Sustainable ProcurementTrain-the-Trainers Workshop

Office of Sustainability

2010

Agenda

8:30 Introductions - Ice breaker

8:45 What is Sustainability? What is Sustainable Procurement?

9:15 Commodity clusters

10:00 Break

10:15 Social side of Sustainable ProcurementJust Us Video

10: 50 Myth Busters, Check list and Commodity brain storm

11: 30 Tools and resources

12:00 Finish

Goals1. Gain an

awareness/understanding of sustainability.

2. Learn about and practice using tools to help with sustainable procurement.

Introductions

Ice breaker

Sustainability Wheel

At the center of the wheel is academic life which represents governance issues, student life, and academic achievement.

Six major inputs support academic life (in orange). On the outer ring are positive outcomes that we aim to achieve (in yellow) and negative outputs that we aim to reduce (in blue).

A primary approach of sustainable activity is to make the most effective use of inputs and reduce negative outputs.

History – Office of SustainabilityOffice established in January of 2008 with the Director of Sustainability.

Reports to the Vice-President of Finance and Administration.

DSU Sustainability Office and Dalhousie College of Sustainability also established in 2008.

Office Pillars of Action

Definition

sustainable procurement is a key method for delivering an organization’s sustainable development priorities. It is about taking social and environmental factors into consideration alongside financial factors when making procurement decisions. (Forum for the Future)

What is the impact of procurement on Sustainability issues?

Large!amount purchased x type of products and there impacts

At Dal we purchase many things from around the world.

On our own and with others we can influence markets.

Methods for Purchasing

Procurement at Dalhousie is facilitated by the Purchasing Department.

Dalhousie employees have the opportunity to direct their purchases towards more sustainable conscious goods and services within the following thresholds:

$1,500 can be made directly using a Pcard or on a Requisition.

For goods purchased over $1,500 up to $25,000 Purchasing requires quotation(s) and a Requisition.

For goods over $25,000 we must go to public tender through Purchasing.

Visit http://purchasing.dal.ca/ for more information.

Commodities

Paper

Toner

Appliances

Electronics: printers, faxes, computers, monitors, phones ..

Office Supplies

Couriers

Custodial and grounds equipment and supplies

Food and Beverages

Accommodations/Travel

Furniture

Renovation and Construction Equipment & Supplies: Lights, paint, Automobiles

Laboratory Equipment & Supplies

Advertising Products

Paper & Printing

Dalhousie currently use a supply agreement enabled by Interuniversity Services Inc. where competitive quotes were gathered and sustainable product compared. This contract is available to all Dalhousie by contacting the Print Centre. 100% post-consumer paper is available.

Reduce paper consumption by editing on screen and only printing the final product.

Print double sided

Recycle paper instead of putting it in the garbage.

Sustainability Procurement Trends – Beyond the purchase cost

Need examining whether a product is really needed or are there alternatives to purchasing (rent, lease, etc)

Sourcing from environmentally and socially sound suppliers (fair trade, local products, companies with established environmental policies)

Addition of health criteria: indoor air quality and pollutant criteria

Accounting for the total environmental and economic impact of a product or service (pollution, recycled content, local suppliers, etc.)

Sustainable Procurement Trends – Beyond the purchase cost

Triple bottom line accounting versus traditional financial accounting

Provision of more tools – purchasing guides and frameworks

Movement from policy to

regulation (i.e. US EPA)

Adoption of existing standards (ex. Energy Star) versus device specific requirements

Impacts of Sustainable Procurement

Sustainable Procurement Framework

People

Policy

Procurement Process

Engaging suppliers

Measurement and Results

Overarching Principles: Avoid, Reduce, Efficient Use, Triple Category Consideration (Below) Overarching Principles: Avoid, Reduce, Efficient Use, Triple Category Consideration (Below)

Goods and Services

Sustainable Procurement Check Listadapted from City of Ottawa

http://www.ottawa.ca/residents/environment/workplace/procurement_en.html

Absolutely necessary [Env., Econ]Is this purchase absolutely necessary to our operations? Can we do without it?

Durable [Env., Econ.]Is it built to last? Does it need lots of maintenance? What is the overall cost of ownership?

Energy and fuel-efficient [Env., Econ.] Does the product help us to save money on energy or fuel?

Local source [Env., Econ., Soc.] Can this product be purchased from a reliable local source? Does it require less fuel or energy to bring this to our workplace?

Responsible source [Soc., community Econ.]Does the manufacturer provide proof of responsible environmental and social practices? Is the manufacturer paying workers standard wages and benefits?

Reusable [Env., Econ.] Can the product be used several times for the same or multiple purposes? Can we borrow it, rent or get it used?

Low or no environmental impact [Env.]Is the source material easily renewable? Is there any negative impact on the environment in the harvest, production, transportation, use or disposal? Is it recyclable?

Right size [Env., Econ.] Can it be smaller, lighter or made with less material?

Dal - Sustainability Procurement Highlights to Date

Avoidance:• Pesticide-free landscaping • Tray less in cafeterias

ReUse:• Chemicals exchange program• Second hand text book sales• Furniture Re-use

Recycled Content:• Switch to 30% post-consumer content paper• 100 per cent recycled, non-bleached and single ply toilet

paper and paper towels• Mugs, clothes, other products in Book store• Green Building (materials) - LEED

Dalhousie is first University Energy Star Partner in Canada

- agreed to promote following energy star products

Role of Certification?

Comprehensive Singular category

• Use of Certification as a preference point and/or minimum standard.

Be wary of Green washing: http://sinsofgreenwashing.org/findings/the-seven-sins/

What do we buy?

Activity:1. In groups have a discussion about what you buy.

