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Advice. Resources. Training. Sharing. Inspiration. That's what the BuySmart Network is all about.
BuySmart's primary goals are to:
- encourage the demand for and use of products and services that support positive environmental, social, ethical, and economic impacts,
- help organizations meet their strategic goals through proactive sustainability procurement, and
- support the development of green / sustainable products and services.
BuySmart motivates organizational purchasers by showing them how to deliver value and innovation to their organizations using sustainability as a focus, and play a more strategic role in supporting their organization's corporate sustainability or social responsibility strategy.
BuySmart was established in Vancouver, BC in 2005 as the Sustainability Purchasing Network (SPN).
Why did we change our name?
In the latter part of 2008, the SPN initiated a process to become an even greater force for positive change. By the end of this process, we knew we wanted to enhance the strategic influence of supply chains in meeting corporate sustainability objectives. With that decision, we developed a new brand, a new commitment to expand our range of knowledge offerings, as well as a new effort to reach out to organizations across the country.
We did some research about the state of sustainability purchasing in different regions around the world, and learned how like-minded organizations to BuySmart were supporting organizations in their regions. We talked to workshop participants, Advisory Committee members, sponsors, and other "green" supply chain advocates in the US and Canada and learned that a gap exists between organizational sustainability commitments and the supply chain's role in meeting these goals. We also learned that, while purchasers and other supply chain professionals were interested in greening the supply chain, they needed an organizational mandate to do so.
Finally, we learned that people and organizations need help to make the shift to green, social, and ethical procurement — and make it easy to use their influence on their supply chain to reduce their footprint.
So, we decided to shift our primary engagement from training purchasers to helping organizational decision-makers link procurement with their overall corporate social responsibility / sustainability strategies — to drive change from the top down. We will be looking at ways we can make it easier for organizations to implement "best practice" sustainability purchasing and supply chain programs. And, as the only non-profit program in Canada that is focused on building awareness and community on the broad concept of sustainability procurement, we're starting to extend our reach across the country.
The name change and rebrand reflect the changes we have made. We'll be rolling out the new look over the course of the year.
Vision, Mission, and Goals
Vision: BuySmart is building a world in which organizations understand that automatically integrating social, environmental, and ethical criteria into their products and services is the smart decision.
Mission: To be the "go-to" resource centre for green, socially conscious, and ethical supply chains in Canada.
Goals:
- Increase the effectiveness and efficiency of sustainability purchasing.
- Increase the number of organizations committed to sustainability purchasing.
- Increase the volume of goods and services procured through sustainability purchasing policies and practices.
Participation in BuySmart
Participation is open to individuals and organizations with an interest in green, social or ethical purchasing, whether they are just starting out or have advanced practices. Suppliers are welcome to join in their role as purchasers. Current participation represents a range of purchasing organizations including businesses, co-operatives, business associations, not-for-profits, governments (all levels), labour organizations, public sector organizations, and academic institutions.
Through participation in the BuySmart, individuals and organizations will:
- Discover ways to save costs, advance innovation, and help create new business opportunities in the marketplace.
- Learn how to overcome barriers to effective sustainability purchasing.
- Develop “know-how” to build strong supplier relationships that improve reliability and performance.
- Learn how to manage environmental, social, and ethical risks along supply chains.
- Develop expertise and brand in an emerging purchasing specialty area.
- Become a part of a community of like-minded professionals and practitioners.
- Access leading edge best practices, information, and resources.
- Work with others to foster the growth of a sustainable economy.
The BuySmart Team
Carol Boutin, Program Manager,
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Bob Purdy, Director of External Relations and Corporate Development,
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BuySmart Advisors
Three strategic advisors offer highly specialized expertise in sustainability purchasing to BuySmart:
Amy Robinson,
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Coro Strandberg,
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Tim Reeve,
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BuySmart Advisory Committee
The BuySmart Network is advised by a multi-stakeholder Advisory Committee comprised of representatives from the following organizations:
- BC Hydro
- Bell Canada
- Building Opportunities for Business
- Fraser Basin Council
- Hemlock Printers Ltd.
- Mills Basics
- Public Works and Government Services Canada
- The Province of British Columbia
- The University of British Columbia
- Vancity Credit Union
Fraser Basin Council
BuySmart is a program of the Fraser Basin Council (FBC). Formed in 1997, the FBC is a charitable, not-for-profit organization that plays a unique role in advancing long-term social, economic, and environmental well-being in British Columbia, with a geographic focus on the Fraser Basin. It is an internationally recognized leader in multi-interest engagement and collaborative decision-making, using its expertise and network to build bridges, create synergies, engender trust, and forge partnerships between the public and private sectors, including First Nations. The FBC has tackled a wide range of sustainability issues, chalking up an extensive list of accomplishments.
For more information please visit our website at www.fraserbasin.bc.ca
BuySmart Sponsorship
BuySmart is providing sponsor opportunities for 2009 to support various programs. If you would like to learn more, read our Corporate Partners Program information or contact us at
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