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Introduction
On November 25, 2005, the Treasury Board (TB) approved a new government-wide
'Policy on Green Procurement'. This Policy was a joint effort by Public
Works and Government Services Canada (PWGSC), Environment Canada and
Natural Resources Canada, and is effective as of April 1, 2006. The TB
Secretariat issued a corresponding Contract
Policy Notice on February 3, 2006.
The objective of the TB Policy is to advance the protection of the environment
and support sustainable development by integrating environmental considerations
in life cycle cost assessments and the procurement decision-making process.
Environmentally preferable or 'green' goods and services are those that
are less harmful to the environment over their life cycle when compared
with competing goods or services serving the same purpose.
Policy
The implementation of this Policy will have a phased approach over the
next two years and draw on the commodity management process, which is
one of the tools for achieving savings through "The Way Forward" initiative
led by PWGSC. The commodity management process will be used to plan,
organize and control the total life cycle activities of distinct groups
of goods and services to provide the most appropriate total cost of ownership
and disposal, while achieving value for moneyand ensuring that operational
requirements of federal government departments are met.
Contracting personnel are to support clients in incorporating environmental
performance considerations into each phase of the procurement process
(planning, acquisition, use and disposal of goods or closure activities
of acquired services), along with price, availability, quality and other
performance criteria.
Targets are being set for PWGSC, which will be required to monitor and
report on green procurement performance in the annual Report on Plans
and Priorities and Departmental Performance Reports.
Background
As outlined in the October 2004 Speech from the Throne and Budget 2005,
the TB Policy supports the government's goals in reducing greenhouse
gases and air contaminants; improving energy and water efficiency; reducing
waste and supporting reuse and recycling; reducing toxic and hazardous
chemicals and substances; and a healthier environment for all Canadians.
Requirements
Effective immediately contracting personnel are to:
- take Green Procurement training;
- incorporate environmental considerations
into the commodity management process for all procurement instruments,
if applicable (PN-72 will be updated to reflect this direction); - advise
all clients of the Green Procurement policy and support them,
using the standards, tools and guidance available, to endeavour
to meet client needs and policy requirements; and - record, in procurement/contract
approval and reporting documents, that environmentally preferable
goods or services have been considered.
Supporting Tools
Standards, tools and guidance are under development to support this
policy, such as: updates to forms and templates, solicitation and contract
clauses and the commodity management framework. These will be communicated
as finalized. Please refer to the Office
of Greening Government Operations website for additional information.