Commission for Environmental Cooperation Promoting Green Purchasing in North America 

Promoting Green Purchasing in North America

Cleaning products, office supplies and equipment, and electricity
Commission for Environmental Cooperation

393, rue St-Jacques Ouest, Bureau 200

Montréal (Québec) Canada H2Y 1N9

t (514) 350-4300 f (514) 350-4314

info@cec.org / www.cec.org

Printed in Canada on paper containing 100% post-consumer waste fibers
Table of Contents

1.0 Background 5

 1.1 Green Purchasing 5

 1.2 North American Green Purchasing Initiative 5

 1.3 Council Directives on Procurement 6

 1.4 Project Description and Action Plans 6

2.0 Defining “Green” 9

2.1 Green Cleaning Products 9

2.2 Green Office Supplies and Equipment 10

2.3 Green Electricity 12

3.0 Promotion Plan 15

3.1 Canada and the United States 15

3.1.1 Cleaning Products and Off ice Supplies 13

3.1.2 Developing Purchasing Specif ications 

for Graff iti Removal Products 16

3.1.3 Green Electricity 17

3.2 Mexico 19

3.2.1 Cleaning Products 19

3.2.2 Off ice Supplies and Equipment 22

3.2.3 Green Electricity 23

Promoting Green Purchasing in North America
This implementation plan aims to provide 

tools and information to encourage 

institutions, including governments at 

all levels, universities, hospitals, and 

private companies, to increase their 

purchases of:

1. green cleaning products, 

2. green office supplies, and

3. green electricity. 
1.0 Background

1.1 Green Purchasing1

Green products and services have beneficial environmental and/or energy attributes, such 

as recycled content, energy efficiency, and little or no amounts of hazardous or toxic constituents. They often produce economic benefits from these and other attributes. The NAFTA 

Parties attach strong importance to the promotion of North American markets for green 

products and services and are committed to purchasing them and promoting their use by 

all levels of governments and nongovernmental entities. Applying environmental decisions 

to even a fraction of the one trillion dollar annual North American procurement market 

would stimulate the demand for green products and services and produce significant environmental benefits.

There are a number of obstacles that prevent growth of the North American green procurement market, however, such as a need to share information about successful procurement 

techniques, including energy or environmental attributes, market segments within and 

outside of the national governments, existing life-cycle or cost-benefit tools appropriate for 

purchasing a given product or service, and government or third-party certification opportunities. Also, there is no common baseline of energy and environmental attributes for given 

products or services. 

Working together through the CEC, the Parties can overcome some of these obstacles and 

help “grow” the green procurement market across North America.

1.2 North American Green Purchasing Initiative

The CEC has created the North American Green Purchasing Initiative (NAGPI), and has 

taken initial steps to bring together representatives of key green purchasing programs across 

North America, document the level of green purchasing, and identify some success stories. 

The CEC-led NAGPI is composed of representatives of the three Parties, state and local 

Promoting Green Purchasing in North America

1.1 Green Purchasing

1.2 North America Green Purchasing Initiative

1.3 Council Directives on Procurement

1.4 Project Description and Action Plans

1 Green purchasing is also called responsible purchasing, smart purchasing, socially responsible purchasing, 

environmentally preferable purchasing, etc.

2 This plan focuses on environmental attributes. There are many social and cost benefits as well, 

but they are less direct.

Commission for Environmental Cooperation
governments, third-party certification organizations, non-profit organizations, the private 

sector, and academia working on green purchasing issues in North America. NAGPI’s mission is “to improve, promote, and facilitate the development of green purchasing tools and 

activities across North America to create markets for green products and services from sustainably managed companies, thereby producing tangible economic, social, and environmental benefits. 

NAGPI has, among other activities over the last two and one-half years, compiled a set of 

case studies and green purchasing policies, developed a database of supporting tools and 

procurement policies across North America, and developed a green purchasing self-assessment tool for organizations. 

1.3 Council Directives on Procurement

The CEC Council directed the Secretariat in 2003 to work with the Parties and NAGPI to 

develop a green purchasing action plan consistent with the national and international obligations of the Parties. 

