Green Procurement
Departmental Green Procurement processes are based on achieving value-for-money leveraging procurement in order to accomplish broader social, economic and environmental outcomes, in compliance with certain policies, such as the Policy on Green Procurement.
Departmental purchasing patterns for products essential to operations are assessed using key standards to support sustainable development. Electronic-based Green Procurement processes are also an important part of the Department's commitment to reduce the environmental footprint of paper-based transactions particularly for thousands of low dollar value transactions. Since departmental purchasing is subject to the use of mandatory standing offers established by Public Works and Government Services Canada, work continues to identify opportunities where Green Procurement can be improved. Appropriate communications strategies and tools including the Purchasing Portal, will ensure appropriate use of "green" items.
The Department is raising awareness and understanding of Green Procurement through training and communications. Functional specialists receive training through courses offered by the School of Public Service, and managers and administrative staff receive information through departmental awareness sessions. Green Procurement information is added to the Departmental Purchasing Portal and employees receive regular information through the Intranet site and communiqués.
The Department’s Green Procurement target setting status is currently "in progress". A National Departmental Working Group has been established to conduct an analysis of key commodities purchased, to identify opportunities, to establish procurement tools that meet departmental needs, and to ensure that the information is communicated to Public Works and Government Services Canada Commodity Councils for the development of mandatory standing offers. Where government-wide tools are not mandated, tools will be developed and aligned with those from Public Works and Government Services Canada as they become available.
More specifically, the Department will continue to assess opportunities to decrease paper-based transactions and improve the efficiency and costs associated with low dollar value procurement promoting appropriate use of the Acquisition Card and the Procurement Portal.
In establishing firm targets, the Department must operate within what is currently available through the use of mandatory standing offers and departmental contracting authorities.
Meeting Policy Requirements
Has the department incorporated environmental performance considerations in its procurement decision-making processes?
| Yes |
Departmental Green Procurement processes are based on achieving value-for-money while leveraging procurement in order to accomplish broader social, economic and environmental outcomes, in compliance with certain policies, such as the Policy on Green Procurement. Departmental purchasing patterns for products essential to operations are assessed using key standards to support sustainable development.
Summary of initiatives to incorporate environmental performance considerations in procurement decision-making processes:
A) Electronic-based Green Procurement processes are an important part of the Department's commitment to reduce the environmental footprint of paper-based transactions particularly for thousands of low dollar value transactions. The Department continues to assess opportunities to decrease these paper-based transactions and improve the efficiency and costs associated with low dollar value procurement by promoting appropriate use of the Acquisition Card.
B) Communications strategies and tools are used to ensure appropriate use of "green" items. Green Procurement information is added to the Departmental Purchasing Portal and employees receive regular information through the Intranet site and communiqués.
C) The Department is raising awareness and understanding of Green Procurement through training and communications. Functional specialists receive training through courses offered by the School of Public Service, and managers and administrative staff receive information through departmental awareness sessions.
D) A National Departmental Working Group tracks key commodities purchased, to identify opportunities, and leverage procurement tools from Public Works and Government Services Canada. Where government-wide tools are not available, the department is building green requirements.
Results achieved:
A) The total dollar value of spend using the Acquisition Card in fiscal year 2009/2010 was approximately $23 million, representing an increase of $1.2 million from fiscal year 2008/2009.
In addition, call-ups made against mandatory standing offers that had greening components such as paper and eco friendly desktops were as follows:
| Fiscal Year | Total Requests | Total Value |
|---|---|---|
| 06/07 | 482 | $1,301,132.02 |
| 07/08 | 835 | $2,307,314.86 |
| 08/09 | 1628 | $5,679,720.85 |
| 09/10 | 2697 | $14,001,248.97 |
| Total | 5642 | $23,289,416.70 |
B) Information was posted on the Departmental Purchasing Portal which provides information related to items such as Greening Printing Services and how to make greener choices in the selection of goods and services acquired by the Department.
C) In fiscal year 2009/2010, HRSDC conducted 30 awareness sessions to departmental managers and administrative assistants promoting Sustainable Development/Green Procurement and the use of green tools such as the Acquisition Card.
D) One contract was awarded in fiscal year 2009/2010 for the acquisition of new and refurbished office furniture - panel systems.
Contributions to facilitate government-wide implementation of green procurement:
HRSDC is a member of the Green Procurement Form coordinated by the Office of Greening Government Operations within Public Works and Government Services Canada (PWGSC). In this way, HRSDC remains current on government wide initiatives.
Green Procurement Targets
Has the department established green procurement targets?
| In progress |
Summary of green procurement targets:
The department is seeking 100% target of paper purchasing for major operations. It will establish further targets for other key areas on an ongoing basis based on major asset plans.
Awareness sessions will continue in fiscal year 2010/2011 to support the departmental wide distribution of Green Procurement information.
The department will continue the goal of eliminating paper-based transactions through further use of the Acquisition Card as a green procurement tool and continuing to communicate Green Procurement information using the Purchasing Portal.
The department will target full alignment with all available green standing offers from PWGSC.
- Date modified: