Commission approves Buy Green municipal report; library staff win award for phenol‑free receipt paper

Staff presented the annual Buy Green (environmentally preferable purchasing) report and a focused data review of municipal hand‑sanitizer purchases. Gabriel Hernandez, an environmental analyst, told commissioners that 83% of hand sanitizers purchased under city term contracts were compliant with the requirement that products be alcohol‑based; noncompliance was concentrated in wipes containing benzalkonium chloride.

Shoba Iyer and colleagues outlined program accomplishments and next steps, including training and Buy Green office hours with other city departments. Staff also announced the Buy Green award for 2024 to Ruben Juarez of the San Francisco Public Library for leading the library’s transition to phenol‑free receipt paper (reducing BPA/BPS exposures). Juarez described a multi‑year effort to identify compatible paper, test it in printers and POS systems, and secure institutional adoption across the library system.

A commissioner suggested exploring a 'print receipts by request' policy to reduce thermal‑paper exposure across departments; staff noted the library already offers a paperless receipt option at self‑checkout and agreed to follow up on other departments’ usage of thermal paper.

Commissioner Tompkins moved and Commissioner Ahn seconded approval of the updated Buy Green report circulated that day. The clerk called the roll; Vice President Sullivan and Commissioners Ahn, Bermejo, Hunter, Tompkins and Yuan voted aye and the motion passed.

Next steps: staff will continue outreach to improve compliance in lagging departments, follow up on receipt‑reduction strategies, and pursue Buy Green office hours to support green procurement across city agencies.