds for your agency.

Recycling and disposal

Hazardous waste disposal guidelines and options:

• Department of Ecology: Dispose, recycle, or treat dangerous waste
• Washington Recycles