Applying the Policy on Green procurement

Buyers or contracting authorities are encouraged to:

• research what environmental elements were included in previous procurements, if any
• consult with the client department to define the requirement including updated green criteria
• collaborate with PSPC’s green and clean technology procurement team

Research what environmental elements were included in previous procurements as a starting point

Before developing new environmental considerations:

• identify any existing procurement instruments for the category that include environmentally preferable considerations
• take note of any green requirements or criteria during your review of:
  • previous procurement instruments
  • solicitation documents
  • processes for the given procurement category

Keep in mind that these criteria may be out of date.

Consult with representatives from the client department to update environmental elements

In addition to the buyers’ responsibilities (as in the Policy on Green Procurement and section 2.20 of the Supply Manual), there are additional responsibilities:

Section 2.20 of the Supply Manual: Green procurement and defining the requirement

It explains how contracting officers should assist the client in defining the procurement requirement and identifying potential opportunities that support obligations and departmental targets related to green procurement.

This means that contracting authorities should present environmentally preferable options to clients. To identify potential options, contracting authorities should:

• identify any new requirements under the Policy on Green Procurement, example: mandatory standards and apply them
• apply relevant Policy Notifications related to green procurement, example: environmentally preferable packaging for goods
• consider the biggest environmental impacts from the procurement according to the life-cycle and include criteria, technical standards or requirements that address the impacts
• consult the green and clean technology procurement team if further guidance is required

Collaborate with Public Services and Procurement Canada’s green and clean technology procurement team

The green and clean technology procurement team supports the development of environmental considerations, criteria, and/or requirements for the good/service category. Our team supports the application of mandatory requirements PSPC-wide, and researches and examines:

• environmental impact “hotspots” according to the life-cycle of a good, service or technology
• global and regional best practices
• market readiness

Consult our team for specific content related to your procurement.

Contact the green and clean technology procurement team

We encourage federal departments and agencies to:

• determine if there is a real need to buy a new good or service
• understand key environmental issues associated with the good or service being procured
• request an environmentally preferable good or service

Determine if there is a real need to buy a new good or service

The greenest option is often to not procure anything new at all. With the help of the contracting authority and PSPC’s green and clean technology procurement team, identify if there are opportunities to fill the department’s needs with existing materials. This may include goods or services available:

• within the department or government
• through programs like GCSurplus and GCTransfer that include recycled content

Look into whether you can repair/repurpose existing goods or share/borrow from colleagues in similar programs. Before you buy, it is important to consider what will happen to the goods once they are no longer needed and identify a plan for their disposal.

Understand key environmental issues associated with the good or service being procured

The main environmental impacts associated with products or services may differ across commodity categories such as: greenhouse gas emissions, plastic waste and others. It is good practice to understand the key environmental issue(s) associated with the good or service. This will help you determine the environmental considerations and criteria the contracting authority can include in the procurement.

Request an environmentally preferable good or service

Excluding the application of mandatory standards, the decision whether or not to buy an environmentally preferable good or service ultimately resides with the client department. Departments and agencies are responsible for selecting the environmentally preferable option provided by the contracting authority or request that the contracting authority do so. This ensures that green procurement is achieved and implemented.

To meet the expectations of the Policy on Green Procurement and to promote environmental stewardship, suppliers are expected to:

• understand key environmental issues associated with goods and services from a life-cycle perspective
• demonstrate key environmental features of goods and services and include relevant third party certifications
• share information on corporate environmental policies and practices
• ensure that environmental specifications and evaluation criteria that are in the solicitation documents are included in bid submissions

Understand key environmental issues associated with your goods and services

Assess all aspects of the product’s lifecycle.

Image description: Figure 1—Lifecycle of a product

The lifecycle of an average product consists of 6 stages:

1. Raw material extraction
2. Materials processing
3. Product design and manufacture
4. Product use
5. Collection and processing
6. End of life/disposal

During each stage energy, material, and water (inputs) are converted to air, water and land emissions (outputs).

Before products move to the last stage (end of life/disposal), outputs and products can be:

• Recycled: Occurs during the materials processing stage
• Remanufactured: Occurs during the product design and manufacturing stage
• Reused: Occurs during the product use stage

Transportation of the product occurs across all stages of the lifecycle.

Modified from source: US Environmental Protection Agency (2009).

Demonstrate the environmental features of your goods and services

All goods and services involve environmental impacts. If your goods and services are environmentally preferable compared to others on the market, highlight:

• that you understand the life-cycle impacts of your goods and services
• the features of your goods and services that address the most relevant environmental impacts from a life-cycle perspective
• applicable third-party certifications or environmental product declarations based on a life-cycle assessment that correspond to a product category rule

Share information on your corporate environmental policies and practices

When preparing to bid, be ready to provide information on any of your corporate-level environmental programs, even if it’s not mandatory. Environmental practices within your daily operations may centre on:

• efficient manufacturing processes
• material substitution
• waste programs
• carbon-neutral programs

Ongoing analysis of supplier submissions may influence future environmental evaluation criteria or specifications.

Include environmental specifications and evaluation criteria from the solicitation documents in your bid submission

Government of Canada bid solicitations are increasingly more inclusive of environmental considerations such as:

• evaluation criteria (either mandatory or point-rated)
• contractual requirements related to the environment

Successful bids should demonstrate compliance with all environmental criteria and specifications.