Sustainable procurement
Why you need a sustainable procurement policy
Sustainable procurement is not just about buying eco-friendly, socially responsible goods and services – it’s about providing them too.
More and more government departments and large corporations are requiring their suppliers to demonstrate compliance with sustainability standards. This means if you want to submit tenders or proposals you may need to show you have a sustainable procurement policy and have systems to track and measure your performance. Similarly, you might expect such standards from your suppliers. To be effective, sustainable procurement policies and practices need to extend all along the supply chain.
Purpose
Sustainable procurement policies and practices guide the purchasing of good & services that…
Embed sustainability requirements into decision-making over the entire lifecycle and supply chain
Consider environmental, social and governance (ESG) criteria as well as economic factors
Meet requirements of government and business tenders that increasingly specify a sustainable supply chain (you may not be able to tender unless you practice sustainable procurement)
Are defined according to global agreements
Global agreements include:
- UN Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs)
- International Standards Organisation (ISO) Sustainability Standards and systems, specifically ISO20400:2017 Sustainable procurement
- Other ratified international agreements
Scope
Sustainable procurement typically considers issues like…
Human rights, including modern slavery
Due diligence, human rights risk, avoiding complicity, resolving grievances, discrimination, vulnerable groups, civil and political rights, economic, social and cultural rights, fundamental principles and rights at work
Labour rights and workplace conditions
Employment and employment relationships, conditions of work and social protection, social dialogue, health and safety, capacity building and training in the workplace
Consumer issues
Fair marketing, factual/unbiased information, contractual practices, health and safety, sustainable consumption, service/support, complaint resolution, data protection and privacy, access to essential services, education, and awareness
Environmentally damaging (or enhancing) practices
Pollution, sustainable resource use, climate change mitigation, adaptation, protection of the environment, biodiversity, restoration of natural habitats
Fair operating practices
Competition, anti-corruption, responsible political involvement, fair competition, sustainability in the value chain, respect for property rights
Community involvement and development
Supplier diversity, job creation, access to technology, education, culture, social investment, local employment, supporting social enterprises
Procurement standards used
Below are some examples of sustainable procurement planning and action.
Infrastructure Sustainability Council of Australia (ISCA)
The IS rating scheme for infrastructure assets is Australia and New Zealand’s only comprehensive rating system for evaluating economic, social, and environmental performance of infrastructure. This extends across the planning, design, construction, and operational phases of infrastructure assets. The scheme can assess the sustainability performance of infrastructure at the individual assets level, for portfolios or networks, or even at a regional scale. The rating tool is used together with a lifecycle materiality assessment tool as part of the rating process to compare new technologies and compared to business as usual.
UN One Planet Network
The United Nations One Planet Network Sustainable Public Procurement (SPP) programme is a voluntary global multi-stakeholder partnership in which various parties – governmental, non-governmental, public and private – agree to work together in a systematic way. The aim is to promote and accelerate implementation of sustainable public procurement globally, as a way to drive sustainable consumption and production.
Queensland Government procurement policy
The Queensland Government’s procurement policy includes sustainability considerations in its aims, such as supporting regional and remote economies, helping disadvantaged Queenslanders, eliminating modern slavery, reducing carbon emissions and procuring environmentally accredited paper products.
If you want to tender for Queensland Government work you and your suppliers will need to comply with its procurement policies and supplier code of conduct.
Sustainability strategy & practice
