News
Driving Sustainability Production through Procurement
More than 78 percent of purchasers from representative Greater Vancouver businesses and organizations believe in the merits of working together on sustainability purchasing to foster the growth of a sustainability-driven economy. This finding is based on an on-line survey of 68 organizations, including governments, business and non-profit organizations, conducted by the Sustainability Purchasing Network. Increasingly, BC organizations are using the power of purchasing to influence change in the market-place to improve environmental and social conditions. This mirrors a global trend in which world-wide retailers, manufacturers, resource companies and other organizations are taking up the challenge to manage social and environmental issues in their supply chains.
Marks & Spencer recently commissioned a survey of 2,300 UK consumers to ascertain their level of interest in ethical shopping. The survey found that 78 percent wanted more information about the conditions in textile factories and the use of chemicals in manufacturing; 51 percent said they are more concerned now by issues of ethical sourcing and working conditions than they were five years ago; and 31 percent had decided not to buy an item of clothing, because of concerns about the conditions under which they were made. M&S labels every product it sells with the country of origin, knows its first tier supplier factories, and does not allow sub-contracting without prior approval. The retailer has drawn up a list of what it calls “Global Sourcing Principles” that are referenced in its Terms of Trade and shared with its suppliers. M&S has created a website – A Look Behind the Label – to communicate its sustainability practices along the supply chain.
As part of its commitment to improving environmental and social performance in its supply chain, Wal-Mart created 14 sustainable value networks made up of executives, suppliers, and community thought leaders. The networks focus on improving Wal-Marts’ sustainability practices regarding facilities, internal operations, logistics, alternative fuels, packaging, chemicals, food and agriculture, electronics, textiles, forest products, jewelry, seafood, climate change and China. The networks have successfully nurtured supply chain practices which have improved energy efficiencies, reduced waste and introduced environmentally friendly products.
This month Wal-Mart is introducing a packaging scorecard to more than 2,000 private label suppliers. This tool will allow Wal-Mart buyers to access information about packaging alternatives or more sustainable packaging materials, allowing them to make better purchasing decisions. In 2007, this tool will be made available to all of the company's 60,000 global suppliers. Beginning in 2008, Wal-Mart will measure and recognize its worldwide supply base for using less packaging, utilizing more effective materials in packaging, and sourcing these materials more efficiently through a packaging scorecard.
Bell Canada has also made a commitment to responsible procurement. Bell continuously strives to deal with suppliers who demonstrate a strong commitment to sustainable development as well as a sound business reputation in the market-place. Bell is working with other companies from the telecom sector to develop an industry-wide approach to responsible procurement. In 2005, in conjunction with the Global e-Sustainability Initiative and the Electronic Industry Code of Conduct Implementation Group, Bell helped develop a supplier self-assessment questionnaire to evaluate a supplier's management systems and practices relating to human rights, labour conditions, health and safety and the environment. As a follow up to the questionnaire, GeSI and the EICC member companies are currently developing a web interface for the questionnaire, an online tool to assess CR risks, and a common auditing methodology for the ICT industry.
The Sustainability Purchasing Network exists to educate, connect and inspire action amongst organizations in order to scale -up sustainability purchasing and ultimately, to drive sustainability production. The Network supports organizations in their efforts to develop and improve their sustainability purchasing practices through training, resources and collaborative projects.
SPN Event News
Reduce your Carbon Footprint Through Sustainability Purchasing
 On October 19th, the day the Canadian Minister of the Environment unveiled the new Clean Air Act in Ottawa, twenty Vancouver- based organizations met at a Network hosted Learning Circle to share information on concrete actions each was taking to reduce their organization’s carbon footprint through purchasing.
Mountain Equipment Co-op (MEC) has undertaken two GHG studies. The first which reviewed facilities’ emissions found that MEC’s Alberta store was the largest GHG emitter because it used coal-generated electricity. By purchasing wind power for the Alberta store, MEC reduced its GHG emissions by 56%. The second study which focused on transportation identified that 60 % of GHG emissions were generated by the trucking of goods and services from its Richmond-based hub. By comparison, only 20% of GHG emissions were attributed to cross Pacific shipping from China. Measurement of GHG emissions attributed to supply chain transportation and lack of transport alternatives emerged as common challenges faced by purchasers.
The City of Vancouver shared their perspective on the importance of using quantitative tools to measure GHG emission savings, monetary value and other performance standards when evaluating purchasing choices. The City is taking a number of practical steps to reduce its GHG emission through the supply chain, including using a “dry steam” service for graffiti removal to reduce water and energy use, and pollution.
“If you measure it, you can manage it” noted the representative from the David Suzuki Foundation. The Foundation purchases locally, purchases sustainable goods and services, and purchases carbon offsets for air travel, their largest emission source.
