CNS wins gold, silver DOE GreenBuy awards
April 22, 2022

Y-12, Pantex honored for “green purchasing” efforts

OAK RIDGE, TN -- Y-12 National Security Complex in Oak Ridge and the Pantex Plant in Amarillo, TX turned green into gold and silver, respectively, with GreenBuy awards from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) for sustainable purchasing. The awards recognize excellence in “green purchasing” that extends beyond minimum compliance.

This is the fourth year for Y-12 and second year for Pantex to receive a GreenBuy award. Multiple recognitions are significant because GreenBuy awards call for continuous improvement. Both sites are managed and operated by Consolidated Nuclear Security, LLC (CNS).

By participating in the GreenBuy Program, the sites leverage the federal government’s purchasing dollars to achieve mission goals while improving the marketplace for sustainable products and services, as well as reducing the overall environmental impacts of DOE’s operations.

Shab Fardanesh, Senior Sustainable Acquisition Advisor for the DOE’s Office of Environment, Health, Safety, and Security, said, “This voluntary program helps DOE sites systematically reduce their footprint through environmentally sustainable purchases. As an added bonus, employees can also use this information to make greener and healthier purchases at home.”


Exceeding the goals

Sites must purchase a minimum of nine products in at least five categories to receive the Gold award. Y-12 exceeded those milestones by purchasing 10 priority products in the requisite categories in fiscal year 2021. The categories range from lowering health and environmental impacts to reducing maintenance and waste-management costs.

Pantex exceeded the goals for the Silver award by purchasing six priority products in four categories.

CNS Sustainability and Stewardship Manager Jan Jackson said, “Both sites achieved these awards by demonstrating excellence in sustainable acquisition for recycling electronics and purchasing of paper towels, toilet tissue, other consumables, and electronic equipment as priority products.”

Sherith Hudson, CNS Sustainable Acquisition Program coordinator, added, “These awards recognize that the CNS Sustainable Acquisition Program trained 399 employees at Y-12 and Pantex involved in specifying and procuring materials, products, and services during Fiscal Year 2021.”

Learn more about the GreenBuy Award Program and its recognition of DOE sites for excellence in “green purchasing.”