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Sustainability and Policy through Procurement

The public sector has a vital role in furthering sustainable development, through its procurement of buildings, goods, works and services. The UK Government Sustainable Development Strategy (Securing the Future) has committed the public sector to lead by example in delivering those objectives, since it was published in March 2005.

Sustainable procurement refers to all Policy Through Procurement issues, where public procurement is seen as a lever to achieve wider environmental, social and economic policy objectives. OGC's Domestic Policy and Standards team offers advice and provides support to leading departments on when and how these issues can be incorporated into the procurement process, in ways consistent with the EU procurement rules and the Government's procurement policy, based on value for money.

The are three over-arching categories in which Policy Through Procurement issues can be divided:

 

Sustainable Procurement Action Plan

Government published the UK Sustainable Procurement Action Plan in March 2007. OGC is working with Defra and other Governement departments to deliver the commitments set out in the action plan. The action plan was informed by the report of the business-led Sustainable Procurement Task Force (SPTF).      

 

Sustainable Operations on the Government Estate (SOGE)

"Securing the Future" also committed the Government to achieving a significant change in sustainable development performance on its own civil estate.

Thus the Sustainable Operations Board (SOB) was set up to look at strengthening the way sustainable development issues are addressed and integrated into the management of the Government's estate and procurement process. The SOB revised the Framework for Sustainable Development in the Government Estate targets, publishing the SOGE targets in June 2006. All central Government departments are required to complete annual returns against the targets. Results are published and commented on by the Sustainable Development Commission.

OGC Policy

OGC's own commitment to sustainable development, in customer facing and domestic activities, is set out in the OGC sustainability policy, endorsed by Chief Executive John Oughton, in July 2005. OGC is communicating a consistent message that sustainable procurement and efficiency should be mutually reinforcing. Read our statement on Efficiency and Sustainable Procurement.

Other Sustainable Procurement Guidance
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