Ministry of Economic Development Home| Contact MED|


 
 
 

Links to this page were:

Section Subnavigation Links:

Sustainable Government Procurement Project



The Ministry of Economic Development has been tasked with leading the Sustainable Government Procurement Project (CAB Min (07) 17/2B), one of six key projects that comprise the Government's "Towards a Sustainable New Zealand" programme.

Purpose

The purpose of the Sustainable Government Procurement Project is to make sustainability a core component of government procurement policy and practice.

Benefits

  • The expected benefits of enhanced sustainable government procurement1 include:
  • Government procurement market activity producing less carbon and waste
  • Improved value for money over whole of life outcomes from agency spend and operational cost savings through better demand and waste management, and the use of more energy, water and resource efficient goods and services
  • Knowledge and methods for incorporating sustainability considerations into procurement decisions being widely disseminated both within and beyond the public sector through good practice government procurement arrangements (eg syndicated procurement contracts; standard tender and contract clauses)
  • Improved availability of sustainable and innovative goods and services in New Zealand due to increased demand in the government market
  • Increased supply opportunities for innovative and sustainable New Zealand firms
  • New Zealand firms gaining competitive advantage by adopting sustainable practices and credentials
Deliverables and Milestones for Initial Action
Deliverable Short Term Medium Term Long Term

Incorporate sustainability into a single procurement policy and report back to Cabinet Economic Development Committee on proposals for the application to the wider state sector

Refer to the Government Procurement Policy page for details

By November 2007

Implement a National Framework for Sustainable Procurement

Now available

By August 2007

Mandate standards in Quick Win categories: Paper; timber and wood products; travel; light fittings for Public Service Departments

Now available

By August 2007

Roll out standards in Quick Win categories: Paper; timber and wood products; travel; light fittings to wider State Services

By December 2007

Identify and report back to Cabinet additional priority areas for mandatory standards

By December 2007

Develop and pilot a draft carbon costing methodology and policy in selected Public Service Departments

By December 2007

[Ongoing work to establish priorities]

Implement a carbon costing methodology and policy in all Public Service Departments

By July 2008

Best practice tools and information made publicly available

By December 2007

Develop and implement sustainable procurement KPIs and targets in agency performance agreements

By December 2007

Report back to Cabinet on progress towards implementing sustainable procurement initiatives

By March 2008


1The working definition of "sustainable procurement" that this project will be using is "…a process whereby organisations meet their needs for goods, works and utilities in a way that achieves value for money on a whole of life basis in terms of generating benefits not only to the organisation, but also to society and the economy, whilst minimising damage to the environment." Procuring the Future UK Sustainable Procurement Task Force 2006.


Back to Top