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Environmentally Preferable Purchasing

Product Attributes

Attributes are the most important environmental, human health and social characteristics related to a product or service throughout its lifecycle. The stages of a product’s lifecycle include extraction and processing of raw materials, transportation, manufacturing, distribution, use, and handling at the end of a product’s life.

The Washington State Department of Ecology uses the attributes discussed here to guide the development of product fact sheets. The fact sheets discuss how to evaluate and select products and services based on these attributes, plus how-to’s for purchasing. Reputable standards and certifications organizations also provide excellent information about human health, environmental and social characteristics of products and services.

Generally, the more positive attributes that apply to a product or service, the more environmentally preferable it is. However, some attributes may be more critical than others depending on the product. For example, low toxicity is a highly important attribute to consider when purchasing cleaning products.

Here is the list of attributes:

• Air Quality
• Climate Change
• Energy Efficiency
• Packaging Efficiency
• Product Longevity
• Product Miles
• Product Take-Back
• Recyclability
• Recycled Content
• Renewable Resources
• Sustainable Labor Practices
• Toxic Chemicals
• Water Efficiency

For further EPP assistance and resources, contact

Karin Kraft Email: kakr461@ecy.wa.gov (360) 407-6693

Tina Simcich Email: tisi461@ecy.wa.gov (360) 407-7517

Liz Kunz Email:lkun461@ecy.wa.gov (360) 407-6358