30. September 2008 by admin.

Report: Sustainability Begins in the Purchasing Department | Sustainable Life Media
Report: Sustainability Begins in the Purchasing Department

Procurement professionals are fast becoming a “critical, core element” of corporate sustainability efforts, a new survey finds.

While many companies are focusing their main efficiency efforts around green IT, the use of automated procurement solutions is “quietly emerging as the leading edge of many organizations’ efforts to go green,” according to the survey by KPMG, Inc.

The survey of 600 senior-level procurement professionals finds that 42% of respondents regularly evaluate suppliers on environmental and human rights performance. Another 33% have begun, or are currently launching, a green supply chain program.

While the KPMG survey finds that green procurement is on the rise, it also notes that suppliers’ sustainability and social responsibility records rank low among organizations’ priorities when compared to factors such as price, quality, and reliability.

“There are potential cost benefits to increased attention to sustainability, in particular from purchasing products which require fewer environmental inputs, such as energy,” says the report.

Drivers for building a green procurement strategy can also have knock-on effects to others areas of an organization. A recent report of U.K. IT professionals says the top driver for green IT planning is increasing pressure to reduce energy consumption - often the key green IT objective for sourcing policies as well.

To download the KPMG report, click here (PDF).

Posted in Green Computing, Sustainable Procurement | No Comments »

28. September 2008 by admin.

Report: RFPs Critical to Green IT Success

Struggling to select the right vendors for your green IT upgrades? It all comes down to crafting the right request for proposal (RFP), according to a new Forrester survey.

The survey of U.K. IT professionals finds that well-structured RFP process is essential for any green IT plan to work. Specifically, the RFP process can provide a framework for discussion and gives vendors insight into how seriously the buyer takes its green agenda.

Here’s a peek at how companies are currently focusing their RFPs:

Survey respondents say the top driver for green IT planning is increasing pressure to reduce energy consumption - often the key green IT objective for sourcing policies as well, according to the report.

“Sourcing does not set the green IT agenda, but plays a pivotal role in its implementation, lending its expertise to ensure that vendors in the desktop and datacenter arenas, for example, align the green IT objectives,” the report notes.

The report suggests that the RFP can also signal which areas IT planners intend to push their vendors in the future. Forty-three percent of respondents say they will consider asking vendors to report on what they’ve done to clean up their own manufacturing process in IT products, while 41% will consider asking vendors about setting up a green code of conduct among their own suppliers.

Posted in Green Computing, Sustainable Procurement | No Comments »

13. December 2007 by admin.

The Ethical Sourcing Forum

New York, USA 13-14 March 2008

TAKE THE ETHICAL SOURCING FORUM (ESF) CHALLENGE

The premise behind the ESF challenge is to make you think and learn!
Develop knowledge and gather information through participation in the industry’s most unique form of learning and engagement…

Click on Ethical Sourcing Forum 2008 North America to download the latest conference brochure!

Secure your place today… and you will:

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Gather and exchange experiences on good implementation practices
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Build partnerships and engage with relevant stakeholders
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Increase your awareness and strengthen your ability to reach your goals
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Benchmark your current experience with other industry practitioners
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Strengthen your ability to impact key issues that are important to you
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If you don’t want to learn, look away now.
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…and many more

KEY TOPICS INCLUDE:

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“Green” is the New Black
Efficient ways to encourage the development of greener manufacturing methods across supply chain partners.
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The Contenders: CSR vs. Sourcing
Learn how to create operating system synergies between CSR and Sourcing organizations that contribute to sustainable outcomes.
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When to Say “I Do”:
Developing Sustainable Factory Remediation Plans
Listen as industry representatives share practical off the ground experience on engaging with suppliers to implement factory level improvement plans.
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Minimizing the Monitoring Industry Divide
Explore your opportunities for partnerships with traditional monitoring institutions which encourage important shifts in practice, minimize perceptions and strengthen industry confidence.
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Forward, Reverse or Turn at the Next Corner?
Is your current social and environmental supply chain approach driving sustainable impact or should you change lanes? Industry practioners share focused, practice oriented experience on the latest changes in company approaches to environmental and social supply chain issues.
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Guess Who´s Coming to Dinner?
How to bring Sourcing, Procurement and Buyers into the CSR conversation.
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Take Your Business Next Door
How to minimize resistance and achieve commitment within complex buyer – supplier business relationship environments.
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Surviving the Impact of Climate Change
This specialized Self Help workshop will provide delegates with practical industry tools and techniques on how to measure climate change effects across your supply chain.
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Purchasing Green?
How to Make Sustainable Procurement More than Just a Goal
Developing sustainable procurement strategies in today’s reality.
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Filling Green Shoes?
How to maintain your environmental commitment when 90% of your eco-footprint is from the supply chain.
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MEASURING IMPACT:
Grassroot Perspectives from Suppliers, Facilities and Workers
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COMMITMENT:
Using Measurements to Motivate Performance, Ownership and Impact
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…and many more.

