Green Procurement

Green Procurement and Tender Scoring: A Brief Overview

Green procurement, also known as sustainable procurement, is the process of sourcing goods and services that have a reduced environmental impact throughout their lifecycle. This approach is increasingly being integrated into tender evaluation processes, with green criteria often accounting for around 5% of the total tender score. Here’s why and how this works:

Why 5%?

Balanced Approach: Allocating 5% to green procurement strikes a balance between encouraging sustainability and maintaining focus on core tender requirements like cost, quality, and delivery.
Incremental Change: This percentage is often seen as a starting point, allowing organizations to gradually increase the weighting as sustainability practices become more embedded in procurement processes.
Encourages Participation: A 5% weighting is significant enough to incentivize suppliers to adopt green practices without being so high that it discourages smaller or less sustainable businesses from bidding.

How It Works

Evaluation Criteria:
- Tenders include specific green criteria, such as:
  - Use of recycled or sustainable materials.
  - Energy efficiency of products or services.
  - Carbon footprint of the supply chain.
  - Compliance with eco-certifications (e.g., FSC, ISO 14001).
- These criteria are assigned a 5% weighting in the overall tender score.
Scoring Mechanism:
- Suppliers are scored based on their ability to meet the green criteria.
- For example, a supplier offering products with a lower carbon footprint or using renewable energy in production might score higher in this category.
Impact:
- Even a 5% weighting can drive significant change by encouraging suppliers to adopt greener practices to remain competitive.
- It also signals the organization’s commitment to sustainability, fostering a culture of environmental responsibility.

Benefits of Including Green Procurement in Tender Scoring

Environmental Impact: Reduces the carbon footprint and waste associated with procured goods and services.
Cost Savings: Energy-efficient and durable products often lead to long-term cost savings.
Reputation: Demonstrates the organization’s commitment to sustainability, enhancing its reputation with stakeholders.
Compliance: Helps meet regulatory requirements and align with global sustainability goals (e.g., UN SDGs).

Example

In a tender with a total score of 100, green procurement criteria might be allocated 5 points. A supplier offering eco-friendly products, certified materials, and a low-carbon supply chain could score highly in this category, giving them a competitive edge.

By incorporating green procurement into tender scoring, organizations can drive sustainable practices while maintaining a fair and balanced evaluation process. Over time, this approach can lead to broader adoption of environmentally responsible practices across industries.

Sustainability Policy & Green Procurement

Here are some reputable sources where you can find and download sustainability policies from various organizations. These links provide access to policies that can serve as inspiration or templates for your own sustainability initiatives:

1. United Nations Global Compact (UNGC)

Description: The UNGC provides a framework for businesses to align their strategies with universal sustainability principles.
Link: UNGC Resources
What to Look For: Sample sustainability policies and reports from member companies.

2. Global Reporting Initiative (GRI)

Description: GRI offers standards for sustainability reporting, including examples of policies from various industries.
Link: GRI Standards
What to Look For: Downloadable sustainability reports and policies from organizations worldwide.

3. Carbon Trust

Description: The Carbon Trust provides resources and templates for sustainability policies, particularly focused on carbon reduction.
Link: Carbon Trust Resources
What to Look For: Sample policies on energy efficiency, carbon management, and sustainability.

4. International Organization for Standardization (ISO)

Description: ISO provides standards for environmental management systems (ISO 14001) and other sustainability frameworks.
Link: ISO 14001 Resources
What to Look For: Guidelines and examples of sustainability policies aligned with ISO standards.

5. Corporate Sustainability Policies (Direct Links to Companies)

Microsoft: Microsoft Sustainability Policy
Google: Google Sustainability
IKEA: IKEA Sustainability Strategy
Unilever: Unilever Sustainable Living Plan
Patagonia: Patagonia Environmental and Social Initiatives

6. Sustainability for Schools (Green-Schools Ireland)

Description: Green-Schools provides templates and examples of sustainability policies for educational institutions.
Link: Green-Schools Resources
What to Look For: Downloadable policies and action plans for schools and organizations.

7. European Commission - Corporate Sustainability Reporting

Description: The EU provides guidelines and examples of sustainability policies for businesses operating in Europe.
Link: EU Sustainability Reporting
What to Look For: Templates and examples of sustainability policies aligned with EU regulations.

8. B Corporation (B Corp)

Description: B Corps are companies certified for meeting high standards of social and environmental performance.
Link: B Corp Resources
What to Look For: Examples of sustainability policies from certified B Corps.

9. World Resources Institute (WRI)

Description: WRI provides tools and resources for developing sustainability policies, particularly in environmental sectors.
Link: WRI Resources
What to Look For: Guides and templates for sustainability planning and policy development.

10. Sustainability Policies from Universities

Many universities publish their sustainability policies online. Examples include:
- Harvard University: Harvard Sustainability
- Stanford University: Stanford Sustainability
- University of Cambridge: Cambridge Sustainability

Tips for Downloading Policies:

Look for PDF downloads on the organization’s website, often found under sections like "Sustainability," "Corporate Responsibility," or "Environmental Policy."
Use search terms like "sustainability policy PDF" or "environmental policy template" on Google to find downloadable examples.
Check annual reports or sustainability reports on company websites, as these often include detailed policies.

Contact

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Green Procurement