SUSTAINABLE PROCUREMENT STRATEGY 2013 - 2015
Our strategy for the period from September 2013 is focused on the following objectives :1. Embedding Sustainable Procurement
2. Achieving Level Five on the Flexible Framework (1).
3. Measuring, Monitoring and Communicating our Performance
It is the case that all three of these objectives could be covered under embedding
sustainable procurement. However we wish to emphasis the importance we attach to the
other two objectives as stepping stones in a complementary process.
We recognise that sustainable procurement is an essential component of the requirement to
reduce and reuse waste.
We will review the strategy annually.
Embedding Sustainable Procurement
Assessment of Sustainability Risks and Prioritisation
Each category and sub-category of goods and services will be assessed annually for
sustainability risk. We will use existing published material where it exists. Sub-categories
will be prioritised for action based upon the overall risk. The methodology used will be that
developed during the Marrakech SPP process (2)
Publish and work to contract timetable
We will adhere to a published timetable for tenders and contracts. This will facilitate
research and collaboration on sustainability risks
Whole Life Costing
We will continue to use and develop the wholelife costing model used.
Adopt & Promote Sustainable Buying Standards
We will promote existing standards and collaborate in developing additional standards. We
recognise that existing standards are predominately focused on environmental impacts. We
have adopted some social issue performance measurements and will cooperate to develop
and implement others.
Stakeholder Engagement
We will engage with suppliers to promote and effect change down the supply chain
We will engage with critical friends including WRAP, SPCE, DEFRA, LUEG and sub-groups,
EAUC and SUPC to share and gather best practice
We will engage with internal stakeholders including procurement and green champions to
promote sustainable procurement.
Culture change
An important pre-requisite is to change the culture so that sustainability is automatically
considered in decision making. This applies as much to procurement as to other
departments. In doing this we shall work with UCL’s Environmental Sustainability
directorate.
Training
Training programmes will be updated to ensure that Procurement staff are aware of the
latest relevant techniques and methodologies. Other high spend departments will also be
targeted for training. This will be done with staff from staff from Environmental sustainability
Achieving Level Five on the Flexible Framework
Documenting Sustainability Outcomes
The outcomes of all tenders and contracts shall be documented. We will do this regardless
of which department issues the contract or tender.
Supply Chain Development
We shall work with suppliers both potential and actual to : Map supply chain of key (High Risk) spend categories
 Target key suppliers for development
 Develop supply chain audits
 Create a general supply chain improvement programme
Publish and Communicate our Achievements
Independent Audit of Performance
We will arrange for our performance to be independently audited
Measuring, Monitoring and Communicating our Performance
Develop Metrics
We shall develop measures to manage identified high sustainability risks for each key
category
We shall seek to develop a sustainability Index which will be an assessment of a products
environmental impact including materials, processing and manufacture, use and disposal.
Strategic Development
We shall use the results from our monitoring to guide our future strategy
Benchmarking
We shall publish our results so as to compare ourselves with our peer institutions.
Publish Performance
We shall put into the public domain the outcomes of our performance, including the results of
impendent audits
Notes:
(1) The Flexible Framework
The flexible framework has been developed to assess the quality of procurement activity and provide
a clear route to better performance. It covers five themes:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
People
Policy, strategy & communication
Procurement process
Engaging suppliers
Measurement & results
Marrakech SPP Process
The process developed by the Marrakech Task Force on Sustainable Public Procurement
(2)
1st August 2013