The Biden Administration has unveiled the first set of recommendations under its Federal Buy Clean Initiative, an undertaking that aims to drive the development of American-made, low-carbon construction materials, while also supporting job growth.

During a visit to the Cleveland-Cliffs Direct Reduction steel plant in Toledo, Ohio, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, U.S. General Services Administration Administrator Robin Carnahan, and Deputy National Climate Advisor Ali Zaidi announced that the federal government will prioritize the purchase of green construction materials, which will encompass 98% of materials purchased by the government. 

The Federal Buy Clean Initiative is a part of President Biden’s economic plan, which includes the $1.2 trillion Infrastructure Law, the $485 billion Inflation Reduction Act, and the $52 billion CHIPS and Science Act. As detailed by the White House, the federal government is the largest direct purchaser of construction materials in the world, meaning it can have a significant impact on how they are made and used. This is especially critical as the U.S. manufacturing sector is responsible for nearly a third of U.S greenhouse emissions from industrial processes. 

The Federal Buy Clean Initiative recommendations stem from an executive order made by Biden in December, which directed the government to make its procurement practices greener and take other actions to achieve a net-zero economy by 2050.

The Federal Buy Clean Initiative recommendations include:

• Prioritizing the purchase of steel, concrete, asphalt, and flat glass that have lower levels of emissions. 

• Expanding lower-carbon construction materials used in federally-funded projects.

• Convening states to partner on Buy Clean, aligning states with federal incentives to expand markets for clean manufacturing and low-carbon materials. 

• Increasing data transparency through supplier reporting to help American manufacturers track and reduce emissions.

• Launching pilot programs to advance federal procurement of clean construction materials.