To optimize interactivity and networking opportunities the places are limited to 200 participants. Register Now to avoid disappointment!

What is an ETHICAL SOURCING FORUM?

The Ethical Sourcing Forum (ESF) is an action oriented continuous learning industry initiative, open to those willing to play an active role in the development and successful implementation of sustainable social and environmental supply chain practices. The ESF platform gathers and compiles practical knowledge on new approaches which contribute to sustainable supply chain practices based on projects and initiatives undertaken by organizations engaged in off-the-ground supply chain activities.
The ESF indentifies industry training needs and collaborates across stakeholders to gather and transfer practical knowledge and good practice that improve the conditions of supply chains worldwide.

THE ESF BUSINESS CASE

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Mini training forums based on off-the ground case studies and activities undertaken by otherindustry members
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Opportunity to build bridges and partnerships with stakeholders
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Issue or industry specific facilitated sessions, addressing your individual learning needs
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Forum sessions aimed at developing or improving your sustainability implementation practices
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Modify or improve existing strategic plans during interactive action orientated training sessions
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Return home with recommendations to strengthen your current performance

For more information contact us directly on the details below:
E-mail: customerservices@intertek.com
Call Intertek on: +44(0)8.706.260.839

Places are limited! Register Now to avoid disappointment!

Due to limited seating availability, early registration will be open to corporations*, industry groups, and government.

* Non consulting

Posted in Ethical Sourcing, Sustainable Procurement | No Comments »

30. November 2007 by admin.

FederalTimes.com
Commentary: Taking steps to buy green
By LUIS A. LUNA
November 29, 2007
Can putting a used towel back on the rack help save the planet? If you’re a traveling Environmental Protection Agency employee, you’re likely to stay at a hotel that gives you that option.
More and more, we are recognizing that many small individual decisions — what we buy, what we keep, what we toss — have a significant cumulative impact on the environment.
When we at EPA buy goods or services, we take environmental impact into account. After all, whatever we use to accomplish EPA’s mission consumes the Earth’s resources. We thus take care to buy things that minimize the agency’s impact on the environment.
Among the most celebrated of EPA’s green purchasing initiatives is one affecting how we select meeting and conference services.

A hotel or conference site vendor must now include information about the facility’s environmental practices. Does it leave linens and towels in rooms for patrons to reuse? How efficient is its energy and water usage? Is it near public transportation, or does it offer shuttles? Is the check-in and check-out process paperless? Does it recycle?
Our purchasing staff then considers this information when evaluating proposals. The more environmentally friendly a vendor’s policies, the more competitive its offer. For meeting space and conference service providers who want to increase their chances of doing business with EPA, it’s an incentive to adopt greener practices.
Is this just feel-good stuff, or does it really make a difference? Take a look at a case study done by EPA’s Office of Prevention, Pesticides and Toxic Substances, which quantified the benefits of environmental improvements achieved by a luxury 834-room hotel in Washington:
• Recycling paper and corrugated cardboard instead of simply hauling it to the landfill saved about $10,400 a year in trucking costs alone.
• Replacing incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent lights, installing more energy-efficient air-conditioning chillers, and adding variable frequency drives in electric fans and water pump motors saved another $125,000 per year in electricity.
• Replacing old five-gallon-per-flush toilets with more water-efficient ones reduced water bills by $150,000 a year.
All this not only adds to the hotel’s bottom line, it also means the hotel now produces less waste, uses less energy and consumes fewer resources.
This same principle can be applied to any purchase, no matter how small. For instance, when EPA buys business cards, we now specify 100 percent recycled paper, with at least 50 percent post-consumer fiber — material recovered from waste destined for disposal, having completed its life as a consumer item. That’s the highest environmental standard in the government for recycled content. It means fewer trees are cut, with more paper kept out of the waste stream.
The concept works at the end of our purchases’ useful life as well. We make sure our electronic equipment doesn’t simply go to the dump. And we shared what we learned about disposing of electronic equipment in an environmentally responsible manner with other agencies. Our government-wide contracting vehicle, the Recycling Electronics and Asset Disposition program, allows federal agencies to make sure obsolete electronics will be safely taken away for reuse, recycling or proper disposal. Since the government disposes of about 10,000 old computers each week, the program prevents a lot of potentially harmful material from ending up in the ground.
EPA’s acquisition professionals are constantly looking for new ways to use the agency’s purchases to promote environmental health. Their colleagues at other agencies can do the same. There are undoubtedly many more opportunities to harness the government’s vast buying power and stimulate the market for green products and services of all types. By doing this often enough, agencies can encourage new industries, reduce consumption, increase America’s energy independence and help the environment.
Luis A. Luna is assistant administrator for administration and resource management and chief acquisition officer at the Environmental Protection Agency.

