ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses the evolving debate about green procurement in the United States within a broad context of environmental management practices and the changing acquisition landscape. It examines the role of the Federal government and particularly the role that the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has had to play in advancing, shaping and putting into practice the concept of green procurement. The Executive Order called on the EPA to issue guidance that Federal agencies should use to identify and give preference to environmentally preferable products and services. There was also a great deal of discussion about the appropriate role that third-party environmental labelling or environmental certification programmes could play in helping Federal purchasers identify environmentally preferable products. 'Greener' public purchasing requires the expertise of both the environmental and the acquisition/procurement experts. The changing acquisition landscape will dictate special considerations for environmentally preferable purchasing.
