Welcome
The environment is changing rapidly, and whether the effects are man-made or part of a natural cycle is almost irrelevant. Public procurement has a pivotal role to play in matters of sustainability. The fact that the Scottish public sector spends around £8 billion a year on virtually every product and service imaginable demands that the impact of its purchases be considered as fully as their cost.
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‘We are in the most difficult economic climate for a generation and need to pursue every possible opportunity we have to create wealth. We will continue to work to strengthen Scottish supply chains, ensure we benefit from new technology developments and deliver cost savings for consumers and business through energy efficiency improvements.’ *
John Swinney,
Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth
In these recessionary times, where increasing focus is being placed on efficiency, there is a danger that the sustainability agenda could be overshadowed and set back by short-term cost cutting measures. However, there is an opportunity to do the opposite. Focusing on the long-term benefits of adopting a sustainable approach to procurement should be considered a priority, since this will benefit not only the environment but also an increasingly stretched public purse.
The Scottish Sustainable Procurement Conference will bring together environmental experts to examine current legislation and the role that procurement personnel must play to achieve their environmental targets.
*Source: www.scotland.gov.uk/news