Lake County, IL
File #: 25-0963    Version: Name: Resolution to approve an Environmentally Preferred Purchasing Policy.
Type: resolution Status: On hold in F&A and/or Standing Committee
File created: 7/11/2025 In control: Financial & Administrative Committee
On agenda: Final action:
Title: Resolution to approve an Environmentally Preferred Purchasing Policy.
Attachments: 1. Environmentally Preferred Purchasing Policy_Presented 7.31.25, 2. Environmentally Preferred Purchasing Policy_Proposed 8.28.25_Redlined, 3. Environmentally Preferred Purchasing Policy_Proposed 8.28.25_Clean, 4. EPP Presentation_10.9.25, 5. Environmentally Preferred Certification Form_Proposed 10.9.25

Title

Resolution to approve an Environmentally Preferred Purchasing Policy.

 

Staff Summary

•                     Staff developed a draft of an Environmentally Preferred Purchasing Policy (EPP) to align with the County Board’s Strategic Plan priority for a sustainable environment and presented the draft for discussion on July 31. 2025.

•                     Subsequent to Committee feedback, staff made amendments to the policy and outlined the changes.

•                     An EPP policy provides direction to staff to prioritize the products and services that have a reduced negative environmental impact.

 

Body

RESOLUTION

 

WHEREAS, the Lake County Strategic Plan encompasses several goals related to energy conservation, reducing emissions, promoting renewable energy, protecting natural resources, and implementing smart growth policies as part of its commitment to strong environmental protection measures; and

 

WHEREAS, Lake County is susceptible to the impacts of environmental pollution and climate change, including extreme rain and snow events, heat waves, cold temperatures, flooding, biodiversity loss, erosion, and the associated adverse impacts on human health and the environment; and

 

WHEREAS, an organization can utilize private sector standards and ecolabels to identify and procure environmentally preferable products and services; and

 

WHEREAS, an organization can identify the environmental impacts of its goods and services purchasing and develop a set of strategies, goals, and actions that address these impacts.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by this County Board of Lake County, Illinois, that a program is established where the County will purchase products and services that have a reduced negative environmental impact when compared with competing products and services that serve the same purpose unless such products or standards 1) are not available with reasonable competition, 2) are not available within a reasonable timeframe, or 3) do not perform as required for County’s intended use; and

 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the attached policy document is adopted and will go into effect on January 1, 2026.

 

DATED at Waukegan, Illinois, on September 9, 2025.