Our definition of Environmentally-friendly procurement is: "Conducting procurement with due regard to, and consideration of, the environmental implications."
The Environmental Strategy and Action Plan (ESAP) was adopted by Cabinet in February 2002. It sets out the Council’s objectives and actions for achieving a healthy and sustainable environment.
The key objectives included in the ESAP are:
- increase the efficiency with which the Council uses resources; and
- take account of environmental considerations in funding, contract, policy and purchasing decisions.
The Council’s Environment Service Development Group and the Strategic Property and Procurement Group have endorsed the statement that: "Where an environmentally preferable product is available it should be used unless there is an auditable reason for not doing so."
Auditable reasons could include:
- no environmentally preferable product available to meet requirements;
- delays in availability of environmentally preferable products would impact the performance or delivery of a service;
- the whole life costs of an environmentally preferable product or service are significantly in excess of an alternative product.