The Learning Circle provided an invaluable exchange of purchasing initiatives successfully reducing the carbon footprint of lower mainland organizations. We also learned that the GVRD is soon to come out with a new Sustainability Procurement Policy and that the Vancouver Aquarium has just completed the first LEED Gold Aquarium in the world. A participant writes, “thank you for organizing today’s meeting. I found it interesting and helpful. I have stared a number of dialogues with individuals I met this morning that I am sure will prove fruitful in expanding our collective knowledge.”
Network hosts Breakfast Clinic at the annual Union of BC Municipalities Convention
 News from the floor of this year’s UBCM Convention confirms that sustainability purchasing and ethical sourcing continue to be strategic issues for local governments and public sector purchasing officials. “Our Labour Council is requesting us to do it.”, was the report from the City of Kamloops, when asked what were some of the drivers for the City’s interest in adopting minimum standards for supplier environmental and social compliance.
The information exchange took place over a UBCM breakfast clinic entitled “Local Government Leadership in Sustainability Purchasing” presented by Network. Attended by Councilors and municipal staff from across BC, the clinic focused on emerging trends in government purchasing programming. With stakeholders from the NGO, private sector and crown corporation communities in attendance, the clinic provided a lively exchange of emerging issues in sustainability purchasing.
Kamloops wasn’t alone at the session when it came to action on ethical sourcing. The City of Vancouver, also in attendance, approved their Ethical Purchasing Policy last year. Council Jane Sterk, co-presenter representing the Township of Esquimalt, announced that their Council has recently endorsed the integration of ethical considerations into their purchasing policy. “It’s an increasingly important issue”, says Network Manager, Tim Reeve, who also presented at the clinic, “it’s an issue of integrity and value alignment and organizations realize that need to pay attention to labour conditions and human rights in the supply chain.” Reeve noted that the City of Calgary is preparing to take a formal Ethical Purchasing Policy and Supplier Code of Conduct for Council endorsement in early December.
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The mandate of the Sustainability Purchasing Network is to support organizations in their efforts to develop and improve their sustainability purchasing practices and to ultimately influence positive environmental, social, ethical, and economic impacts in BC and beyond.
Upcoming Events
Embedding Sustainability Purchasing: Your Tendering Toolkit, December 07, 2006
This workshop targets organizations wishing to enhance the performance of an existing sustainability purchasing program. The workshop introduces an integrated tendering toolkit which communicates clear supplier requirements, enables the efficient and effective evaluation of purchasing choices, and provides mechanisms for managing supply chain relationships to deliver high sustainability performance. Participants will learn how to write sustainability-focused questions into standard tendering tools and how to customize a sustainability scorecard
Learning Circles
Learning Circle: Ethics and Your Supply Chain, November 23, 2006
Join other practitioners for an exchange of ideas on key strategies and challenges in sourcing socially responsible factory-manufactured products from overseas markets. Participants are invited to share successes, challenges and their favorite resources.
Events
Inspiring Action – The 5th Biennial State of the Fraser Basin Conference: Sustainability Purchasing Panel Discussion, November 16, 2006
Delegates to the Fraser Basin Council’s Conference are invited to a Network hosted panel on sustainability purchasing and strategic supply chain management. Learn how purchasers and suppliers are working together to foster a sustainability-driven marketplace in the Fraser Basin. Visit the Fraser Basin Council website at www.fraserbasin.bc.ca to register for the 2006 State of the Fraser Basin Conference, November 16-17 2006.
The Greater Vanvouver Regional District Zero Waste Challenge
The GVRD will host a Zero Waste Challenge discussion on approaches to zero waste in the region, November 15th between 11 am to 4 pm. This event will take place at the Executive Plaza Hotel and Conference Center, 405 North Road, Coquitlam BC.
To register please call,
604 451 6596.
Resource Corner
Sustainability Purchasing Survey Report
In early 2006, the Network surveyed purchasing organizations to identify key training, information and collaboration needs. Sixty-eight purchasing organizations completed the survey. The survey found that 64 percent want more information and training on electronic equipment choices, 63 percent on office supplies, and office furniture; 55 percent on paper and printing products; 48 percent on waste management services; and 41 percent on cleaning supplies. To learn more about the survey findings please visit us at www.buysmartbc.com.
This web resource allows you to calculate personal and organizational carbon impacts from driving over an annual period. You can purchase offsets for your annual vehicle emissions from the site, reducing the climate impact of your vehicle. Customers receive a yearly decal and access to calculators to track emissions levels.
This web resource covers simple steps that organizations and individuals can take to calculate carbon impacts, and reduce and offset carbon emissions. Whether you are looking for guidelines for how to go carbon neutral or key actions your organization can take to cut carbon, this website should have accessible and credible information for you.
Offsetters is a not-for-profit corporation registered in Canada with a mandate to help individuals and organizations purchase carbon offsets to reduce their greenhouse gas impacts. Offsetters is associated with the James Martin Institute for Science and Civilization at the University of Oxford and the Institute for Resources, Environment and Sustainability at UBC.
Contact Information
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Sustainability Purchasing Network c/o Fraser Basin Council