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Commission approves 2019 Buy Green report and highlights safer cleaners during COVID-19
Summary
The commission approved the Department of the Environment's 2019 Buy Green report, which updates sustainable procurement standards (e.g., ecolabel strengthening, expanded ePEAT/ENERGY STAR categories) and launches web resources for safer disinfectants and cleaner choices during the pandemic.
The San Francisco Commission on the Environment on Wednesday approved the department’s 2019 Buy Green annual report and heard a presentation on expanded procurement standards and COVID-era guidance on safer disinfectants.
Jessie Choi (Buy Green analyst) summarized accomplishments: strengthening acceptance criteria for ecolabels, creating a sustainable purchasing committee to advise departmental procurement, raising procurement standards for IT equipment (increasing ePEAT/ENERGY STAR expectations and adding servers and large displays as covered categories) and launching sfapproved.org as a vendor/product reference for city buyers.
Given pandemic concerns, staff explained work on a new webpage and materials that point staff and the public to disinfectants and cleaning products that balance infection-control needs and toxics-reduction goals; staff said the Environmental Protection Agency’s list does not highlight safer disinfectants by product name, so the department compiled safer alternatives and use tips.
The report also includes new procurement scorecards and product-category focus (IT and paint this year). Jessie noted disruptions from COVID-19 limited vendor data for some categories but said staff will return to additional categories (lighting, cleaners) in future reports. The commission voted to approve the 2019 Buy Green report by roll call.
Next steps: staff will continue outreach to department procurement leads, translate materials as appropriate, and pursue regulations for lower‑toxicity paints and resilient flooring.
Representative quote: "We created a list of cleaners that do not have asthmagens," Choi said, noting that the report and product lists are available via sfapproved.org.
