NEWS
ADDRESSING THE
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS OF
GOVERNMENT PROCUREMENT
National Audit Office report has found foundations of good practice. Of the
A
that government has strengthened its departments that the NAO examined, only the
drive to purchase more environmentally NHS Purchasing and Supply Agency (NHS PASA)
sustainable goods and services. In 2005 the reported that it is practising sustainable
government set a target to be recognised by procurement across its business, although the
2009 as one of the leaders in the EU in DWP is close to achieving the same level.
sustainable procurement. However a number of The government has also set itself
departments are not yet on course to be mandatory minimum environmental standards
practising sustainable procurement across their for the procurement of goods – “Quick Wins”. In
businesses by the end of 2009. 2007-08, 15 out of 21 departments reported
The NAO report, which reviewed actions that they were compliant with these standards,
T
’S NEW?
taken by the Office of Government Commerce although six of these 15 did not have systems to
(OGC) and five of the largest spending measure their compliance. Methods of assessing
departments, found that some have introduced environmental costs and benefits are complex
initiatives which are reducing environmental and hence expensive, and are not being used
impact and in some cases also saving money. frequently by departments. The Office of
For example, the DWP estimates that it has Government Commerce needs to clarify how
saved £3.6 million and 3,000 tonnes CO
2
in these evaluation methods should be used.
2007-08 by reducing the business miles Tim Burr, Head of the National Audit Office,
travelled by department staff in their own said: “Minimising environmental impact is
vehicles. The OGC is collaborating with recognised by government as a key criterion of
departments in the establishment of framework good procurement. In 2008 progress was made
WHA
contracts for sustainable products, to drive by departments, but only some are on target to
sustainable outcomes and achieve savings. be practising sustainable procurement across
Government has yet to set quantifiable their business by the end of this year.
targets for departments, who instead assess their Procurement decisions need to be supported by
progress in embedding sustainable procurement a more thorough understanding of
practices against the “Flexible Framework” environmental benefits and costs, so that
model. According to their self-assessments for departments can show that their procurement
2007-08, 8 out of 22 departments reported that meets the twin requirements of sustainability and
they are only at level one of the Framework (out value for money.” www.nao.org.uk
of five) indicating that they have laid only the
news news news news news news news
BCS LAUNCHES GREEN balance the internal and managing stakeholder unique opportunity for
IT QUALIFICATION external economic drivers they relationships and professionals from across
As organisations look to face. We’re confident that behaviours business to gain a greater
demonstrate corporate social individuals who complete this By the end of the three day understanding of how to
responsibility (CSR) and qualification will be able to course, candidates will have a develop best practice in green
reduce carbon emissions, develop a strategy that will fundamental understanding of IT.”
BCS, in conjunction with QA, bring significant benefit to the importance of IT when The qualification will launch
is launching the Foundation their business.” trying to achieve an with a three month pilot
Certificate in Green IT. The The qualification will organisation’s green objective, period in the UK, before
qualification provides provide an understanding of an ability to identify their own becoming widely available
candidates with the necessary the regulations, legislation and green IT requirements and across the globe. It will be
understanding of best practice policies, carbon energy how to address them. followed later this year by a
in the burgeoning area of accounting and how to create Pete concludes: “We are second qualification:
green IT. a green IT strategy. It will also launching this qualification in Practitioner Certificate for
BCS Qualifications Director, cover: response to demand from Data Centre Operators. This
Pete Bayley explains: business benefit businesses across the UK will provide understanding of
“Organisations need to know end to end costing which want to develop IT the EU Code of Conduct for
how to comply with ever emissions and energy strategies. The qualification data centre operators.
tightening legislation, how efficiencies has been developed by Further details can be found
they can create significant procurement, lifecycle, experts in the field and it at: www.bcs.org/greenit and
cost-efficiencies, and how to and disposal planning offers an independent and www.qa.com/pbpgitf
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SUSTAINABLE FM | MAY 2009
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