As part of that plan, the Secretariat was asked to identify tools, priorities, and best practices 

to facilitate green purchasing, and to explore the willingness of the Parties to identify specific 

product categories for possible priority attention in the 2004 work program. In keeping with 

CEC practice, discussion of the plan has and will continue to include stakeholder input. 

Members of the NAGPI steering committee proposed three specific product categories 

for possible priority attention in the 2004 and 2005 work programs. These were renewable 

energy, green office supplies and green cleaning products. 

During its 2004 session, the CEC Council, in the Puebla Declaration, directed the (NAAEC 

Article) 10(6) Group to develop a strategic plan on trade and the environment. In February 

2005, the 10(6) Group agreed to include green purchasing as a priority area within this strategic plan and to further develop a green purchasing action plan, consistent with national 

and international obligations of the Parties for the three products proposed by NAGPI. 

1.4 Project Description and Action Plans

This document combines the action plans or implementation strategies developed by the 

three NAGPI steering committee subgroups—renewable energy, led by John Polak (Terra 

Choice Inc), green cleaning products, led by Scot Case (then at the Center for a New American Dream and now at Alvernia College Faculty Institute), and green office supplies, led 

by Christine Cowan (Public Works and Government Services Canada)—into one master 

implementation plan. These three plans with their associated budget can be found at <www.

nagpi.net>. 

This implementation plan aims to provide tools and information to encourage institutions, 

including governments at all levels, universities, hospitals, and private companies, to increase 

their purchases of: (1) green cleaning products, (2) green office supplies and equipment, and 

(3) green electricity. This plan of action supports the 10(6) Strategic Plan goal to “promote policies and actions that provide mutual benefits for the environment, trade and the economy” by 

providing the CEC and the broader public with tools to increase trade in products that have 
Promoting Green Purchasing in North America

beneficial environmental attributes and help develop new markets across North America for 

green products and services, thereby taking advantage of market-based approaches to promote 

environmental protection and sustainability. This implementation plan also aims to improve 

regional and national coordination, and capacity building objectives, while promoting policy 

coherence related to the purchase of these three types of products. 

Preliminary studies and network contacts indicate that green cleaning products, office supplies, and green electricity markets appear to be more mature in the United States and Canada than they are in Mexico. The main differences between the countries for each product 

are presented in Table 1. 

In all three countries, however, there is a similar need to promote the importance and rapidly expand the use of green office supplies and equipment, green cleaning products and 

green electricity.

Given the different needs of the three countries, this draft action plan is divided into two 

concurrent efforts. The first focuses on US and Canadian needs to promote widespread use 

of existing standards to accelerate purchases of green cleaning products, office supplies and 

equipment, and electricity. 

The second effort focuses on the needs of Mexico. For green cleaning products, it aims to 

identify those products, develop an appropriate standard, and demonstrate the products’ 

effectiveness. For green office supplies and printing equipment, it aims to develop adequate 

criteria to carry out their purchasing. Finally, if there is an interest, the possibilities of 

developing a green electricity program in Mexico will be explored, and could lead to a pilot 

project of “green” electricity procurement.

In summary, this paper first proposes definitions of “green” suitable for use by the NAGPI 

subcommittees. Next, a promotion plan is proposed that would encourage and foster the 

procurement of green electricity, office supplies and cleaning products by institutional players 

in North America, including a pilot project in Mexico. 

Table 1 Main Differences in Market Maturity for Green Office Supplies, Cleaning Products and Equipment, 

and Green Electricity 

Green cleaning products 

Canada & US

generally accepted standards

Mexico

standards not yet developed

Green office supplies and equipment

Canada & US

recognized environmental 

certification programs

Mexico

certification programs not yet 

developed

Green electricity

Canada & US

recognized environmental 

certification programs

Mexico

generation and sale of 

electricity is contained within 

one national utility, thus there 

is no real marketplace for 

electricity, precluding a marketbased approach to promote 

“green” electricity. Certified 

“green” electricity is not 

currently available in Mexico.

