The following are suggested environmental purchasing issues for you to consider when preparing your application.
- Where possible the purchase of goods, services and works in the local area should be encouraged to lessen the environmental harm caused by transport, where this is not anti-competitive and in accordance with all statutory and regulatory requirements of both the UK and EU.
- Avoid purchasing products that have excessive packaging in order to minimise the production of waste.

Recycled Paper/Plastic
- Wherever possible, paper products should have a 100% recycled content or contain the maximum proportion of recycled material commensurate with their use. All paper supplied and used must have been produced causing the least possible harm to the environment and all environmental claims must be capable of being substantiated, eg, Chlorine free.
- All items made from plastic should be either made solely from recycled material or contain a significant proportion of recycled/reprocessed material.

Chemicals
- No goods or packaging should contain chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), hydrochlorofluorcarbons (HCFCs), halons, 111 trichloroethane or any other ozone depleting substances (or have them used in their manufacture) and, as far as is practicable, be free of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) or other substances damaging to health and the environment
- Chemicals that appear on the UK 'Red List' or the EU 'Black List' must not be purchased or used.
- The purchase of all aerosols should be avoided (even when they do not contain CFC/HCFC propellants). Wherever possible refillable hand sprays should be bought instead.

Wood
- All new furniture should not contain CFC/HCFC blown foams or woods or veneers from non-renewable sources.
- All timber and timber products supplied to and used by project applicants must be independently certified under an internationally recognised, globally applicable, independent certification system for good forest management. The scheme should take into account environmental, ecological, biodiversity, social and economic needs, showing the timber or timber product is from a credible, well managed sustainable source.
- Reused timber is to be preferred over new timber products

- Chipboard, plywood and MDF (medium density fibreboard) must be free of formaldehyde glue and contain only the minimum of formaldehyde resins.
- All paint and timber finishes (including primers and undercoats) should be water based or have the lowest possible VOC content consistent with their application.

Electrical Items
- Preference should be given to purchasing electrical appliances, tools and equipment with the lowest power consumption commensurate with their use and/or equipped with power saving devices which should be enabled at the factory.
- Batteries are to be avoided, especially those containing cadmium or mercury. Solar powered or mechanical appliances are to be favoured. If batteries must be used, consideration should be given to the use of rechargeable batteries. Nickel Metal Hydride (NiMH) are to be preferred.
- Low energy light bulbs should be used in all appropriate circumstances.

Energy/Water Efficiency
- A high level of energy efficiency will be expected in any building related project. Items such as high efficiency lighting and controls, improved building fabric insulation, replacement windows (eg K-glass) and the use of the most appropriate energy efficient heating systems and control should be incorporated into relevant projects.
- The use of renewable energy sources should be incorporated wherever possible. These include wind and solar power and can also include the use of Combined Heat and Power (CHP - though this is not a renewable energy source, the efficiency of CHP makes it a desirable item).
- Equipment that uses or dispenses water should be of the most water and energy efficient type.
- Vehicles and machinery should be the most energy efficient types, consistent with the use.
- Preference must be given to the purchase of the least environmentally harmful fuel available.

Sources of Garden and Open Space Products
- Trees, plants, seeds and bulbs must be from cultivated stock, ideally from within the UK.
- The purchase of peat and peat based products is to be avoided and the use of the least environmentally damaging peat substitute and soil conditioners is to be favoured.

Miscellaneous
If a building or structure is involved in the application, does it contain bats? If so, how is the project proposing to handle their presence during the works.