Defense Logistics Agency Helps Drive Green Product Industry
April 25, 2009 // Published as a news service by IHS
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The U.S. Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) is using its procurement influence to help drive the market for green products and services by buying energy-efficient products to supply to its customers.
This helps government mandates, such as the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, which requires federal agencies to give preference in their purchasing programs to products and practices that conserve and protect natural resources, according to the DLA.
"DLA enhances its environmental stewardship by making more green product options available to customers - those that are more energy-efficient to operate, that are made with recovered content or that have reduced hazardous components," said Karen Moran, DLA environmental protection specialist.
As warfighters and other government agencies that purchase from DLA become more educated about the cost benefits of using green products, they will realize the positive impact they can make on the environment and set an example for other consumers, said Wayne Webber, DLA project integration specialist.
In 2002, DLA began identifying green products with an environmental attribute code in the Federal Catalog System, signifying that the product meets "strict, definable environmental standards and criteria."
DLA manages 4,180 national stock numbered items in the Federal Catalog System that are coded as green. In addition, more than 100,000 green products are included in the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) EMALL, the DoD online shopping tool operated by DLA.
Moran said purchasing green products is also a regulatory requirement for federal agencies. A variety of laws and executive orders mandate the acquisition of these kinds of products, with similar guidance outlined in the Federal Acquisition Regulation.
DLA's biggest selling green item is re-refined lubricating oil.
According to the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) web site, re-refined lubricating oil is subject to the same refining, compounding and performance standards as virgin oil. In addition, laboratory testing and field studies concluded that re-refined oil is equivalent to virgin oil and passes all prescribed tests.
DLA also offers spare parts, such as gaskets, that are alternatives to products used by the military services that contain asbestos. It also offers more than 5,000 energy-efficient lighting items through its Energy-Efficient Lighting Program.
DLA's green items can be purchased using military standard requisitioning and issue procedures or through the DoD EMALL. During fourth quarter 2008, more than $3 million worth of green products were purchased through the DoD EMALL, according to DLA.
Source: U.S. Defense Logistics Agency (DLA).