Departmental Sustainable Development Strategy
1. Overview of the Federal Government's Approach to Sustainable Development
The Federal Sustainable Development Strategy (FSDS) 2013–16 presents the Government of Canada's sustainable development activities, as required by the Federal Sustainable Development Act. In keeping with the objectives of the Act to make environmental decision making more transparent and accountable to Parliament, the Public Service Commission (PSC) supports the implementation of the FSDS through the activities in this supplementary information table.
Although the PSC is not bound by the Federal Sustainable Development Act and is not required to develop a departmental sustainable development strategy, the PSC adheres to the principles of the FSDS.
4. Theme IV: Targets and Implementation Strategies
Goal 7: Waste and Asset Management
Target 7.2: Green Procurement
As of April 1, 2014, the Government of Canada will continue to take action to embed environmental considerations into public procurement, in accordance with the federal Policy on Green Procurement.
Scope and Context
In 2013, the PSC procured over $8 million in goods and services, in multiple commodity categories. Although greening of our procurement can be integrated throughout our activities, the PSC focused on three prospective areas for greening its procurement: internal contracting templates, office imaging and paper purchases.
Performance Measurement
Expected result
Environmentally responsible acquisition, use and disposal of goods and services.
| Performance indicator | Performance level achieved |
|---|---|
| Departmental approach to further the implementation of the Policy on Green Procurement in place as of April 1, 2014. | Yes, April 1, 2014Footnote 1 |
| Number and percentage of procurement and/or materiel management specialists who completed the Canada School of Public Service Green Procurement course (C215) or equivalent, in fiscal year 2014–15. | Number: 5 Percentage: 100% |
| Number and percentage of managers and functional heads of procurement and materiel whose performance evaluation includes support and contribution toward green procurement, in fiscal year 2014–15. | Number: 1 Percentage: 100% |
Departmental Green Procurement Target 1: By March 31, 2015, the PSC will review and update its internal contracting templates to ensure that current environmental considerations are included.
This target criterion includes the following internal contracting documents:
- Statement of Work
- Request for Proposals
- Request for Standing Offers
- Request for Quotations
| Performance indicator | Performance level achieved |
|---|---|
| Number of documents reviewed and updated that meet the target relative to total number of documents in the fiscal year 2014-15. | Number: 4 Percentage: 100% |
Departmental Green Procurement Target 2: By March 31, 2015, the PSC will achieve at least a 15:1 average ratio of office employees to printing units. Additionally, all toner cartridges of leased multifunction devices at 22 Eddy will be returned to the vendor for recycling. This will reduce equipment purchases and consequently, reduce the disposal of e-waste at the end of life.
Printing units include the following:
- Leased multifunction devices
- Purchased printers
- Purchased photocopiers
- Purchased multifunction devices
| Performance indicator | Performance level achieved |
|---|---|
Total number of PSC employees in March 2015 relative to the total number of printing units in use. Number of toner cartridges of leased devices returned to vendor for recycling relative to the total number of toner cartridges from leased devices in the year at 22 Eddy. |
Average Ratio: 21:1 Percentage: 100% |
Departmental Green Procurement Target 3: By March 31, 2015, the purchase of copy paper for the PSC’s Headquarters will be centralized and 90% of purchases will contain a minimum 30% recycled content and be certified to a recognized environmental standard to reduce the environmental impact of its production. This will reduce the quantity of deliveries and subsequently reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
The target criterion is limited to the purchase of white bond paper of the following sizes:
- 8 ½ X 11
- 8 ½ X 14
- 11 X 17
| Performance indicator | Performance level achieved |
|---|---|
| Cost of paper purchases that meet the target criterion relative to total cost of paper purchases for the fiscal year 2014-15. | Percentage: 100% |
Implementation strategy element or best practice
7.2.1.5. Leverage common use procurement instruments where available and feasible.
Performance level achieved
The PSC ensured that purchases were made through PWGSC consolidated procurement instruments when such instruments were available, such as those for the procurement of software, microcomputers, furniture, office seating, professional services, multifunction devices, and office supplies.
The PSC has reached an “Achieved” status, as defined in the GGO implementation guidelines for this target area.
7. Strategic Environmental Assessment
During the 2014–15 reporting cycle, the PSC considered the environmental effects of initiatives subject to the Cabinet Directive on the Environmental Assessment of Policy, Plan and Program Proposals, as part of its decision-making processes. As the PSC did not develop any initiatives that required a strategic environmental assessment, no related public statements were produced.
Footnotes
- Footnote 1
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The PSC’s approach to implementing green procurement was to target the use of PWGSC procurement instruments, the delivery of training to key personnel and the inclusion of green procurement objectives in the employee performance evaluations of key decision makers. The scope of implementation activities (unless otherwise specified) included both the National Capital Region (headquarters) and the Regions.
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