Departmental Sustainable Development Strategy

1. Context for the Departmental Sustainable Development Strategy

Although the Public Service Commission (PSC) is not bound by the Federal Sustainable Development Act and is not required to develop a full departmental sustainable development strategy, the PSC adheres to the principles of the Federal Sustainable Development Strategy (FSDS) by implementing the Policy on Green Procurement.

The Policy on Green Procurement supports the Government of Canada’s effort to promote environmental stewardship. In keeping with the objectives of the policy, the PSC supports sustainable development by integrating environmental performance considerations into the procurement decision-making process through the actions described in the “FSDS goal: low-carbon government” table in section 2, below.

2. Commitments for Public Service Commission

FSDS goal: low-carbon government
FSDS target FSDS contributing action Corresponding departmental action(s) Starting points where available and performance indicators for departmental actions Programs where the departmental actions will occur

Reduce Greenhouse Gas emissions from federal government buildings and fleets by 40% below 2005 levels by 2030, with an aspiration to achieve it by 2025.

Support the transition to a low-carbon economy through green procurement.

Review procurement processes and update internal contracting templates to ensure that current environmental considerations are included.

Centrally purchase copy paper for the PSC’s headquarters, ensuring it contains recycled content and is certified to a recognized environmental standard to reduce the environmental impact of its production. This will also reduce the quantity of deliveries and subsequently reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Centrally purchase office supplies for the PSC’s headquarters, ensuring supplies include criteria to reduce the environmental impact of the production, acquisition, use and disposal of the supplies.

Leverage common use procurement instruments where available and feasible.

Ensure specialists in procurement or material management have the necessary training and awareness to support green procurement.

By March 31, 2019, the PSC’s internal contracting templates including the Statement of Work, Request for Proposal, Request for Standing Offer, and Request for Quotation are reviewed and updated.

By March 31, 2019, at least 90% of white bond copy paper purchases for the PSC’s headquarters contain a minimum of 30% recycled content and are certified to a recognized environmental standard to reduce the environmental impact of its production. This will be measured by the volume of purchased white bond copy paper that meets the target objective relative to the total volume of all copy paper centrally purchased in the year.

By March 31, 2019, 50% of office supplies centrally purchased at the PSC headquarters will include criteria to reduce the environmental impact of the production, acquisition, use and disposal of the supplies. This will be measured by the dollar value of purchased office supplies that meet the target objective relative to the total volume of all office supplies centrally purchased during the year.

Common use procurement instruments which include environmental considerations are leveraged, where available and feasible.

By March 31, 2019, 80% of specialists in procurement and/or material management have completed the Canada School of Public Service Green Procurement course or equivalent.

Internal Services

3. Integrating sustainable development

The PSC will continue to ensure that its decision-making process includes consideration of FSDS goals and targets through Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) processes, if applicable. An SEA for policy, plan or program proposals includes an analysis of the impacts of the given proposal on the environment, including on FSDS goals and targets.

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