Mats
Green purchasing guidance for mats, including:
- Chair mats
- Entryway mats
Required specifications
Purchasers must include these specifications, unless not possible:
- All floor mats must meet the applicable U.S. EPA Comprehensive Procurement Guideline (CPG) for Mats:
- Rubber floor mats with at least 75% post-consumer recycled content (PCRC) rubber (used tires).
- Plastic floor mats with at least 10% PCRC (e.g., PET water bottles).
Preferred specifications
Purchasers should include these specifications, unless not possible:
- Products with a higher percentage of recycled content than the applicable U.S. EPA CPG for this product category are eligible for a price preference of at least 10%. (Note: Chair mats made with 100% PET water bottles are available and should be included on your market basket list if this type of product is needed.)
- Additional desirable environmental and health attributes of floor mats include the following third-party certifications:
- SCS FloorScore
- SCS Indoor Advantage Gold (low emitting)
- UL GREENGUARD Gold (low emitting)
- USDA BioPreferred
Things to avoid
Purchasers should avoid these specifications whenever possible:
- Floor mats, including chair mats and entryway mats, that contain vinyl (PVC), lead, cadmium, phthalates, and PFAS are prohibited.
Laws, rules, and executive orders
These laws, rules, and executive orders must be included in the contract language:
- EO 04-01: Persistent Toxic Chemicals
- Directs the state to make available for purchase and use by state agencies equipment, supplies, and other products that do not contain persistent and bioaccumulative toxic (PBT) chemicals, unless there is no feasible alternative.
- RCW 43.19A: Recycled Product Procurement
- set a goal of substantially increasing the state’s purchases of recycled-content products, directs the state to set recycled-content standards, and authorizes state agencies to specify, give priority to and/or offer price preferences for products that contain recycled materials.
- DES’ Recycled Content Purchasing Preference Policy (POL-DES-255-00)
- States, “In establishing environmental requirements and preferences for products that contain recycled materials, agencies shall reference the current U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Comprehensive Procurement Guidelines (EPA CPGs) as the minimum standards for the state of Washington.” This policy also directs state agencies to offer a purchasing preference of at least 10% to bidders whose products have a recycled-content percentage that exceeds the EPA CPG minimum.
Find these products on statewide contracts
Find products that meet Washington’s green purchasing specifications:
- Contract 06019: Office Supplies
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
Contact us
Leatta Dahlhoff
Environmental Technical Analyst
Phone 360-407-8108