Eastern Region Green Procurement Code

Sustainable Procurement 

Sustainable procurement is typically associated with the public sectors purchasing policies, but is equally applicable to the private sector.

The term "sustainable" is a contested subject and when placed with "procurement" can become ambiguous. However in the broader sense the term Sustainable Procurement can be seen as the "purchasing of goods and services focusing on the net benefits of social, economic and environmental concerns".

Thus by using public or private purchasing leverage we can impact on social policy such as equality, regeneration, integration, and inclusiveness. Economic policy can be tackled on a macroeconomic level through whole life costing of products, as well as encouraging innovation and self reliance, and on a microeconomic level through job creation and economic redistribution. Lastly positive impact can be made on environmental concerns through wiser purchasing that minimises impact.

Green Procurement

Green procurement targets the broader more ambitious goals of sustainable procurement by focusing on a more manageable "bite size" portion; the environmental concerns. These concerns involve responsible purchasing thus minimising impact on the environment with secondary (added) benefits of impacting on social and economic policies.

Green Procurement is more enticing for the private sector as it can lead to cost saving.

Remade East is currently looking into developing a Green Procurement Code for the region. This will aim at making it easier for organisations to implement Green Procurement policy and allow for better bench marking.

In the interim if your organisation would like to implement a Green Procurement Policy or would like any help or advice on improving your purchasing policy please feel free to contact us...