Environment to be a driver in Council procurement
Wednesday, July 5 2006
Scottish Borders Council, one of the region's biggest consumers with a spending power worth some £110 million a year, is to make the welfare of the environment a major factor in its future buying decisions.
The Council's Executive has voted to support a sustainable procurement strategy which will take into account environmental
friendliness when deciding what goods and services to buy.
The policy will consider factors such as how much energy a product uses or takes to manufacture, whether it uses sustainable
materials (ones that can be regrown) and how much pollution or carbon dioxide it creates. The impact on communities where
goods are manufactured will also be taken into account.
According to the report, sustainable procurement means achieving four objectives:
* Effective protection of the environment by, for example, reducing CO2 emissions and environmental impacts to mitigate climate
change
* Prudent use of natural resources
* Social progress that recognises the needs of everyone
* Maintenance of high and stable levels of economic growth and employment.
"Scottish Borders Council is one of the region's biggest consumers. We buy everything from computers and stationery to vehicles,
bitumen and cleaning materials to insurance, uniforms and food," explained Jackie Foster, SBC Purchasing & Reprographics Manager.
"A good guide for environmental purchasing is to consider the whole life costs of a product, not just the initial purchase price. For instance, we must also take into account costs like installation, transport, energy and water consumption, licence fees, operation and maintenance, administration and disposal."
She cites the example of a pack of batteries. Nickel-cadmium may be twice the price of alkaline, but after battery life and
recharging rates are taken into account, their whole life cost is considerably lower.
Like other Local Authorities, SBC will consider banning the use of environmentally damaging products, if an alternative is
available. These might include products such as:
* Ozone depleting chemicals
* Tropical hardwood, which is not independently certified as coming from a well-managed forest (eg FSC or European Woodmark
or equivalent label)
* Pesticides on the UK Red List or EC Black List
* Peat for soil amelioration purposes.
The Council aims to train all procurement staff in sustainable procurement by December 2006. SBC also wants to work with other Local Authorities to establish a benchmarking system that will identify sustainable products being bought and those that should be on a 'not to buy' list. By June 2007, the Council hopes to produce a guidance document on key products, detailing environmental risks and alternative products.
The new sustainable procurement strategy will be reviewed on an annual basis to ensure that it is delivering its objectives and stays in compliance with EU Procurement Legislation.
Unified Solutions.