SUSTAINABLE PROCUREMENT
A STEP CHANGE IN
SUSTAINABLE
PROCUREMENT
Jon Crump, Procurement Director, Interserve Facilities Management
n 2005 the government published approach. Interserve is part of the sustainable procurement by stealth.
I
‘Securing the Future’ and in so doing an Strategic Supply Chain Group – an Increasing order values, ordering less
ambitious plan to be among the organisation bringing together senior frequently and using concentrated
leaders in sustainable procurement in the executives and board level representatives cleaning solutions all decrease
EU by 2009. This statement of intent and to consider environmental and logistics and so emissions.
the resulting 2006 Sustainable sustainability issues in supply chains. This Encouraging suppliers to consider
Procurement National Action Plan – group is supported by Action Sustainability product packaging and to minimise
‘Procuring the Future’ – signalled a step who also organise networking events; the waste it generates.
change in the significance of sustainability providing the opportunity to meet a host Considering the sourcing of products
for government suppliers. While of prospective suppliers in a short time and the impact procurement
sustainability had been on the agenda for and keep track of new product decisions have on the local
years, nothing would quite so effectively developments. Simply put, it’s speed- community
stimulate the market into developing cost dating for businesses and offers a great Procuring efficiently and without
effective, sustainable solutions. What may chance to engage with a wide array of generating reams of paper to support
have previously been viewed with innovative suppliers. a request for products or solutions.
scepticism has quickly become central to Interserve has also developed direct It is also worth recognising that there
many informed procurement decisions in relationships with new companies bringing are commodity leads and commodity lags.
both the public and indeed the private innovative sustainable solutions to the Namely those commodity areas which
sectors and for many successful suppliers facilities management market. These are have seen a lot of sustainable and
it also signalled an opportunity. not the insubstantial green products that innovative solutions hit the market and
Facilities management is highlighted are often used by organisations as window those that appear to be lagging behind.
within the local government response to dressing, but more robust and rounded This would seem however to be cyclical as
‘Procuring the Future’ as a priority sustainable solutions that truly perform and technological advances allow for a wave of
amongst commodity categories and as are either cost effective or cost beneficial. new products to be sold to market and
such has a pivotal role to play. Whilst the One such example is the relationship maximise the benefits before moving on to
public sector is relatively mature in its Interserve has fostered with Green Planet the next level.
demands, the private sector has more Solutions an organisation that helps At this time of economic uncertainty,
variable requirements. Not every client companies to improve their washroom many contractors and suppliers are
places as much importance on facilities while reducing their environmental becoming more price-sensitive and cutting
sustainability as the next and not every footprint. Their very practical approach to back on perceived luxuries. But there is no
project needs to adhere to the same strict sustainability and innovation mirrors our reason to see environmental concerns as
criteria as the next. However, more and own so much so that within a year of the expendable. Many of the more effective
more contracts have sustainability company being established they’d sustainable solutions coming to market
engrained in them and our demands to impressed us enough to be named our also reduce costs – such products as the
our own suppliers must reflect this. Supplier of the Year. This type of supply new generation of energy efficient hand
Rather than implementing a chain relationship allows us to work dryers, enzyme based urinal cubes and T5
sustainability policy that simply recycles together on developing innovative solutions fluorescent tube. It is important, however,
existing definitions and theory, we aim to and we continue to work with this and that in considering such products the
provide practical solutions to help manage other suppliers in developing high quality procurement decision is based more on
environmental, social and economic sustainable products to bring to the the life cycle cost impacts of the products
responsibilities and bring added value to facilities management market. than the capital investment and it is
clients. To meet this need we in turn look A common mistake is to view perhaps this shift in mindset that remains a
to our supply chain. It is both a key sustainability as a superficial way of challenge to overcome.
consideration in preparing tenders and suppliers prettifying themselves for It is products and services like these
something that we continually review with customers. Whilst these gestures may be that are meeting the soaring demand for
our existing preferred suppliers as part of sufficient for some, it is increasingly clear sustainable facilities management solutions
our ongoing relationship. Any new that tangible and quantifiable benefits are and, with increasing concerns about
products or services that are proven to crucial in getting your product or service climate change and economic
boost sustainability will give a strong to cut through the noise created by the sustainability, this demand looks set to
competitive edge to that supplier. competition and to win new business. grow. Interserve continues to horizon scan,
It is critically important for facilities And it can be so simple. There are the to look for innovative sustainable solutions
management providers to be proactively high profile solutions, the latest energy and in the ever evolving world of
innovative to meet ever more demanding saving chemical free super sustainable sustainable procurement, three words
needs and procurement pays a products, but it is wrong to ignore the remain key for suppliers and clients alike –
fundamental role in leading this more subtle procurement solutions - innovation, innovation, innovation.
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SUSTAINABLE FM | APRIL 2008
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