2.0 Defining “Green” 2.1 Green Cleaning Products

Cleaning products cover a wide range of product types for a variety of applications. These 

include household, institutional, and industrial hard and soft surface cleaners, with specific 

subcategories as listed in Table 2.

Within each category, a number of specific environmental impacts are often included in 

environmental leadership criteria as listed in Table 3.

Promoting Green Purchasing in North America

2.1 Green Cleaning Products

2.2 Green Of f ice Supplies and Equipment

2.3 Green Electricity

Commission for Environmental Cooperation

Table 3 Environmental impacts included in environmental leadership criteria

aerobic and anaerobic 

degradability

no carcinogens 

no ether, toxic metals, alkyl phenol 

ethoxylates (APEOs), EGME, EFEE, 

and EGPE, aromatic solvents, 

halogenated solvents, ammonia 

(for window cleaners), Quats 

(for disinfectants), bleach (for 

bathroom cleaners)

limits on corrosivity and skin or 

eye irritability

limits on aquatic and human 

toxicity

minimization or absence of 

fragrances

packaging limitations for volatile 

organic compounds

reproductive toxics

Table 2 Household, institutional and industrial hard and soft surface cleaners

window cleaners

multi-purpose cleaners

degreasers

industrial cleaners

disinfectants

cleaners

dish cleaners

carpet cleaners

Laundry detergents

boat/bilge cleaners

vehicle cleaners

cooking appliance cleaners

bathroom

floor cleaners

graffiti removers
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Rather than attempt to define a set of overarching criteria, the NAGPI Steering Committee 

decided to accept the definitions of Green Seal and the Environmental Choice Program. 

In this particular initiative, efforts will focus on the cleaning products used to clean the

interiors of office buildings and elementary and secondary schools. Current promotion 

efforts will not address exterior cleaning or the unique needs of hospitals or healthcare and 

daycare facilities.

In this context, promotion will be focused on general purpose, bathroom, glass, floor care, 

and carpet care products and on green graffiti removers. Efforts will not at this time be spent 

on specialty cleaners for applications such as metal cleaning, parts cleaning, carwashes, 

street maintenance, or other possible uses.

2.2 Green Office Supplies and Equipment

Given the range of possible supplies and equipment purchased for use in offices, the initial 

promotion effort has been narrowed to paper products, printers and photocopiers. The focus 

will be on bulk paper for printers, photocopiers, etc., rather than specialized types of paper. 

For the moment, it will not address other offices supplies and equipment.

For paper, the main environmental impacts concern the source of the fibers (e.g., percentage 

of recycled content) and the manufacturing process. In the pursuit of green purchasing a 

buyer may consider:

n Whether the company that manufactures the paper exhibits environmental 

leadership qualities by having programs in place to conserve raw materials (including water and energy) and natural systems, minimize waste, and 

employ clean production techniques; 

n The recycled/high post-consumer fiber content of the paper, the type of fibers 

used to make the paper (if specified), and whether the wood to make the paper 

comes from sustainably managed forests; 

n The criteria used by third-party organizations to define "environmentally preferable" paper products and whether there are certified products;

n The bleaching methods the manufacturer uses; and

n Buying in large volumes through framework contracts.
Promoting Green Purchasing in North America 11

Buyers should also thoroughly understand the performance attributes they require in the 

paper products they select for their applications. This includes not only what is required 

of the paper itself (i.e., its burst strength as measured in pounds or in grams per square 

meter) but also the allowable content of recycled fibers, and possible trade-offs (e.g., 

applications requiring photo quality paper do not lend themselves to high post-consumer 

fiber content). 

In addition, buyers may want to consider developing an organizational plan to promote 

paper recycling and reduce paper consumption through electronic media options. Such 

a plan could include information on avoiding unnecessary printing, making double-sided 

copying the default on printers and photocopiers throughout the office, and use of print 

auditing software if feasible.