Posted in Sustainable Procurement, Green Purchasing | No Comments »

29. November 2007 by admin.

EUKN - European Urban Knowledge Network - RESPIRO Conference on Socially Responsible Procurement – Lille, 3-4 December 2007
RESPIRO Conference on Socially Responsible Procurement – Lille, 3-4 December 2007
Introduction
The RESPIRO Conference is the final Conference of the EU-funded RESPIRO project, and is linked to Procura , ICLEI’s European Campaign on Sustainable Procurement, and hosts a EUROCITIES seminar on responsible procurement. It aims to increase the inclusion of social requirements in public and private sector purchasing activities through encouraging an exchange of experiences between public and private sector procurers and suppliers.
Description
The issue of socially responsible procurement SRP, and Corporate Social Responsibility CSR will be addressed in two important sectors:

Construction – As Europe’s largest industrial employer, efforts to promote CSR principles - e.g. healthy and safe working conditions, using sustainable building materials and excluding the use of child labour - can have a significant impact on many people.
Textiles and Clothing – A sector under high pressure from global competition where CSR principles such as quality employment can help to profile European industry and improve the conditions of millions of workers.

The Conference is linked to Procura , ICLEI’s European Campaign on Sustainable Procurement, and hosts a EUROCITIES seminar on responsible procurement.
Programme
Location
Lille, France
Register
Links
For more information and to register, please visit the conference website

Posted in Socially Responsible Sourcing, Sustainable Procurement | No Comments »

12. October 2007 by admin.

eGov monitor
Council buying power helps save the planet and boosts local communities
Source: Peterborough City Council
The ‘buying power’ of local authorities can help save the planet while giving a boost to local communities, delegates to a ‘sustainable procurement’ conference being hosted by Peterborough City Council will be told on Monday 15 October.

The city council will present one of 10 case studies that will demonstrate the environmental and financial benefits of modern buying policies during the conference that will be attended by representatives from national and local government organisations.

Delegates will be welcomed to the day-long conference at the Key Theatre by city council chief executive Gillian Beasley. She said: “Nationally the public sector spends £150 billion on buying goods and services from external suppliers and English councils represent £42 billion of that total.

“Local authorities can therefore use their buying power to influence the manufacture and performance of these products, leading to social, economic and environmental benefits.

“Hosting this conference builds on Peterborough’s status as an Environment City and a sustainable transport demonstration town.”

The conference will primarily focus on the sustainable procurement successes being achieved by local authorities in the East of England with other examples being showcased by Norfolk, Cambridgeshire, Essex, Suffolk, Hertfordshire, Thurrock, Luton, Bedfordshire and Southend.

Peterborough will highlight three projects:

• The adoption of software that can automatically update and switch off the council’s 2,500 computers at night, saving an estimated £50,000 and 250 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions annually through reduced electricity usage.

• Replacement of desktop printers, fax machines and photocopiers with ‘multi-functional devices’ that automatically print on both sides of paper and offer better cost controls; an estimated 25 per cent saving on paper usage; and a reduction in energy consumption.

• The Electrical Appliance Recycling Programme EARP, which repairs electrical goods for re-sale to needy families or recycles re-usable components while also providing useful work-related training for people seeking employment.

The city council’s procurement project director Adam Jacobs added: “Sustainable procurement has the potential to offer wider social, economic and environmental benefits. It is a hot topic, given the government’s ambition for the UK to be a European Union leader in this sector by 2009.

“An independent, business-led Sustainable Procurement Task Force published its first report in June 2006 and the government published its own action plan in March 2007. A local authority action plan is also expected shortly.”

The Peterborough conference is being supported by the North East Centre of Excellence, which takes the lead on sustainable procurement for all nine local government regional centres of excellence in England.

Delegates include representatives from local authorities in the East of England, Government Office for the East of England GO-East, the East of England Development Agency, the Audit Commission, Envirowise which delivers government-funded advice to UK businesses and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Defra.

