<![CDATA[Sustainable Procurement Limited - SPL Blog]]>Tue, 23 Jul 2024 04:07:48 +0100Weebly<![CDATA[SCOTTISH PUBLIC SECTOR - SHORT SUSTAINABLE PROCUREMENT SESSIONS, JAN-MARCH 2024]]>Tue, 02 Jul 2024 11:51:23 GMThttps://sustainableprocurement.eu.com/spl_blog/scottish-public-sector-short-sustainable-procurement-sessions-jan-march-2024During January, February and March 2024 nine short sessions were held, with almost 300 representatives attending from across the Scottish public sector.
These sessions comprised:
  1. INTRODUCTION TO SUSTAINABLE PUBLIC PROCUREMENT - Introduction to the role of procurement in addressing economic, environmental and social challenges – and key enabling mechanisms.
  2. USING PROCUREMENT TO ADDRESS THE CLIMATE EMERGENCY - Using procurement to support the transition to Net Zero and address environment and climate related supply chain risks.
  3. FAIR AND INCLUSIVE PROCUREMENT - Fair and inclusive procurement - Equality, Fair Work and Community Benefits; the mutually reinforcing approach to equality, fair work, and jobs, skills and training.
See here for this and other past and current work in Scotland.
]]><![CDATA[ELEVATE Public Procurement Conference, Jamaica, April 2024]]>Tue, 02 Jul 2024 11:47:49 GMThttps://sustainableprocurement.eu.com/spl_blog/elevate-public-procurement-conference-jamaica-april-2024Picture
The inaugural ELEVATE Procurement Conference was held in Jamaica, 23-25 April 2024.  The event was hosted by the Office of Public Procurement Policy (OPPP) under the Ministry of Finance and the Public Service, Jamaica’s Public Sector single point of advice on procurement policy implementation.

The purpose of the event was to raise the standard of public procurement performance.  The conference provided a forum for local and regional stakeholders, such as procurement oversight institutions, suppliers and international financing institutions, to share knowledge and discuss innovation.
 
Barbara Morton gave a presentation on ‘Implementing Sustainable Procurement Policy’ as part of a Panel Session on Sustainable Procurement. See here for more details.
]]><![CDATA[Sustainable Public Procurement Training – West Africa, March 2024]]>Tue, 02 Jul 2024 11:45:22 GMThttps://sustainableprocurement.eu.com/spl_blog/sustainable-public-procurement-training-west-africa-march-2024Working as an associate of Merrill Solutions Ltd, Barbara Morton developed and co-delivered a Sustainable Public Procurement one-week training programme for officials from government procurement and project implementation units.  The training was hosted by GIMPA – Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration and delivered in Accra in March 2024.  This combined face-to-face training with a ‘training-of-trainers’ package for staff from GIMPA, the World Bank and academics from the region.
​See here for more details.
]]><![CDATA[Driving emission reductions through the public sector supply chain: Scope 3 procurement emissions]]>Tue, 02 Jul 2024 11:37:42 GMThttps://sustainableprocurement.eu.com/spl_blog/driving-emission-reductions-through-the-public-sector-supply-chain-scope-3-procurement-emissionsPicture
​The purchase of goods, services and works can account for more than 70% of a public body’s overall greenhouse gas emissions in Scotland. These are referred to as ‘indirect scope 3 emissions’. Targeting action to reduce these emissions could result in significant emissions reduction across public bodies.

There are many challenges for public bodies in measuring, comparing and reporting indirect scope 3 emissions. The goal of this research, undertaken in 2023, was to provide evidence for practical approaches and tools that public bodies can use to better understand and thereby reduce their indirect scope 3 emissions.

