Buying Green

The department that spends about $10 billion a year on everything from flu vaccines to helicopters, also helps lead the world in 'green' procurement — the environmentally-responsible purchasing of goods and services.

By selecting green products — such as energy-efficient office equipment, recycled paper and alternative fuel vehicles — PWGSC is helping the Government of Canada (GoC) reduce its energy consumption, greenhouse gas emissions and waste generation. And as the largest public sector buyer in Canada, it has the purchasing clout to influence industry too — giving suppliers real incentives to produce environmentally-friendly products and develop new green technologies.

"Our far-reaching scope means there is much potential for green opportunities," said PWGSC's Jane Billings, then Assistant Deputy Minister for Acquisitions. "We want to strike a balance between value for money and green procurement."

Ms. Billings recently hosted a forum in Ottawa called 'Taking the Lead in Greening Government', bringing together about sixty government buyers and private sector suppliers to discuss current trends and future directions.

PWGSC's Roy John of the Canadian General Standards Board, described how PWGSC is saving money and the environment by purchasing remanufactured toner cartridges for use in printers and copiers. The remanufacturing process involves cleaning and repairing used cartridge shells, adding new toner and reintroducing them to the marketplace. "If they weren't reused, the shells would otherwise end up in landfills contaminating air and groundwater," said Mr. John, emphasizing that recycled cartridges can cost as little as half the price of new ones.

Linda Jellicoe, a PWGSC Supply Team Leader who oversees the purchasing of printers, photocopiers and fax machines, explained how she incorporates environmental checks and balances directly into the procurement process. "When evaluating a product for best value for dollar, we also consider its environmental impact from a 'whole life' perspective," said Ms. Jellicoe. "All stages in the life of a product — from initial resource extraction to manufacturing and packaging, through to final disposal — produce environmental impacts."

Ms. Jellicoe's team developed a selection process that attributes price percentage discounts to products offered by suppliers with environmentally responsible programs in place. She said that eventually, products with green strong points — such as EnergyStar registration, double-sided printing capabilities, and hardware take-back or recycling programs — will be mandatory.

At the forum, the Department of National Defence's Brigadier General Peter J. Holt encouraged the ongoing evolution of green purchasing practices. "We're more environmentally-friendly and innovative in how we do business than many other countries," said General Holt, who overseas his department's green procurement policy development. "It's absolutely essential to find better ways to do things and be more sustainable."

Budget 2005 delivered on the GoC's commitment to greening its operations and contributing to its sustainable development agenda.

You may visit the Green Procurement Network at http://publiservice.gc.ca/partners/green/ (This site is accessible by government employees only).

Previous | Index | Next