Environmentally Preferable Purchasing

Logo to buying green with arrown in teh middle

The Environmentally Preferable Purchasing (EPP) Program supports state agencies with information and assistance to make environmentally preferable decisions in their procurements. These best practices are provided through the EPP Best Practices Manual (BPM) (Public Contract Code 12401(e)) which is also known as the Buying Green Guide.

EPP Best Practices Manual

- First page provides guidance on what criteria to look for when purchasing green products.

- Second page provides an extensive list of EPP vetted environmental criteria that can be applied to specific products.

- Additional pages include common terms, acronyms, and references to help state purchasing employees buy green.

NEWS

April 28, 2026: How California is using EPEAT to build a net-zero future. California leverages the EPEAT ecolabel to ensure electronics purchased by state government meet stringent requirements for reduced emissions, responsible material use, and energy efficiency. This article explores how those purchases translate into real quantifiable benefits for the environment.

Expand All

EPP Training

The California Procurement and Contracting Academy (CalPCA) has developed training modules to help requisitioners, buyers, supervisors and managers buy green with ease. These training programs assist procurement officials by introducing the criteria that can be used while purchasing goods and services to increase EPP within a department.