Even with all the ingredients, it is difficult to make a cake without a recipe. If Tools are the ingredients of a Sustainable Procurement Program, Procedures are the recipe. Once an organization develops their Tools, it is crucial that they update their Procurement Procedures to reflect how and when staff should use them.
A Sustainable Procurement Program is only as impactful as its executors allow. Best Practice Framework elements like Strategy and Action Plan, Staffing and Resources, Policy, and HIPO Lists are crucial for building the strong foundation of a Sustainable Procurement Program, but are not always utilized in day-to-day purchasing decisions. This is why Tools are a crucial element of high performing Sustainable Procurement Program: they provide a tangible starting point, empowering procurement staff to translate sustainable procurement principles into actionable steps.
The CCSP sat for the fourth Peer Exchange of the year on June 22nd. In this session, members received a special update directly from the Federal Government on its new Standard on the Disclosure of GHG Emissions and Setting of Reduction Targets.
On April 1st, 2023, a new Federal Standard came into effect to further incentivize Canadian businesses to take action on reducing their carbon emissions. The Standard on the Disclosure of GHG Emissions and Setting of Reduction Targets applies to Federal procurements over $25 million and requires suppliers to measure and disclose their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and adopt a science-based target to reduce their emissions (in line with the Paris Agreement). Based on data from 2018 – 2021, this new Standard is projected to influence around 140 contract per year.
CCSP members heard from senior representatives from the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat (TBS), Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC), and Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) to learn more about how this standard is being implemented in procurement and the new disclosure initiative being managed by the Federal Government.
When building and implementing your sustainable procurement program, it is easy to get caught in a perpetual planning phase. Creating a Strategy and Action Plan, updating Policies and Procedures, and mapping Staffing and Resources are all important elements of a sustainable procurement program, but they are only a portion of a high impact program. The goal when implementing a high impact sustainable procurement program is to avoid spending too much time on planning while the organization spends thousands of dollars on high-risk product/service categories.
The CCSP sat for the third peer exchange of the year on May 11th. This month’s topic: environmental impacts in construction. Read on to learn about certifications, lowering impacts of construction, embodied carbon, and some industry leaders in green building.
With almost 40% of annual global emissions coming from the built environment1, there is an opportunity for the construction industry to become a pioneer in reducing global carbon emissions. Speakers from WSP, Mantle Developments and UBC enlightened CCSP members on the importance of setting sustainability priorities, reducing embodied carbon and planning for climate resilience.
CCSP’s April Peer Exchange focused on how tools support processes for sustainable procurement. Read this blog to learn more.
Many procurement teams struggle with consistent and meaningful consideration of sustainability within procurement practices. Tools are tangible resources – like checklists, worksheets, guides, or other reference materials – that you can get into the hands of buyers and business units to make sustainable procurement more accessible and standardized. Tools act as guidance throughout the procurement process which enables staff to integrate sustainability more meaningfully into their purchasing decisions.
This two-part blog series will break down what we know so far about Canada’s forthcoming modern slavery legislation. This first blog provides an overview of the bill, who it applies to and the reporting requirements. In part two, we will dive deeper into how you can best prepare if you are required to submit a report.
Is your organization ready to report on their Supply Chain Risks when Canada’s Bill S-211 is passed?
It is estimated that over 49.6 million people around the world live in modern slavery, with 27 million of those people trapped in forced labour and human trafficking. Slavery exists in many different forms, but modern slavery is defined by Anti Slavery International as the forced, tricked or coerced exploitation of an individual by others, for personal or commercial gain. The most common forms of modern slavery that could be found in your supply chain today are forced labour, debt bondage, child slavery, and descent-based slavery. Slavery affects every country and it is a terrifying truth that no supply chain is protected from the presence of child labour and forced labour.READ MORE
Is your company in the market to upgrade your technology products? According to Free Geek Portland, over 70% of overall toxic waste in America is from e-waste (1). E-waste is a term used to describe electronics at the end of its useful life and are discarded or given to a recycler (2). With an increase of organizations operating fully or partially remote, it is important to source technology products responsibly and ensure said products are refurbished or recycled properly at the end of their useful life.READ MORE
Are you purchasing promotional merchandise for your staff or your next event? Do you ever think about the life cycle of a product and the emissions created from cradle-to-grave before making a purchase? Read on to see how the Reeve team made their decision in purchasing the most sustainable tees for their annual beach clean-up. READ MORE
The CCSP settled in for its November Peer Exchange in anticipation of the upcoming infrastructure planning busy season. Read on to learn about new Federal government procurement standards for low-carbon construction and validation from EllisDon that the market is ready to provide solutions.
Construction and infrastructure development contribute significantly to the world’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, with 13% of global annual emissions coming solely from the embodied carbon of cement, steel, and aluminum, which are just a few of the many materials used to construct buildings and other infrastructure (1).