Since no common definition of “green paper” is available, a stakeholder meeting will be 

held on 29 November 2005, in Montreal, to further discuss: (1) what might constitute “green 

paper” in North America; (2) common terminology; (3) audit frequency, standards updates, 

and an incremental approach. 

For photocopiers and printers, energy use and duplex copying ability tend to be the most 

important areas to focus on in order to reduce environmental impact. In the pursuit of green 

purchasing or leasing photocopiers and printers, organizations may want to consider: 

n Planning for the entire life of the product. (For example, a buyer or leaser 

may want to consider front-end impacts such as the amount of packing material accompanying the products and whether take-back programs exist for the 

machines being replaced). 

n Purchasing multi-function products (i.e., machine that can perform multiple 

functions such as copying, faxing, printing, and/or scanning). 

n Incorporating energy use and duplexing ability into purchasing decisions; 

n Considering total cost of ownership. The total cost of ownership is the total 

environmental costs of buying, operating and disposing of the machine. This 

would include, among other things: minimal packaging and reduced shipping requirements; the cost to make a copy (toner costs); energy costs; consideration of duplex copying; the cost to maintain the machine and having a 

maintenance plan; and minimizing the impact of disposal by not purchasing 

machines with lead in their circuit boards or selenium in their drums. 

n Look at alternatives to purchasing photocopiers and printers, such as using 

printing services (buying pages, not machines).
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n Taking advantage of available standards such as ENERGY STAR and EcoLogo 

and otherwise ensuring that energy savings features are engaged.

n Assessing the size and quantity of printers needed, including personal printers.

n Considering chain of custody after a machine’s useful life in one organization. 

For instance, the organization can factor in a machine’s eventual disposal in 

purchasing decisions, by buying products that can be easily dismantled and 

containing components that can be reused and recycled easily. 

2.3 Green Electricity

The process of generating electricity for our daily activities can create a range of negative 

impacts, including the release of greenhouse gases, air pollution, habitat destruction, mercury 

releases and depletion of valuable non-renewable resources. Green electricity is recognized as 

electricity derived from renewable sources with minimal adverse environmental effects and is 

also sometimes called green power or renewable electricity. 

The marketplace for green electricity in North America is maturing rapidly. Although the 

specifics of green electricity may vary from organization to organization, most definitions 

embrace the two fundamentals of renewability and reduced environmental impact. 

Independent verification and certification of electricity is widely accepted as a means of 

ensuring consumer protection in the green electricity marketplace. Two such programs in 

North America are Green-e in the United States and the Environmental Choice TM Program 

in Canada. To date, no Mexican program exists for green electricity certification.

Tradable renewable electricity certificates (TRCs) (also called Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs or green tags) are also gaining acceptance in the marketplace as an alternative means of buying green electricity. TRCs embody the environmental benefits associated 

with generating green electricity. Currently, TRCs are being purchased by utilities, electric 

service providers, electricity marketers and retailers, and residential and commercial customers. Protection of, and disclosure to, consumers has also driven the development of two 

voluntary TRCs certification programs in North America, Green-e in the United States and 

Green Leaf 

TM in Canada.
Promoting Green Purchasing in North America 13

In order to avoid the difficult process of finding a single acceptable definition of green electricity, it was decided that NAGPI’s definition must be based on the state of green electricity 

in North America today. Although there are many definitions of green electricity, Environmental Choice TM Program (ECP), run by TerraChoice and Green-e, run by the Centre 

for Resource Solutions have already undertaken research into what could and should be 

defined as “green.” They are credible, recognized as leaders in the marketplace, they have 

incorporated similar elements in their certifications, and they have assessed whether or not 

the electricity meets their definitions. Additionally, purchasing certified TRCs, with the 

appropriate specifications, is widely accepted as an alternative to buying green electricity. 

It is thus proposed that NAGPI recognize the definitions proposed by these organizations. 

