Objectives
DoD’s SPP reduces both life-cycle costs and the impact of DoD activities on personnel and on the environment. DoD’s SPP aims to:
- Reduce operational costs
- Reduce liabilities
- Enhance product performance
- Educate appropriate DoD employees on procurement requirements, roles and responsibilities, and opportunities
- Enhance or protect the health and safety of personnel.
- Reduce solid and hazardous waste generation
- Reduce pollution and harmful emissions
- Increase energy security and resilience
- Increase the use of biobased products
- Reduce the use of ozone-depleting substances and hazardous and toxic chemicals
- Reduce energy and resource consumption
- Expand markets for sustainable products and services
Management
DoD’s SPP is jointly management by the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Energy, Installations, and Environment (ASD(EI&E)) and the Principal Director of Defense Pricing, Contracting, and Acquisition Policy (DPCAP) within the Officer of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment (USD(A&S)). More information is available on the ASD(EI&E) and DPCAP websites.
DoD’s SPP also recognizes that every person has a role to play. The following staff may support implementation and maintenance of the DoD SPP: procurement, contracting, engineering, environmental management, energy management, range management, facilities operations, logistics, transportation, supply, public affairs, legal, government purchase card program, maintenance, medical, pollution prevention, quality assurance, planning, budgeting, tenant, and nonappropriated fund organization personnel.
The SPP addresses relevant statutory and regulatory drivers while also remaining flexible in order to comply with all other components of Federal sustainable procurement. To achieve this adaptability, DoD’s SPP structure adheres to the basic framework of an Environmental Management System. This approach addresses regulatory requirements in a systematic and cost-effective manner to reduce environmental impacts and increase operating efficiency, using the following elements:
- Commitment and Policy
- Planning
- Implementation
- Monitoring and Corrective Action
- Management Review
Products
In accordance with DoD Instruction (DoDI) 4105.72, Procurement of Sustainable Goods and Services, DoD’s SPP implements a program that addresses the following goals and preferences for:
- Recycled content products designated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
- Energy-efficient products and services, such as ENERGY STAR® qualified and Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP)-designated products, as identified by the EPA and the Department of Energy (DOE)
- Biobased content products designated by the Department of Agriculture (USDA)
- The Significant New Alternatives Policy Program (SNAP) identifies acceptable alternatives to ozone-depleting substances
- WaterSense certified products and services (water-efficient products)
- Safer Choice-labeled products (chemically intensive products that contain safer ingredients)
- Alternative fuels and alternative fuel vehicles
- Low-emission vehicles
- Products that produce renewable energy
- Sustainable building products
- Environmentally sustainable electronic products
- Alternatives to hazardous or toxic chemicals