Press Releases

Initiatives in sustainable procurement.

JOINT NEWS RELEASE BY Defra, OGC & OGCbuying.solutions

Government buys into sustainable procurement

The Government today raised the profile of sustainable procurement across the public sector with two announcements representing a major shift in the way the public sector buys goods and services.

Ministers across Whitehall have signed up to the immediate implementation of a range of measures designed to achieve the sustainable buying of a wide variety of products ranging from detergents and potting compost to lighting systems and recycled paper.

From 1 November, all new central government department contracts must apply the minimum environmental standardswhen purchasing certain types of product, which cover aspects such as energy efficiency, recycled content and biodegradability.

To assist departments in achieving this standard, the inter-departmental Sustainable Procurement Group has identified a number of environmental "Quick Wins".To further support this initiative, OGCbuying.solutions has published on its website a list of "Quick Wins" products and services included in its Framework agreements.The list will be kept under review and its coverage widened over time.

The new emphasis on environmental standards represents a significant shift in public sector purchasing practice. To assist Government Departments in meeting this aim, the Joint Note on Environmental Issues in Purchasing, which provides guidance to public buyers, has been revised by Defra and the Office of Government Commerce.Published separately from the "Quick Wins", it demonstrates, through practical examples, how to integrate relevant sustainable development issues into the procurement process.

The revamped version, published today, aims to demystify the complexities of procurement for non-specialists and guide them towards more sustainable purchases.

Margaret Beckett, on behalf of Defra and the Office of Government Commerce said to the House today:

"This revised guidance signals our support for sustainable procurement across government and meets one of the headline recommendations of the Sustainable Procurement Group. Defra and OGC will continue to work closely together with other departments and the government's central buying agencies on minimum standards for commonly purchased products, departmental environmental procurement strategies, ongoing development of sustainable product information and environmental risk assessment for larger procurement projects.

"Sustainable procurement will not be achieved overnight, but this guidance is a vital first step to put in place the structures to support and encourage all those involved in government procurement in delivering this important commitment."

NOTES TO EDITORS

1. Central civil Government spends some £13 billion a year on goods and services, including over 21,000 tonnes of copier paper.A Government wide commitment to buy recycled paper will, for example, save some 350,000 trees, enough energy to heat 10,000 average homes and 300 million gallons of water every year.Waste will also be greatly reduced and an existing contract of the Department for Transport has already saved 11,500 tonnes from going to landfill.

2.The Joint note on environmental issues for purchasing can be found at www.sustainable-development.gov.uk/sdig/improving/contextf.htm and on the Office of Government Commerce website, www.ogc.gov.uk.

3.The Office of Government Commerce (OGC) is an office of HM Treasury which works with central civil Government as a catalyst to achieve best value for money in commercial activities.

4.OGCbuying.solutions, the commercial trading arm of the Office of Government Commerce, was launched on 1 April 2001 and is responsible for identifying and producing value for money purchasing initiatives, offering measurable cost savings to the taxpayer website, www.ogcbuyingsolutions.gov.uk

5.A list of products that have been shown to meet high environmental standards and value for money has been drawn up by OGCbuying.solutions and published on its website: www.ogcbuyingsolutions.gov.uk/environmental/products/environmental_quickwins.asp

6.The Sustainable Procurement Group was set up in November 2001 at the request of the Deputy Prime Minister, the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the Chief Secretary to the Treasury to consider how Government procurement can better support sustainable development.The group has brought together senior officials with expertise in procurement policy and sustainable development, as well as a cross-section of procurement practitioners from departments and the two main Government procurement organisations, NHS Purchasing and Supply Agency (NHS PASA) and OGCbuying.solutions (OGCbs). The Group is chaired by Dr Clare Poulter, Deputy Chief Executive of OGCbuying.solutions. The Environment Agency has provided valuable input as a public sector leader on green procurement.

7.The Sustainable Procurement Group report and recommendations can be found at www.sustainable-development.gov.uk/sdig/improving/contextf.htm.TheGroup is continuing to meet to discuss social and innovation issues in public procurement, with a view to producing further guidance later next year.