Accordingly, green electricity is defined as the electricity from renewable resources that 

meet specified environmental criteria that have been verified or certified by these two independent third-party organizations. 
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Commission for Environmental Cooperation 15

3.0 Promotion Plan 

3.1 Canada and the United States

3.1.1 Cleaning Products and Office Supplies

When faced with a limited budget with which to conduct an outreach strategy, the first 

step is to refine the scope of the intended audience. NAGPI’s current membership includes 

organizations with very strong ties to federal, provincial/state, and local governments. As 

a result, it makes sense to begin NAGPI’s outreach efforts by focusing on these important 

target audiences.

The following steps can be taken to expand the use of green cleaning products and office supplies and equipment among government purchasers. All steps would be undertaken separately for cleaning products and office supplies, as the targeted audience may vary from one 

product to another.

1.	 Generate NAGPI-approved fact sheets. The Secretariat can create for 

approval a brief two- to four-page fact sheet highlighting the importance of 

switching to greener products and providing specific recommendations for 

making the switch. The fact sheets would highlight the successful efforts of 

various government bodies. They would also feature, as appropriate, information about the agreed upon certification standards, in addition to how the 

products meet other applicable standards. NAGPI members would then be 

encouraged to distribute the fact sheet through their distribution channels 

and to post it on their own websites.

2.	 Create a webpage on the CEC NAGPI site devoted to green products. NAGPI 

can create and approve a simple webpage stressing the importance of using 

more environmentally responsible products and recommending that purchasers buy certified products. The pages, one for each category, can be created 

quite easily using the information previously compiled by NAGPI members. 

They would include profiles of successful efforts to switch to greener products 

and links to additional information.

Promoting Green Purchasing in North America

3.1 Canada and the United States

3.2 Mexico
16

3.	 Issue NAGPI press releases. NAGPI can issue press releases describing, as 

appropriate, agreed-upon third-party certifications for specific products. 

These would target trade press publications that cater to government purchasers and other stakeholders. The press releases would emphasize the human 

health and environmental benefits of switching to green products. They would 

also include links to the NAGPI web site and fact sheets, and encourage participation in upcoming conference calls. 

4.	 Host a series of interactive conference calls. These calls would be open to 

government purchasers interested in learning more about green products and 

would feature a series of speakers to share their knowledge and expertise using 

PowerPoint presentations. The calls would allow for question and answer 

periods, with the speakers fielding questions from the listeners. A typical call 

would include an expert who would discuss the human health and environmental benefits of switching to greener products. The first speaker’s presentation would be followed by a presentation from a certifier who would explain 

how his or her organization developed its standards and how purchasers are 

using the standard to buy green products. Each call would also highlight a 

government agency or department that switched to the greener products. Participants would be asked to rate the effectiveness of each speaker and the overall effectiveness of the call. Six months after each call, participants could be 

contacted to determine if the call encouraged them to buy greener products.

3.1.2 Developing Purchasing Specifications for Graffiti Removal Products 

In 2003, the Center for a New American Dream conducted a study of graffiti removal products 

in Portland, Oregon. It discovered that there was no correlation between the environmental 

preferability of the products and their effectiveness. Others have also begun investigating 

the availability of green graffiti removal products. Given the broad interest in identifying 

green graffiti removal products, a unique opportunity is available for NAGPI to facilitate the 

development of purchasing specifications that can be used to identify green products.

The following steps can be taken to develop the necessary purchasing specifications:

n Review all existing studies that seek to identify green graffiti removal products. Identify all of the relevant variables affecting product effectiveness (e.g., 

surface type [brick, stucco, stone, metal, wood, concrete], graffiti instrument 

[spray paint, lipstick, oil-based paint]). List all of the chemicals of concern and 

their possible adverse human health or environmental impacts. Indicate areas 

where the studies concur with one another and areas where they differ.

n Consult with outside experts, including but not limited to EPA’s Design for 

the Environment (DfE) program and the Zero Waste Alliance, to identify a 

more complete list of the chemicals of concern. Use the prioritized list and 

information available from MSDS sheets and other credible technical sources 

to develop a list of green graffiti removal products organized into several tiers, 

from the safest to the most hazardous.
Promoting Green Purchasing in North America 17

n Narrow the scope of the project to a few designated surface types and graffiti 

instruments based on conversations with likely pilot project participants. [It is 

impossible with a small-scale project and limited budget to cover entirely the 

possible combinations of surface type and graffiti instrument.]