Posted in Government Procurement, Sustainable Procurement | No Comments »

25. September 2007 by admin.

Novo Nordisk Ranks Supersector Leader in the 2007 Dow Jones Sustainability Indexes
Novo Nordisk Ranks Supersector Leader in the 2007 Dow Jones Sustainability Indexes

PRINCETON, N.J., Sept. 24 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Novo Nordisk, a
world leader in diabetes care, announced that effective today, the company
is listed in the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index (DJSI World) as
best-in-class in the healthcare industry — one of 18 global supersectors
analyzed.
The latest global analysis of corporate sustainability leadership was
based on a thorough analysis of companies’ economic, environmental and
social performance, assessing issues including corporate governance, risk
management, branding, climate change, supply chain standards and labor
practices.
The report concludes “Novo Nordisk is the leading company in terms of
sustainability in the pharmaceutical industry. Sustainability is an
integral part of its corporate strategy and business organization.”
The report continues, “Novo Nordisk is particularly strong in the
social dimension where it achieved the industry top ratings in human
capital development, corporate citizenship/philanthropy, and social
reporting.” The company’s responsible sourcing, environmental management,
bioethics and climate strategy also achieve high scores.
“This honor provides us further encouragement for operating our
business according to our Triple Bottom Line philosophy — a company that
can be economically vital, as well as socially and environmentally
responsible,” said Martin Soeters, president, Novo Nordisk in the United
States.
“Our passion for changing diabetes is supported by an understanding
that sustainability in business is not just possible but necessary. By
putting the patient at the center of all we do — from providing the best
therapies to patients and advocating our employees’ volunteerism with
patient groups and at diabetes camps to our environmental stewardship
through water conservation efforts and our climate change strategy — we
strive to be successful and responsible.”
The indexes, which currently comprise USD$5.6 billion assets under
management, are used as a tool by asset managers in 15 countries to guide
their investment decisions.
Novo Nordisk has been a component of the Dow Jones Sustainability
Indexes every year since the launch in 1999.
About Novo Nordisk
Novo Nordisk is a healthcare company with an 84-year history of
innovation and achievement in diabetes care. The company has the broadest
diabetes product portfolio in the industry, including the most advanced
products within the area of insulin delivery systems. In addition to
diabetes care, Novo Nordisk has a leading position within areas such as
hemostasis management, growth hormone therapy, and hormone therapy for
women. Novo Nordisk’s business is driven by the Triple Bottom Line: a
commitment to economic success, environmental soundness, and social
responsibility to employees and customers. With headquarters in Denmark,
Novo Nordisk employs more than 25,000 employees in 79 countries, and
markets its products in 179 countries. Novo Nordisk’s B shares are listed
on the stock exchanges in Copenhagen and London. Its ADRs are listed on the
New York Stock Exchange under the symbol ‘NVO’. For global information,
visit novonordisk.com; for United States information, visit
novonordisk-us.com.

Posted in Responsible Sourcing, Sustainable Procurement | No Comments »

14. September 2007 by admin.

SDCExec.com - Article - Greening your Supply Chain
Greening your Supply Chain
10 things you can do today to prepare for business in a new environment

By Kris Colby and David Fertal

The green sourcing wave has begun to roll. An increasing number of companies are beginning to catch on and ride this wave in an effort to proactively manage a new era of customer needs, regulations and competitive realities that will ultimately impact their business.

Far from a fad or feel-good initiative, green sourcing is fast emerging as a strategic business imperative. Companies that want to get ahead of the curve and stay there need to begin thinking green now and develop an approach to sourcing and supply chain management that factors this new reality into their plans. It sounds daunting, but with a few simple steps procurement organizations can jumpstart their efforts and get on the path to success:

1. Know where you stand: Understanding your organization’s spend, supply chain and consumption patterns is naturally the first step because you can’t affect what you can’t see. Whether this is a detailed carbon footprint study or an assessment of your organization’s “green” status, you need to know how your supply chain is positioned for the changes on the horizon.

2. Have a plan: Once you understand where you stand, create a set of goals and, even more important, metrics that can be used to track progress.

3. Have a single point of accountability: Many organizations have appointed “chief sustainability officers” to oversee their green efforts. The applicability of this specific position will depend on your organization and industry, but the key is to have a single point of accountability empowered to effect change.

4. Market your progress internally and externally: Half the battle is getting the word out and getting people on board. Be sure to communicate to all levels why green efforts are being undertaken (Goals), what will be measured (Metrics) and how the company is going to get there (Plan).

