Stewardship

Stewardship is taking personal responsibility and interest in management of something entrusted to one's care. Environmental stewardship is the responsibility for environmental quality shared by all those whose actions affect the environment.

This sense of responsibility is a value that can be reflected through the choices of individuals, companies, communities, and government organizations, and shaped by unique environmental, social, and economic interests. It is also a behavior demonstrated through continuous improvement of environmental performance, a commitment to efficient use of natural resources, protection of ecosystems and where applicable, ensuring a baseline of compliance with environmental requirements.

Environmental Stewardship in the Federal Government

The Environmental Stewardship Resource Guide (ESRG) connects the many parts of federal stewardship by consolidating data into specific areas that are relevant to federal employees as they do their jobs.  However, the ESRG may be used by all individuals, companies, communities, and government organizations practicing environmental stewardship because they share the same environmental goals.

Environmental stewardship at EPA and all federal agencies is part of a greater effort to make the operations of the entire federal government more sustainable and protective of human health and the environment.

Since publishing its report titled, "Everyday Choices: Opportunities for Environmental Stewardship," (928KB, 25 pp, About PDF) in December 2005, EPA has challenged all its partners to be environmental stewards  and pave the way to a more sustainable future.

The ESRG is our response to that challenge to move toward a more sustainable future and your opportunity to parter with us.

Much of the information in the ESRG can be found in EPA's Greening, Conservation Tools, Environmentally Preferable Purchasing, and Environmental Management Systems Web pages, as well as the resources listed here.

For more information on federal environmental stewardship:

• Office of the Federal Environmental Executive (OFEE)
  OFEE's mission is to promote sustainable environmental stewardship throughout the federal government. OFEE provides guidance and resources to federal agencies in areas such as  waste prevention and recycling, green purchasing, electronics stewardship, environmental management systems, sustainable buildings, and industrial ecology.

• FedCenter.gov
  FedCenter, the Federal Facilities Environmental Stewardship and Compliance Assistance Center, is a source of comprehensive environmental stewardship and compliance assistance information for the federal government.

• General Services Administration (GSA) Environmental Program
  GSA strives to eliminate all damage to the environment resulting from the federal government's operations. GSA provides many resources to help federal agencies.
  



• Joint Service Pollution Prevention and Sustainability Technical Library
  A Web site supported by the Joint Services, the Defense Logistics Agency, and the U.S. Coast Guard that contains links organized by pollution prevention and sustainability topics.

What Can You Save Today? The Resource Conservation Challenge EPA’s Resource Conservation Challenge is a national effort to conserve natural resources and energy by managing materials more efficiently. We accomplish this by committing ourselves to: Reduce more waste. Reuse and recycle more products. Buy more recycled and recyclable products. Reduce toxic chemicals in waste. You can help walk the talk by incorporating these priorities into your agency’s day-to-day operations.