n Conduct pilot projects in several cities throughout the United States and 

Canada to determine if the green products are as effective as the more hazardous products. The cities should be selected to provide a variety of climates 

and surfaces from which graffiti needs to be removed. Document pilot project 

results in individual case studies and a more comprehensive overview report.

n Develop a purchasing specification that can be used to identify green 

and highly effective graffiti removal products. 

n Promote use of the specification and the green products through case 

studies, fact sheets, and trade press articles.

n Identify and prioritize further research needs in the development of green 

graffiti removers.

3.1.3 Green Electricity

Any approach to encouraging institutional procurement of green electricity should take 

advantage of the drivers influencing the marketplace and existing purchasing networks 

(whether for green goods or not). The NAGPI Subcommittee on Electricity also needs to better understand what tools institutional procurers need to help them buy green electricity.

By the end of 2006, the subcommittee should reach the following broad goals: 

n Learn lessons from organizations working on institutional green electricity 

purchasing (e.g., World Resources Institute (WRI), US Environmental Protection Agency).

n Stimulate institutional purchasing partnerships such as that offered by WRI.

n Join forces with other important power-purchasing groups.

n Governments consider offering procurers incentives to buy green electricity.

n Gain public endorsement from a well-known figure (e.g., Paul Hawkins, who 

has relationships with officials in “Fortune 500” companies).

Listed below are the tasks necessary to achieve these goals. They are specifically aimed to 

foster green electricity purchasing by both public and private sector buyers. They are not 

listed according to importance, but by stages (the first to be completed by the end of February 2006, and the second by the end of December 2006). Tasks within each stage should be 

performed in tandem whenever appropriate. 
18

Phase One: End February 2006 Completion

n Assess user needs (in-kind time of subcommittee members).

− Using the existing NAGPI network of participants and contacts, determine 

motivations for buying green electricity, information needs and what specific tools users would find useful.

n Develop “polished” outreach materials in electronic format, including:

− Definitions sheet

− FAQs (ensure it also addresses obstacles, e.g., cost and supply)

− Available resources/web sites

− Backgrounder

− Contributing articles (e.g., “State of Green Purchasing,” 

“Why Buy Green Electricity,” etc.)

− Rationale for buying green electricity

− Success stories

− A “How-To” guide with simple graphics (e.g., encourage “easy” 

purchases at first, such as buying tags to offset a conference)

− Standardized presentation package for all NAGPI participants to use

n Develop and implement a communications strategy to encourage information 

multipliers to:

− Place outreach materials on their web sites

− Make references to green electricity in newsletters or presentations

− Invite discussion about green electricity within their memberships

− Invite NAGPI subcommittee members to speak at annual general meetings 

and/or conferences

− Provide outreach materials to make available at such events

− Strategic distribution of outreach materials to institutional purchasers 

through current distribution channels using structured electronic distribution (e.g., e-mail trees, etc.)

Phase Two: End December 2006 Completion

n Foster relationships with purchasing organizations, keep green electricity on 

their agendas and maintain quarterly contact. Assign one group to each subcommittee member.

− General procurement groups: ISM, NIGP, PMAC, etc.

− Green procurement groups: Governments Incorporating Procurement 

Policies to Eliminate Refuse (GIPPER), Association of Canadian Cities for 

Environmentally Sustainable Strategies (ACCESS), etc.

− Government purchasing groups: Government Services Administration 

(GSA), Public Works & Government Services Canada (PWGSC), Mexican 

Environment and Natural Resources Ministry (Semarnat), Mexican Secretary of Energy (Sener), etc.

− Government policy groups: Boards of Governors, etc.
Promoting Green Purchasing in North America 19

− Green building initiatives: Leadership in Energy and Environmental 

Design (LEED), Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM), Green Building Initiative, the Consortium for 

Research on Renewable Industrial Materials, etc.