5. Incorporate “green” into your existing sourcing and procurement processes: Sourcing and procurement have always been about more than just price. Factoring green priorities into your existing processes is a natural extension of the non-price process and an effective way to drive green goals. Be sure to include green criteria in your requests for proposals (RFPs) and create clear metrics for measuring them as part of supplier performance management.

6. Communicate your goals and standards to your supplier community: By setting clear expectations of your supply base during the sourcing process and proactively monitoring compliance/progress, you can quickly improve your sustainability performance. Outline what suppliers will be expected to provide and how they will be measured to ensure that they are delivering and putting in place the processes and procedures to drive compliance.

7. Stay up-to-date with global regulations: Environmental regulations such as the Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) directive in the European Union will increasingly affect how your supply chain functions regardless of your location. You need a method for keeping up with changes in this rapidly evolving area to avoid costly mistakes in your supply chain.

8. Keep up with new materials, technologies and processes: Significant work is being done to develop new approaches that can cost-effectively address the challenges and opportunities that green initiatives present. Stay up-to-date in your industry, participate in industry groups and do whatever it takes to maintain your competitive advantage and not be left behind.

9. Do the “easy stuff” first: You don’t need to overhaul your supply chain to see gains from sustainability efforts. Instead, identify “quick wins” such as simple improvements in energy efficiency that can both deliver bottom-line results and kick-start your green initiative.

10. Get everyone involved: As with any broad initiative, it is nearly impossible for just one functional area to have an impact on the entire organization through its efforts alone. To be effective, you need Engineering, Design, Sales, Finance, Operations and everyone else involved.

By acting on these 10 steps now, you can ensure that your organization will be well-positioned to limit risks and profit from the opportunities that green initiatives hold.

About the Authors: Kris Colby is a senior manager and David Fertal an engineering project manager in the Spend Management Services group at Ariba, Inc. www.ariba.com.

Posted in Green Sourcing, Sustainable Procurement | No Comments »

14. September 2007 by admin.

Scoop: Making the public service more sustainable

NZ, Aust join to make public service more sustainable

The New Zealand and Australian governments today established the first trans-Tasman joint framework for sustainable government procurement to ensure that public sector organisations in both countries consider the environmental credentials of goods and services they buy.

Commerce Minister Lianne Dalziel, as minister in charge of the New Zealand government’s procurement policy, met with her Australian counterparts in Melbourne today to launch the Australian and New Zealand Government Framework for Sustainable Procurement.

The move to work with the Australians on sustainable procurement follows the New Zealand government’s recent announcement on its own mandated environmental standards, guidelines and targets for the public service.

“New Zealand welcomes the opportunity to collaborate with the Australian state, territorial and federal governments through the Australian Procurement and Construction Council on this important issue. The threat of climate change has clearly demonstrated that the world must use its resources carefully. Governments in both countries are taking the lead to ensure that the purchase of goods and services by government are more sustainable,” Lianne Dalziel said.

The Framework provides a set of guiding principles and best practice examples for public sector organisations. It will encourage the sharing of experience between governments in both countries and ensure economic, environmental and social considerations are taken into account.

“The sustainability imperative means that we must emphasise the economic, environmental and social impacts of goods and services over their entire lifecycle as part of the value-for-money assessment. In addition, we drive the production of environmentally-friendly and sustainable goods and services. Sustainable procurement and innovation go hand in hand,” Lianne Dalziel said.

Participation in the joint Australia New Zealand Framework is part of New Zealand’s Sustainable Government Procurement Project, one of six government initiatives that will help lead New Zealand towards greater economic, environmental and social sustainability in its resource use and way of life.

To view the Framework, or for more information on sustainable procurement, please visit www.procurement.govt.nz.

Posted in Government Procurement, Sustainable Procurement | No Comments »

13. September 2007 by admin.

ARNnet - From the Top: Toshiba’s Mark Whittard - Mobile trends and green computing
Green computing is becoming a major industry concern. What is Toshiba doing to improve its carbon footprint?

MW: A lot of the government-based reports have been rightly focused on the trade-in and deployment end of the cycle. What they’re becoming more aware of, and where our focus is, is the entire lifecycle and there are five elements here. The first thing is component procurement and where materials for those come from. Toshiba is one of the few vendors that publishes strict green procurement guidelines. Additionally, we were the first to launch a fully Restriction of Hazardous Substances [RoHS] compliant computer in 2004.

Posted in Green Computing, Green Procurement, Sustainable Procurement | No Comments »