USA
Green Food Purchasing Amendment Act 2021
Summary Description
Reduce overall greenhouse gas emissions associated with food procurement.
Species
Alternative proteins
Jurisdiction
USA
Sub-Jurisdiction
N/A
Type of Act
Legislation
Status
In force
Legal Value
Binding
Date Enacted
2021
Date Updated
December, 2025
Official Citation
District of Columbia, Green Purchasing Amendment Act 2021 (U.S.A.)
Strengths & Weaknesses
Strengths
- Requires the Department of Energy & Environment (DOEE) to adopt a methodology for estimating greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions that occur through the life cycle of foods and beverages and to provide purchasing guidance to District agencies on how to mitigate these emissions (by 1 January 2023). This includes establishing a baseline assessment of the overall annual greenhouse gas associated with the food and beverages purchased by covered agencies (by 1 January 2023).
- Requires agencies to quantify emissions from their food purchases and take steps to reduce these emissions by 25% by 2030 (10% by 2025, 18% by 2027).
- Requires DOEE to prepare an annual report (by 1 February 2025, and each February 1 thereafter) with recommendations for other procurement options that could be targeted to lower greenhouse gas emissions and recommendations to more quickly achieve reduction goals.
Weaknesses
- Private institutions are only encouraged to voluntarily reduce greenhouse gas emissions associated with their food and beverage procurement.
- Does not explicitly call out a shift away from animal-based products and towards plant-based products.
- Although the racial equity impact assessment explicitly states that prioritising foods with lower rates of greenhouse gas emissions would mean reducing the amount of red meat and dairy products, only red meat is addressed.
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