Purchasing and Procurement

The decisions an organisation makes regarding the purchasing of goods and the procurment of services can have an effect environmentally, socially and economically. There are a number of factors that can be considered when sourcing products and services from suppliers. These include: is the product Fairtrade; is it made from recycled materials; can it be recycled; is it locally sourced; is it keeping money within the sector and crucially is it economically viable?

One key item purchased by most organisations is paper and in the UK we purchase over 12 million tonnes of paper and cardboard each year. Every two seconds humans destroy an area of forest the size of a football field, with some 40% of trees logged globally being pulped to produce paper (source: www.greenpeace.org). Producing recycled paper uses up to 50% less energy than non-recycled paper and recycling paper helps protect forests and reduces the amount of waste we send to landfill (source: WRAP).

Through audit and support sessions we can assist in identifying environmentally and socially responsible products and services that fit into your organisation's priorities. We are also developing a directory of local services and products that will assist you in making your purchasing decisions.