Green Procurement

Green procurement means reviewing the items and services your offices buys regularly and selecting ones with lower environmental impact. Green principles can apply to all the major items of equipment, energy, water, paper, cleaning, and furniture. Environmental impact can include what went into making the products, like toxic compounds, to the resources they use in operation through to their disposal. Like any other greening project, there are policies and tracking methods available and a range of certificate marks to guide consumer choice. Going green with procurement can save costs, improve the health and wellbeing of your office, strengthen your brand and sends a strong signal to the market about your corporate values.  Purchasing carbon neutral products and services is also an excellent way of managing Scope 3 emissions.

Key elements

Green procurement policy

Procurement policy and guideline documents set out the shared understanding of an organisation's approach to procurement.

Choosing green products

Deciding what criteria for selecting products or services will dictate the management systems and the level of sustainability required or desired by your organisation.

Choosing sustainable accommodation

Choosing sustainable accommodation

In Sydney, accommodation and event venues are responsible for 21 per cent of total greenhouse gas emissions, 14 per cent of potable water consumption and 47 per cent of the city’s commercial waste and yet, the accommodation sector does not yet have an established culture of attaining ratings or third party sustainability certification.

 

Related resources

Beginner's Guide to Sustainable Procurement

Beginner's Guide to Sustainable Procurement

Sustainable procurement is the process of reviewing the items and services that your office purchases and selecting ones with lower environmental impact.

Top tips for working paper free

Hear from one City of Sydney green champion about how she approached the challenge of going paper-free in the office including useful apps and other resources.

FluoroCycle

Lamp recycling can help reduce the amount of mercury being sent to landfill. FluoroCycle is a voluntary product stewardship scheme that seeks to increase the national recycling rate of waste mercury-containing lamps.

USA Sustainable Procurement Policies

A collection of ten real Sustainable Procurement Policies from USA state administrations, complied by California's Buy Recycled program. 

Sustainable Procurement of Services Guide (AUS)

Detailed information about the sustainability issues to consider when procuring services, such as financial, best practice performance criteria that can be used in approaches to market and possible contract requirements. Produced by the Australian Government.

Sustainable Procurement Guide (Australian Government)

Guide for Australian Government purchasers to include sustainability considerations in all stages of the procurement process, from identifying the business need to disposing of goods. Commissioned by the Australian Government and developed by ECO-buy.

Television and Computer Recycling Scheme

The Product Stewardship (Televisions and Computers) Regulations 2011 is the regulation to support national, industry-led recycling scheme for televisions and computers, by the Australian Government. This page hosts guides and information.

Environmental Procurement Policy

Victoria's environmental procurement policy declaration, strategies, and help guides.

End of life

Disposing of old and un-used equipment is an opportunity to continue sustainable management practices.

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Case studies

Choosing sustainable accommodation

Choosing sustainable accommodation

In Sydney, accommodation and event venues are responsible for 21 per cent of total greenhouse gas emissions, 14 per cent of potable water consumption and 47 per cent of the city’s commercial waste and yet, the accommodation sector does not yet have an established culture of attaining ratings or third party sustainability certification.

 

Case Study: ACORPP

Case Study: ACORPP

ACORPP involved staff in selecting a new office and save over a thousand dollars a year in electricity by choosing a space with  natural light, providing laptops, and timers on boardroom air conditioning. ACORPP also chose furniture and fitout materials for certified low environmental impact, recycled content and recyclability.

Case study: Victorian Dept. of Transport

Case study: Victorian Dept. of Transport

Long-time Signatory, the Victorian Department of Transport, Planning & Local Infrastructure, has achieved a number of operational gains including a 33 per cent reduction in energy use. With the help of the CitySwitch RMIT student program, resource audits have provided useful insights into staff 'switch-off' behaviour, waste avoidance tactics and office equipment procurement to achieve ongoing environmental and economic savings.

Case Study: Cameron Chisholm Nicol

Case Study: Cameron Chisholm Nicol

The Perth tenancy of architecture and interior design practice Cameron Chisholm Nicol is testimony to the organisation's energy efficiency and carbon neutral commitment. They have achieved energy cost savings of 30 per cent and a 4.5 star NABERS Energy rating.

Case Study: Synergy

Case Study: Synergy

Synergy, Western Australia's largest energy retailer, used an office refit to address energy efficiency and embrace sustainable principles. They undertook low-cost lighting modifications, consolidated office equipment and worked hard to engage staff in their quest to reduce energy.

Case Study: WISE Employment

Case Study: WISE Employment

WISE Employment has taken a holistic approach to managing their impact as they strive for carbon neutrality across their Melbourne offices. Measures include a lighting hardware and control system upgrade, a Green Champions program for staff and office equipment upgrades.

Case Study: Herbert Geer

Case Study: Herbert Geer

Herbert Geer Lawyers have maximised sustainability across their Melbourne and Brisbane operations by switching to server virtualisation. This has resulted in reduced hardware and other resource needs, cut power demand and translated to savings of over $10,000 per annum.

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CitySwitch has partnered with WorkforClimate to support signatories get your team on board



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CitySwitch Signatory of the Year and New Signatory Awards - category judging criteria

  • Delivering outcomes as demonstrated by an improved or maintained current NABERS Energy rating and achieved energy savings* (up to 28 points)
  • Implementing one or more energy saving initiatives (up to 10 points)
  • Demonstrating leadership by undertaking innovative, creative or progressive office energy efficiency activities (up to 10 points)
  • Engagement of staff/ customers/suppliers and/or stakeholders to educate and create market transformation (up to 10 points)
  • Participation in CitySwitch local program activities (up to 10 points).
Note, new Signatories submitting for New Signatory of the Year Award need only complete an indicative rating – all other submissions must be accredited.

CitySwitch Partnership of the Year Award - category judging criteria

Eligibility Criteria

Submitted projects should:

  • Involve more than one registered company 
  • Demonstrate that they are  innovative and over and above “business as usual”
  • Demonstrate that they catalyse “market transformation” and or “address a market barrier”
  • Deliver a reduction in energy consumption and carbon emissions within the built environment 

Judging Criteria

  • Delivering outcomes as demonstrated by an improved or maintained current NABERS Energy rating and achieved energy savings* (up to 14 points)
  • Implementing one or more energy saving initiatives (up to 10 points)
  • Demonstrating leadership by undertaking innovative, creative or progressive office energy efficiency activities (up to 17 points)
  • Engagement of staff/ customers/suppliers and/or stakeholders to educate and create market transformation (up to 17 points)
  • Participation in CitySwitch local program activities (up to 10 points)
  • The submitting entity MUST be a CitySwitch Signatory
Note, Signatories submitting for the Partnership of the Year Award may submit an accredited NABERS tenancy, whole building or base building rating.

It’s easy and free to join the program. Your good-will commitment to the program is an acknowledgement of the business sector’s role in
contributing to environmental sustainability and your intention to reduce your own energy consumption and associated carbon emissions.

As part of this, Signatories to the program commit to achieve an accredited NABERS Energy tenancy rating (between 4 and 6 stars) and
work with CitySwitch to improve their tenancy’s environmental performance.

Find out more about how obtaining a NABERS Energy rating ensures you can benchmark your performance, better manage your progress
over time and promote your star rating achievement.