• Accessories
• Clothing
• Footwear
• Personal care products
• Uniforms

Required specifications

Purchasers must include these specifications, unless not possible:

• EO 20-01: State Efficiency and Environmental Performance (SEEP) 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.”
  
  It further states, “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.”

Preferred specifications

Purchasers should include these specifications, unless not possible:

• Natural fibers including organic cotton, linen, hemp, silk, wool, alpaca, and bamboo
• Made with recycled materials
• Organically grown cotton, bleached without the use of chlorine
• Cradle to Cradle: Apparel, Textile and Footwear-Silver or higher: Apparel, Textile & Footwear - Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute (c2ccertified.org) or Products C2C Certified: Certified products - Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute (c2ccertified.org)
• Global Organic Textile Standard
• Fair Trade Certified label
• Bluesign
• B Corporation
• Global Recycled Standard
• Sustainable Apparel Coalition
• Fair Wear Foundation
• Better Cotton Initiative
• Plant-based dyes
• Recycled content
• Ethical manufacturing or sweatshop-free clothing: vendors who pay a living wage, comply with general labor standards, and maintain a transparent supply chain
• Durable
• Machine washable
• Made in the United States

Things to avoid

Purchasers should avoid these specifications whenever possible:

• Synthetic fabric where possible
• Nondurable clothing
• Surplus buying
• PFAS

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)

Find these products on statewide contracts

Find products that meet Washington’s green purchasing specifications:

• Contract 20122: Correctional Industries
• Contract 01420: Custom Uniform
• Contract 05719: Custom Uniforms
• Contract 01417: Non-custom Uniforms and Accessories

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