Sustainable Procurement Policy Examples

This page provides references and links to the Sustainable Procurement Policies of companies and public sector organisations. It can be helpful to look at the principles and priorities used by other organisations in establishing a policy document of this type. Again the list is by no means exhaustive. Neither does it try to claim to be a showcase of the best policies. It is merely a refernce point where examples can be viewed and the good points and bad points can be considered.

National Audit Office NAO Report on Sustainable Procurement in Central Government
This review of sustainable procurement in central government in the UK highlights some of the problems areas encountered in the process of introducing sustainable procurement across central government. The 2004 Sustainable Development in Government (SDiG) report is reviewed and the possibly misleading impressions given by this report are examined.
website www.nao.org.uk/publications/nao_reports/05-06/sustainable_procurement.pdf
National Health Service NHS Purchasing and Supply Agency Sustainable Development Policy
In this policy document the Agency commits itself to the principles of sustainable development and sets out how it will try to pursue this cause.
website www.pasa.nhs.uk/sustainabledevelopment/environment/docs/sd_policy_march2003.doc
MoD (Food Procuremement) This document sets out the Sustainable Procurement Policy of the Minitry of Defence.
The MoD uses "3663" as its central food supplier. MoD has joined in the Public Sector Food Procurement Initiative which requires sustainability to be considered in procurement.
website www.mod.uk/linked_files/dlo/catering/mod_fpps.pdf
St Andrews University University Sustainable Procurement Policy
Sustainability issues are raised in purchasing decisions, evaluating suppliers and contractors and raising awareness amongst staff. The University recognises it's responsibility to procure goods and services in a sustainable manner and strives to incorporate whole life costs and impacts of products in purchasing decisions.
website www.st-andrews.ac.uk/resbus/proc_ProcGuide.shtml
Yorkshire & Humber Assembly Towards Sustainable procurement
"..the adoption of sustainable procurement policies will educate and encourage others.." The guide seeks to encourage and explain in straight forward non-specialist terms, how the public sector can introduce sustainable procurement.
website www.yhassembly.gov.uk/p_contentDocs/657_1.pdf
Northumberland National Park Authority A Sustainable, Fair Trade and e-Procurement policy.
Policy document looks at e-procurement , ethical issues as well as sustainability, interlinking them all. Best value for money means choosing the optimum combination of whole life costs and benefits to meet the customers requirements.
website www.northumberland-national-park.org.uk/AboutUs/Policies/Policies/ProcurementPolicy.htm
Crown Prosecution Service Selling to the CPS - A Guide to Suppliers.
"Where appropriate, goods and services specifications will include environmental criteria..." The CPS provides information on it's website about the requirements they place on suppliers who want to sell to them. Details of the structure of the CPS Departmental Procurement Unit are given and an outline of their sustainable procurement policy is given.
website www.cps.gov.uk/publications/finance/sellcps.html
University of Oxford University guidelines to members of staff regarding the main aims of environmental purchasing policy.
This document attempts to ensure that all members of staff involved in the procurement of goods and services across the University use environmental responsibility as a factor in their purchasing decisions.
website http://www.admin.ox.ac.uk/purchasing/env.shtml
University of Hertfordshire The University is a fair trade organisation and tries to promote sustainable procurement practices.
The university of Hertfordshire spends over £30 million per year on goods and services. The Purchasing department tries to buy locally and use whole life costing in it's purchasing decisions as well as a number of other sustainable procurement practices.
website www.herts.ac.uk/envstrat/purchasing