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Awards and Plaques

Government agencies purchase millions of dollars worth of awards and plaques each year for awards programs, recognition ceremonies, and other initiatives. Recovered-content awards are generally made from blown glass while plaques can be made with a variety of recovered materials including wood, paper, plastic, and plastic/wood composites.

Recommended Recovered Materials Content Ranges:

EPA's Recovered Materials Advisory Notice (RMAN) recommends recycled-content levels for purchasing awards and plaques as shown in the table below.

EPA's Recommended Recovered Materials Content Levels
for Awards and Plaques ¹

Material Postconsumer Content (%) Total Recovered Materials Content (%)
Glass 75-100 100
Wood -- 100
Paper 40-100 40-100
Plastic and Plastic/
Wood Composite
50-100 95-100


¹EPA's recommendations do not preclude a procuring agency from purchasing awards and plaques manufactured from other materials. They simply require that a procuring agency, when purchasing glass, wood, paper, or plastic awards or plaques, purchase these items containing recovered materials when the item meets applicable specifications and performance requirements.

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Product Information:

Database of Manufacturers and Suppliers
This database identifies manufacturers and suppliers of awards and plaques containing recovered materials.

GSA Advantage!
The General Services Administration's (GSA's) Federal Supply Schedule Group 99, Schedule VI A, includes plaques made from recovered materials. In addition, GSA publishes various supply catalogues, guides, and schedules for recycled-content products available through the Federal Supply Service.

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Additional Links:

2007 Buy-Recycled Series: Miscellaneous Products (PDF) (7 pp, 146K, About PDF)
This fact sheet highlights miscellaneous products designated in the CPG, including awards and plaques, and includes recommended recovered-content levels and a list of resources.

Technical Background Document (PDF) (215 pp, 381K, About PDF)
This background document includes EPA's product research on recovered-content awards and plaques as well as a more detailed overview of the history and regulatory requirements of the CPG process.

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