− CSR-related groups: Business for Social Responsibility (BSR), 

Co-op America, etc.

− Specific “Fortune 500” type companies (e.g., Time Inc., Starbucks, etc.) 

n Specific roles for all NAGPI members

− Become familiar with the basics surrounding green electricity.

− Address annual general meetings / conferences of information multipliers.

− Make outreach materials available on web site. 

3.2 Mexico

In Mexico, at the federal government level there is a legal requirement in each office to develop 

and apply an Environment Management System (EMS), which includes green purchasing, 

responsible consumption, waste management, and energy and water savings in buildings. 

The recommendations and criteria development to assure the application of an EMS are the 

responsibility of the Secretariat of Environment and Natural Resources (Semarnat), and, in 

leading by example, since 1996, Semarnat has overseen a Sustainable Administration Program, which establishes a green purchasing strategy.

Although there is no ecological certification system for products in Mexico, an amendment 

to the Federal Law for Acquisition was recently adopted. This amendment, which applies to 

every federal-level governmental office, includes requirements to take into account (in purchasing, leasing and hiring of services) energy efficiency and the responsible use of water. In 

this regard, all governmental purchasers must incorporate these criteria and assure that the 

products and services are, to a certain extent, environmentally friendly.

3.2.1 Cleaning Products

There are currently no efforts underway to promote the use of green cleaning products in 

Mexico, but the Office of the Secretary of Semarnat is interested in piloting their use. The 

pilot project would include reviewing the products currently being used to clean the facility, 

identifying an appropriate standard for green cleaners, buying locally available products 

that meet the standard, training the janitorial workers, tracking product effectiveness, and 

calculating the resulting environmental and other associated benefits.

There are currently no Mexican standards for green cleaning products. Different market 

dynamics might make the product testing required by the standards used in the United 

States and Canada cost-prohibitive in Mexico. 

Like many organizations, Semarnat does not purchase its cleaning products directly. Janitorial services companies, hired by building owners, provide all of the necessary cleaning 

supplies. This means both the building owner and the janitorial services company will play 

critical roles in the pilot project.
20

An 18-month, three-phase process for introducing green cleaning products is proposed, which 

will also build a stable foundation for future expansion of Mexican green cleaning programs:

Phase One: Research (6 months)

n Contract with green cleaning experts familiar with the Mexican janitorial 

services industry and the products it typically uses.

n Visit the four Semarnat buildings to assess cleaning needs and inform the 

green-cleaning experts, who will be working closely with the local officials, 

to develop a green cleaning strategy that covers both the cleaning chemicals 

and the cleaning practices.

n Examine the existing cleaning product standards already in use in Mexico 

to determine if human health or environmental indicators already exist and 

are in use. In addition, explore the possibility of working with the existing 

standard-setting organizations in Mexico to integrate human health and 

environmental considerations into future versions of their standards.

n Review the products currently used to clean Semarnat’s facilities in order to 

identify and prioritize the human health and other environmental hazards 

associated with the products. When reviewing the products, the contractor 

should reference the US Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) chemical 

priority list, check with EPA’s Design for the Environment (DfE) Program for 

a list of chemicals specific to the cleaning industry, and review the Green Seal 

and Environmental Choice standards. The contractor will then recommend 

the products that should be replaced with green alternatives. 

n Begin developing a standard appropriate for use in Mexico, based on the 

contractor’s product review and consultations with Semarnat, the janitorial 

services company, and local cleaning product suppliers. In addition to the 

technical specifications necessary to identify green products, the contractor 

shall propose a low-cost, effective way of identifying products meeting 

the standard.

n Work with the janitorial service company’s current suppliers to determine if 

green products are easily available. If not, identify alternative suppliers and 

begin the negotiations necessary to introduce them on a pilot basis.

n Share results of the research at a September 2005 green cleaning meeting 

currently being planned by Semarnat.

n Incorporate new green cleaning product standards and janitorial 

practices into the annual cleaning contract, which is due to be re-issued 

in January 2006.
Promoting Green Purchasing in North America 21

Phase Two – Pilot Project (6 months)

n Design and launch a six-month pilot project to test the green cleaners. 

