ARCHIVED - Office of the Auditor General of Canada - Supplementary Tables

Has the department incorporated environmental performance considerations in its procurement decision-making processes?

Yes

Summary of initiatives to incorporate environmental performance considerations in procurement decision-making processes:

Green procurement objectives are considered when purchasing the following commodities: computers, printers and photocopiers, automobiles, printing services, travel and meetings, and recycling.

Results achieved:

In 2008–09, we replaced 21 old photocopiers, 33 personal and network printers, 8 faxes, and 6 scanners with 27 multi-use machines in our Ottawa headquarters. This year, we replaced a further 7 printers, 4 faxes, and several scanners in our 4 regional offices with 4 energy star rated multi-purpose machines.

Benefits: Reduction in paper waste, improved paper use, air quality benefits, increased efficiency in resources, reduced energy use, and cost savings.

The reports of the Auditor General and the Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development are printed on paper that is 100 percent post-consumer fibre, certified EcoLogo and processed chlorine free, certified Forest Stewardship Council recycled, and manufactured using biogas energy.

Benefits: Reduction in paper waste, fewer trees used, reduction in greenhouse emissions, less energy and water used.

We purchased new furniture from an award winning green manufacturer. The manufacturer’s power comes from clean, renewable sources like wind power and low-impact water power. All materials used in manufacturing its products are tested for harmful emissions and air quality.

Benefits: Power source displaces polluting and carbon-intensive sources like coal. The environmentally sound facility has a remanufacturing program that guarantees that none of its purchased products will end up in a landfill.

Office supplies are provided by companies with a “green” catalogue, and the Office strives to use these products (for example, binders, pens, staplers, hole punches) where it makes economic sense.

Benefits: Using eco-friendly products helps to lessen the impact on the environment through either some level of recycled content or recyclable use (for example, refillable cups, rechargeable batteries).

Contributions to facilitate government-wide implementation of green procurement:

Our main contribution to sustainable development, including green procurement, is the influence that our audit work and our recommendations for improvement have on the actions of federal departments and agencies and Crown corporations.

On behalf of Parliament, the Office monitors the efforts of departments to produce meaningful sustainable development strategies and implement them. We have also committed to assessing the overall quality of the strategies.

Has the department established green procurement targets?

Yes

Are these green procurement targets the same as those identified in your Sustainable Development Strategy?

Yes

Summary of green procurement targets:

Objective

Incorporate environmental considerations in the procurement decisions that we make.

Target

Have 100 percent of our materiel managers and procurement personnel attend green procurement training during the period of this strategy.

Results achieved:

All contracting and procurement staff have attended green procurement training.

Although there were no other specific targets related to procurement, other results achieved this year are as follows:

There was a reduction in the number of complete Auditor General reports and individual chapters printed. All requestors of reports and chapters are encouraged to read the reports on the Office of the Auditor General of Canada Internet site.