Sustainable Procurement Policies for Specific Commodities

While researching sustainable procurement practices for a client (back in November 2010), I ran across a variety of resources that are beginning to specify sustainable procurement practices by specific commodity. These organizations had an overarching 'general' sustainable procurement policy and guidelines, but also provided details on how to purchase sustainable commodities as specific as furniture. The details would balance sustainability principles (triple bottom-line) against business needs, taking into account the:

• entire life cycle cost of the product.
• quality required by the specification, bearing in mind the sustainable issue. These need to be both client driven and through the ethical procurement values of the suppliers.
• availability of the product.
• functionality of the product in the environment to which it is to be applied.
• effect the product will have on the environment when in service.

(This came from research and practices being established by City of Richmond, Province of Nova Scotia, Queensland, Australia, and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) to name a few)

Why have a policy by specific commodity? The sustainable procurement process will include Life Cycle Costing; establishment of standards & criteria for sourcing environmental & socially responsible suppliers; establishing VOC criteria as well as considering the 'best value for money' vs the typical "low price". To purchase sustainably, other criteria in addition to price need to be assessed.

According to the UNEP report I ran across, 20% of the evaluation weighting should be based upon sustainable criteria.

So, considering how much effort your facilities' department put into gaining Leed Certification, its time to get rid of the Request for Quote if you wish to purchase sustainable furniture for your new Leed Certified offices.

Related Links:
UNEP Background doc Furniture pdf
UNEP SP-Guidelines-Users-Guide-final.pdf