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Keynote Speaker Just
Announced - John Swinney MSP
Cabinet Secretary for Finance
and Sustainable Growth,
Scottish Government |
Sustainable procurement in one form or another can take on a variety
of descriptions, including sustainable development in procurement, green
procurement, corporate social responsibility in procurement, and responsible
purchasing. In broad terms it means taking full account of environmental,
social and economic factors in public procurement.
The Scottish Government, responsible for an annual spend of £8
billion, has been proactive in creating a responsible procurement agenda
and the Scottish public sector continues to engage directly with suppliers
to secure a greener future for Scotland.
Local authorities and other public bodies are responsible for much public
procurement in Scotland. The Scottish Government Procurement Directorate
promotes best practice across the public sector, and provides advice
and support. New guidance will be issued to local authorities and other
public sector bodies on how to incorporate sustainable development into
procurement. The Sustainable Scotland Network will also introduce a new
programme to encourage best practice in sustainable procurement by local
authorities in Scotland.
BUT WHAT IS SUSTAINABLE PROCUREMENT?
Sustainable procurement means purchasing goods and services in ways which,
as part of overall value for money, maximise positive benefits and minimise
negative impacts on society, the economy and the environment throughout
the full life-cycle of the product.
Across Scotland and the UK, various initiatives, targets and Directives
have helped to drive positive action, including:
- The Scottish Sustainable Development Strategy
- The Scottish Climate Change Programme
- The UK Sustainable Procurement Task Force
- Climate Change Levy
- Recycling Targets
- WEEE Directive
- Landfill Tax
Sustainable procurement requires buyers and suppliers
to consider environmental, social and economic factors in their everyday
business, thereby contributing to public sector organisations’ wider
obligations and responsibilities.
In considering these factors in all purchasing decisions, the targets
and Directives above will be much more attainable.
THE IMPORTANCE OF COMMUNICATION BETWEEN BUYERS AND SUPPLIERS
To fully address all aspects of sustainable procurement, it is clear
that buyers and suppliers must communicate more effectively in driving
forward change and supporting green markets.
The Scottish Sustainable Procurement Conference and Exhibition will
be the first event of its kind to fully embrace the public sector’s
drive towards more sustainable procurement. Bringing together buyers
from across the Scottish public sector with many of the key suppliers
to this market, we will create a unique forum for debate.
THE EVENT PROGRAMME WILL DISCUSS
- How you can communicate your responsible procurement and ethical
sourcing strategy to your key suppliers.
- Adding responsible procurement and ethical sourcing criteria to your
supplier performance measurement and analysis process to achieve effective
monitoring.
- The main challenges facing sustainable procurement in the future.
- Understanding suppliers’ needs.
- Reducing sustainability impacts in the supply chain.
- How to make sustainability part of everyday procurement.
WHO SHOULD ATTEND
Procurement personnel
Contract managers
Energy management officers
Environmental officers
Recycling and waste minimisation managers
Sustainable development managers
Waste collection and disposal managers
Waste management officers
IT managers
Fleet managers |
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