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The 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development stated that relevant authorities at all levels should: “promote public procurement policies that encourage development and diffusion of environmentally sound goods and services”. As one response to this, the UK government has set out a framework for Sustainable Consumption and Production [DEFRA 2003] stating that
“The only way to maintain economic progress in the long term without approaching these limits is to decouple economic growth from environmental degradation: In practical terms this means getting more from less: [through] more efficient and profitable production, using less raw material; more value added to a product, with less pollution and waste in the process; more consumer needs fulfilled, with less energy, water or waste”. [source “Changing Patterns- UK Framework for Sustainable Consumption and Production” DEFRA 2003 www.defra.gov.uk/environment/business/scp]
As a step towards implementing this strategy, the Government established the Advisory Committee on Consumer Products and the Environment (ACCPE). A report published in August 2003, Towards Sustainable Products, recommended that the Government should encourage environmental impact assessments of products in the design stage and tailor policies to specific products and issues, drawing from a 'tool box' of measures which include voluntary agreements, taxes and subsidies. The conclusions of this report are likely over time to have profound consequences for all public authorities, all manufacturers and all providers of services. Steps of the same kind are being progressively recommended world-wide and all forward-looking organisations should now look to review their stance on these issues.
A recent report by ACCPE, “From Principles to Action”, praises the government for initiatives such as its Framework for Sustainable Consumption and Production and its efforts to help businesses raise the standard of green claims. ACCPE says that more work must be done, however, by government and business to maintain progress. ACCPE calls for a 'toolbox' approach to determining what instruments can be used to drive environmental improvements in products, and also the introduction of environmental assessments of individual products to determine their likely impact. From Principles to Action - Applying the Product Sustainability Toolbox is online at: http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/consumerprod/accpe/pubs.htm
A new campaign ("Procura+"), focusing on sustainable procurement in local authorities, was launched at the Eco-Procura conference in Sweden in September, 2003. Procura+ is an initiative of the International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI), a global network of local governments. The aim is to mainstream sustainability in the purchasing of European cities through focussing on saving energy, reduction of chemical use and sustainable construction. For further information see: http://www.iema.net/article.php?sid=2842. Given the purchasing power of local authorities, these policies will over time have a major impact on supply chains.
In Scotland, the Local Government Act 2003 puts a duty on local authorities to secure “Best Value”; defined in the act as including the duty to contribute to the achievement of sustainable development. A “best value task force” has issued guidance (which has been endorsed by Scottish ministers) for local authorities on the actions they should take to implement the best value elements in the Act. Chapter 1 of this guidance proposes in relation to sustainable development that local authorities with “characteristics of best value arrangements” will demonstrate:
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