Semarnat occupies several offices within a four-building government complex. 

If possible, test the green cleaners and practices in two of the office buildings 

while continuing to use the traditional products and practices in the remaining two buildings. This approach will permit detailed comparisons of 

cleaning effectiveness and possible benefits to employee productivity and 

absenteeism rates.

Phase Three – Project Promotion (6 months)

n Upon completion of the six-month pilot project, share project results with 

other government agencies, local industry groups, and local environmental 

organizations that might be able to publicize the benefits of switching to 

green cleaners and practices.

3.2.2 Office Supplies and Equipment

There exists already a considerable amount of information on the lifecycle of paper, photocopiers and printers scattered throughout the Internet and various other sources. Most of 

the information available relates to the planning and acquisition stages. The challenge is to 

locate and disseminate relevant information to the appropriate users, as well as to include 

the other phases of the life cycle.

Common concerns for all three product groups (paper, printers and photocopiers) are:

n Sharing information between those people who possess it and those who have 

a stake and need greater access to it.

n Educating the end-users in the importance of green procurement and the 

available options.

It is slightly less important but still relevant for Mexico to develop objective criteria for paper, 

printers and photocopiers, given the national market potential to supply products with these 

characteristics. However, a Mexican certification program for green paper, printers and photocopiers is currently not in place. It is thus proposed to develop paper criteria to be presented to the suppliers and assure that purchasers can demand certain characteristics. 
22

The following approach is proposed:

n Share the approaches and information used by EcoLogo and Terra Choice to 

define special criteria for the Mexican paper market (both for producers and 

purchasers) and apply them in Semarnat before their general application in all 

federal government offices. 

n Organize an event to exchange information and experience with the Mexican 

paper industry to promote cleaner production of paper, in the framework of 

Life Cycle Analysis. 

n Once the criteria are defined, follow the four steps proposed for the US and 

Canada Work Plan.
Promoting Green Purchasing in North America 23

3.2.3 Green Electricity

The generation and sale of electricity in Mexico is contained within one national utility. 

Consequently, there is no real marketplace for electricity. Therefore, it will not be possible 

at this time to implement a market-based approach to promote “green” electricity. It also 

does not appear that generators of electricity in Mexico have had their generation facilities 

or electricity products certified as “low-impact renewable.” Furthermore, under the circumstances described earlier in this document, certified “green” electricity is not currently available in Mexico. 

Instead of focusing on market instruments, this phase of the project will develop alternative institutional instruments to foster renewable energy development in Mexico. Some 

resources will be devoted to raising the Mexican government’s interest in developing a green 

procurement program for renewable energy. Studies could involve the following:

1. Develop a communication strategy to encourage information multipliers 

(as proposed for the United States and Canada in section 3.1.3 above);

2. Promote the purchasing of efficient and energy-saver equipment and systems 

used by the government agencies; 

3. Review, with the Ministry of Energy, the opportunities and possibilities for the 

developing of green electricity, by means of self-generation and co-generation 

capacities at the federal agencies level and at the municipal level. [Possible pilot 

project: to develop a biogas landfill-based prototype, applicable in Mexico];

4. Support the development of the certification capacity in Mexico, harmonized 

with the Canadian and United States systems, through the promotion of the purchasing of green electricity and tradable renewable energy certificates (TRCs).

In cases 3 and 4 (above) green electricity could refer to:

n green electricity certified by Canadian or US programs;

n green electricity (from renewable sources) without certification; or

n green electricity certified by newly developed Mexican entity.
This implementation plan aims to provide tools and information to encourage 

institutions, including governments at all levels, universities, hospitals, and 

private companies, to increase their purchases of:

1. green cleaning products,

2. green office supplies and equipment, and

3. green electricity. 

Commission for Environmental Cooperation

393, rue St-Jacques Ouest, Bureau 200

Montréal (Québec) Canada H2Y 1N9

t (514) 350-4300 f (514) 350-4314

info@cec.org / www.cec.org