2. Decide which 3 items/categories you buy most often or spend the most money on.

3. Write the name of each of those 3 on a post-it.

4. Hand them in to the moderator for grouping.

Common Areas of Concern regarding the social side of Sustainable Procurement

Fair payment

Child Labour

Worker rightsVoices & ChoicesInformation

Working conditionsHealth & safetyEducation

Environmental sustainabilityRaw materials & community impact

Complex supply chains

Levels of Assessment

Voluntary reporting & Sustainability Principlese.g. Corporate Social Responsibility reporting

ISO 26000

Self-assessmentsExternal guidelines

Internal assessments

Third-party monitoringe.g. Fair Trade

Regulations and lawsState enforcement

US Sweatfree Public ProcurementPurchasing Consortium

http://buysweatfree.org/

Apparel Standards

Industry still lagging with transparencyOften voluntary measuresInclude positive criteria in RFPs and contractsCan also use negative screens (media & watchdog reports)

Standards•Fair Trade (www.transfair.ca) •Global Organic Textile Standard (www.global-standard.org)•Worldwide Responsible Accredited Production (www.wrapcompliance.org)

Considerations•Governance•Self-assessments•Frequency & method of monitoring•Fees•Enforcements / Fines•International Labour Organization standards

www.ilo.org/global/lang--en/index.htm

Mythbusters!

Myth #1Financial cost is the only decision criteria .

Fair Trade vs. Non-Fair Trade Coffee

Non-fair trade (PC)Financial Cost $5.29 for 343g ground Arabica

Environmental Cost Energy intensive Can have organic certification

if not - Pesticides – Toxics Clear cutting

Social Cost Working conditions Wages Community disparity

Fair Trade (Just Us!)Financial Cost $9.49 for 340g ground Arabica min. price to producer reduces

handlers and can mean a higher price to consumer

Environmental Cost Has Organic certification Minimize lifetime impact More human energy

Social Cost Safe working conditions Fair payment Community enhancement

Other considerations: Transport, Demand,…

Fair Trade - Not just coffee

CoffeeCocoaTeaSugarSpicesHoneyRice

QuinoaFresh FruitFresh flowersCottonSports BallsShea butterWine

Slide provided by Just Us! Development and Education Society

Myth #1 BUSTED!

Financial savings don’t always outweigh the other costs.

The triple bottom line• Financial• Environmental• Social

Screening

Mythbusters!

Myth #1

It’s more expensive to be sustainable.

Energy Star vs. Non-Energy Star Computers

Non-energy Star• Idle mode

(69W*5853hrs*$0.103/kWh)=$41.60

• Sleep mode(3W*439hrs*$0.103/kWh)

=$0.14• Off mode

(2W*2467hrs*$0.103/kWh)=$0.51=$42.25

Energy Star• Idle mode

(46W*5853 hrs*$0.103/kWh)=$27.73

• Sleep mode(2W*439hrs*$0.103/kWh)

=$0.09• Off mode

(1W*2467hrs*$0.103/kWh)=$0.25=$28.07

Myth #2 BUSTED!

Energy Star saves $14.18 per year in electricity!• Average lifetime is 4yrs = $56.72 savings• Think about the number of computers on campus!

$$$• Cost to purchase• Cost to run• Cost to maintain• Cost to dispose of

Sustainable Procurement Toolkit

Scenario

Use check list from Slide 18

Activity

Brainstorm consideration for a commodity of interest

Discuss

Sustainable Procurement Toolkit

Where to find it• http://office.sustainability.dal.ca/Programs/Procurement_and_

Wast/Procurement//

What’s in itTrainer Power Points and Outline

Energy Star Purchasing Guide

Energy Star Calculator

Session Power points and outline

Web resources

Extra energy star intranet and Province of NS online training

2 hr. Training Curriculum

Where to find it• http://office.sustainability.dal.ca/Programs/Procurement_and

_Wast/Procurement//

Covers• Sustainability and sustainable procurement• Triple bottom line• Sustainable procurement toolkit

What now?

Deliver your training session!

Take the Province of Nova Scotia online Sustainable Procurement training•You will be acknowledged on the Office of Sustainability website when these are completed!

Use the toolkit the next time you purchase something!

Discussion

How can Dalhousie support more sustainable procurement activity?

Modify purchasing policy to include sustainability aspects

More training and educational tools

Inserting sustainability language in?

Other

What kinds of measures and targets could we use?

Sustainable Procurement Website and Tools

Buy Smart BC

Responsible Purchasing Network

Government of Canada

Energy Star (Office of Energy Efficiency)

Nova Scotia Government US Federal Government

Eco Logo Program

Green Electronics - EPEAT

Municipality of Whistler UBC's Sustainable Purchasing Guide

Canadian Food Inspection Agency - Food Labelling and Advertizing

Samples from existing groupsPolicy Sustainable

Food Purchasing Guide and Policies; Number of organizations

Brock University: Ethical purchasing policy – fair trade coffee and tea & university apparel and sweatshop free. Guelph

City of Ottawa Ethical Purchasing Policy: apparel and sweatshops Supplier Code of conduct. Calgary

Simon Fraser UniversityLocal law, employment conditions, policy is accompanied with vendor application form

RFP/Tender/Procedures

PSU RFP Sustainability Excerpts -foodSeries of 10 questions for vendors

Food: San Francisco Dept. of Health Policy , procedures, definitions. Lesson learned

Whistler purchasing policy and tools – incorporated in main policy

Approach Third party verification: Blue sign – textiles, Trans Fair – Fair Trade certification, Canadian organic certification, ..

Direct involvement with producers/manufactures: MEC, Just Us!, …

Feedback

Discussion• Do you need clarification on any topics?• Do you feel comfortable using the curriculum and tools to

deliver your own training session?• What is the most significant thing you will take away from

this workshop?• Other comments?

Written• Please fill in the feedback form