Sustainable public purchasing
Government spends around £236 billion annually on routine products and services. During these tough financial times, now more than ever, we need to be thinking about balancing environmental, social and economic needs.
The decisions we make in the public sector can affect product markets and local communities as well as how central government works.
The UK is committed to an EU target for 50% of relevant tendering procedures across the public sector to be “green”. The EU will monitor our progress against this target in 2011. We are working hard to raise levels of sustainable public purchasing across the public sector whilst recognising suppliers need a strong demand from us to provide more sustainable products and services.
Defra leads on the development of, together with industry and experts across the public sector, the Government Buying Standards to steer the purchasing power of the public sector. We aim to support green growth by encouraging green technologies, promoting innovation, working with small businesses and protecting the environment whilst also delivering value for money.
Who needs to know?
- Anyone who is buying or commissioning goods or services using public sector funds.
- Government organisations including central government departments as well as local authorities, NHS purchasing staff and government contractors of buildings and services.
- Businesses.
- Interested in winning public contracts
- Researchers, Academics.
Latest news
What is Defra doing to support public purchasing?
Government Buying Standards for priority products
Priority products include:
- ICT, food and textiles
- furniture and construction
- transport and energy using products
Work continues to develop more standards for public products (see latest news) to support green growth, protect the environment and tackle the challenge of climate change.
UK Government timber procurement policy
The UK Government recognises that consumer demand can send a powerful signal to the forest products market.
From April 2009 policy has demanded that central departments will only purchase timber and timber products that derive from sustainably managed forests or are licensed under a FLEGT agreement . From April 2015 only sustainably produced timber will be purchased.
Further information on government policy for UK timber procurement is available on the CPET (Central Point of expertise for timber procurement) website. The Scottish Executive procurement policy and Northern Ireland procurement policy are also available online.
Central Point of Expertise on Timber procurement (CPET)
To help public sector buyers and their suppliers implement the procurement policy, Defra works with ProForest to provide Central Point of Expertise on Timber (CPET), which includes a helpline and case specific advice free of charge.
Within the UK, Defra and CPET is developing a promotional strategy with WWF and the Timber Trade Federation TTF to encourage local authorities to voluntarily adopt sustainable timber procurement policies. The Government Buying Standard for construction and the Olympic Development Authority’s procurement policy recognise the merit of responsible timber purchasing.
EU Eco Label
The European Ecolabel is a voluntary scheme to encourage businesses to market products and services that are kinder to the environment. Defra works closely with other Member States and the EU Commission on developing the criteria for a wide range of goods including cleaning products, appliances, paper products, textile and home and garden products, lubricants and services such as tourist accommodation.
National Sustainable Public Procurement Programme (NSPP)
Defra co-ordinates a national approach to sustainable public purchasing by developing training materials and training trainers for anyone with an interest or role in sustainable procurement including local authorities and the NHS.
The training, which is currently being further developed, covers all three pillars of sustainability and focuses on how to procure well and improve the local economy, skills, increase efficiency, reduce carbon as well as save costs. The training will follow an international approach being developed by the Marrakesh Task Force in conjunction with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
Flexible Framework
Is a widely used tool to help those buying to adopt sustainable practices. Defra has produced guidance to help buyers measure, monitor and record their performance. Interactive guidance is also available.
PASA 2050 – Carbon footprinting and hotspots for food products
In September 2010 a study piloted an approach to carbon footprinting using five commonly available food products. The result has identified the carbon hotspots for these products across production through distribution and delivery to a hospital. This study has also highlighted the potential for the adoption of best practice to reduce the carbon footprint of food products.