UK pledges greener public purchasing

Environment Daily 1542, 30/10/03

The UK government has taken new steps to green public sector purchases of goods and services, promising a "major shift" towards sustainable procurement practices. Its announcement comes just as EU governments and the European parliament prepare to finalise two European
procurement laws.

Britain's new green procurement initiative implements recommendations made earlier this year by an expert group. This urged a "clear lead from the top" to overcome perceptions of conflict between value for money and sustainable development objectives.

In line with this advice, all central government department contracts will from 1 November have to apply minimum environmental standards when purchasing certain kinds of products. To support this aim an existing guide on environmental issues in purchasing has been revised and reissued. In addition, the government has published a list of environmental "quick wins" products and services.

* Meanwhile, the EU council of ministers and European parliament will on 4 November hold a final round of conciliation talks aimed at finalising two public procurement directives. This week green lobby group EEB wrote to both sides urging acceptance of parliamentary demands for an expanded scope for green purchasing.

Follow-up:
UK environment ministry http://www.defra.gov.uk/,
tel: +44 20 72 38 69 51

Press release
http://www.defra.gov.uk/news/latest/2003/sustain.htm

Sustainable government pages
http://www.sustainable-development.gov.uk/sdig/improving/index.htm

Joint note on environmental issues in purchasing
http://www.sustainable-development.gov.uk/sdig/improving/partf/eip2003/index.htm

Environmental "quick wins" listing
http://www.ogcbuyingsolutions.gov.uk/environmental/products/environmental_quickwins.asp

ALSO DEFRA LINK
http://defraweb/news/latest/2003/sustain.htm

{sidebar}