New EPA Guidelines Promote Reusables, Compostables in Federal Food Service Ware

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has proposed a significant update to its recommendations for sustainable food service ware, aiming to guide federal purchasing decisions toward more environmentally friendly options. Announced on September 10, the proposed changes include additional standards and ecolabels that cover reusable, certified recyclable, and certified compostable products. These updates, which are open for public comment for 30 days, incorporate certifications from organizations like Clean Production Action and the Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute.

In its newly published guidelines, the EPA ranked the best options for sustainable food service ware, with reusables topping the list. These products are favored when used in systems that allow for repeated collection, washing, and return. Certified compostable items are the next best choice, followed by certified recyclable products. The agency ranked recyclable items lower due to low recycling rates, often caused by contamination or the small size of items like utensils.

This marks the first update to the EPA’s Recommendations of Specifications, Standards, and Ecolabels for Federal Purchasing in nearly a decade. The update process, initiated in November 2022, involved a review of standards to ensure they meet criteria for environmental effectiveness, transparency, and development.

Jennie Romer, deputy assistant administrator for pollution prevention at the EPA’s Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention, emphasized the importance of these updated recommendations. She noted that with the growing number of ecolabels in the market, the EPA’s guidance helps federal purchasers make more informed, sustainable choices.

The Biden administration has also set ambitious goals to phase out single-use plastics in federal procurement by 2027, with plans to replace them with reusable, compostable, and highly recyclable products. This effort is part of a broader strategy to achieve net-zero federal procurement by 2050, building on previous executive orders.

These updates coincide with the Federal Trade Commission’s review of its Green Guides, which provide guidelines for environmental marketing claims. As sustainability continues to gain importance in federal procurement, these efforts aim to ensure that environmental standards keep pace with evolving market and regulatory demands.