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A Strategic Approach to Sustainability

Sustainability is one of four cross-agency strategies in EPA’s Strategic Plan for FY 2014-2018.  This strategy commits EPA to integrating sustainability into the Agency's day-to-day operations by routinely considering the following principles in decisions and actions, as appropriate:

  1. Conserve, protect, restore, and improve the supply and quality of natural resources and environmental media (energy, water, materials, ecosystems, land, and air) over the long term;
  2. Align and integrate programs, tools, incentives, and indicators to achieve as many positive outcomes as possible in environmental, economic, and social systems; and,
  3. Consider the full life cycles of multiple natural resources, processes, and pollutants in order to prevent pollution, reduce waste, and create a sustainable future.  

Four areas outlined in EPA's strategic plan for delivering sustainable results include: