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