SPL's Philip Duddell led the project, with support from colleagues at Aether Limited.
​
The project included interviews and surveys of 72 public bodies, 67 suppliers to the Scottish public sector and the review of 75 supply chain emission and related tools and methodologies. The research report, with recommendations, was published in December 2023. See here.​
]]><![CDATA[CITY OF GREATER GEELONG - E-LEARNING]]>Mon, 31 Jan 2022 12:21:06 GMThttps://sustainableprocurement.eu.com/spl_blog/city-of-greater-geelong-e-learningProcurement for Innovation success:
Having worked with the great people at the City of Greater Geelong, in particular Tina Perfrement, for some years it is great to see the results of the Recreational Bridges project in the context of everything being done in Geelong and the region.
The development of 5 e-learning modules by SPL to support practical implementation of Procurement for Innovation has attracted interest from far and wide - if you are interested in learning how Geelong successfully brought together a consortium of suppliers and experts to deliver a low carbon innovative solution Tina is happy to explain. Alternatively, contact Barbara Morton or Philip Duddell at SPL.
Picture
]]><![CDATA[AGE DEFYING BRIDGES - AND LOW CARBON!]]>Fri, 12 Nov 2021 11:00:11 GMThttps://sustainableprocurement.eu.com/spl_blog/age-defying-bridges-and-low-carbonGreat work by Cleantech Innovation Geelong and partners.

SPL are delighted to have supported this fantastic Procurement for Innovation project for a few years. It shows what a refreshing approach to procurement can achieve: enabling collaboration across research, industry, public sector and others, capturing and enhancing skills in the market as well as significant life cycle reductions in carbon.

'The bridges are made from a world-first geopolymer designed to be maintenance-free for at least 100 years. The new geopolymer is extremely long-lasting and uses up to 80 per cent less greenhouse gases in production than concrete. The concept for the bridges came out of a ‘procurement for innovation’ process, inviting companies to come up with a solution to an unmet need – in this case the costly maintenance and waste problem associated with traditional bridges'.

​See here for more details.

Picture
]]><![CDATA[Sustainable Procurement has ‘vital role’ in tackling the climate and nature crises]]>Mon, 08 Nov 2021 14:37:44 GMThttps://sustainableprocurement.eu.com/spl_blog/sustainable-procurement-has-vital-role-in-tackling-the-climate-and-nature-crisesAs the Scottish Government highlighted in its blog on 8th November 'Public procurement has a vital role to play in the transition to net zero and a nature-rich future'.
Read how, for example, NatureScot uses sustainable procurement to support plans for 'NatureScot to be a Net Zero organisation by 2035; a leader in reducing our own emission using innovation and new technology'.
Picture
]]><![CDATA[LOCAL GOVERNMENT SUSTAINABLE PROCUREMENT TOOLKIT]]>Fri, 05 Nov 2021 17:04:45 GMThttps://sustainableprocurement.eu.com/spl_blog/local-government-sustainable-procurement-toolkit
Hot off the press ....
The Local Government Association 'Sustainable Procurement: Delivering local economic, social and environmental priorities', toolkit has just been published.
SPL was delighted to develop this for Local Government following extensive consultation with many Councils and other interested stakeholders. 
Procurement has enormous power to deliver decarbonisation, social value and whole life value for money; critical objectives given the climate emergency and the need for sustainable economic and social improvement.
​Watch out for communications from LGA at COP26 and elsewhere.  
Access the Toolkit here.
]]><![CDATA[UK CLIMATE CHANGE RISK - HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE]]>Fri, 25 Jun 2021 10:06:29 GMThttps://sustainableprocurement.eu.com/spl_blog/uk-climate-change-risk-health-and-social-care
Picture
The latest assessment of the impacts of climate change on the health and social care sector in the UK have been published. 
This emphasises the risks to infrastructure and public health with unequal distribution of risks due to health inequalities - arising from higher temperatures, flooding, extreme weather, indoor and outdoor air quality, vector borne disease, water quality and supply interruptions.
​See the report here. 
]]><![CDATA[CITY OF GREATER GEELONG - AGE-DEFYING BRIDGES]]>Fri, 25 Jun 2021 09:23:26 GMThttps://sustainableprocurement.eu.com/spl_blog/city-of-greater-geelong-age-defying-bridgesAs published previously the City of Greater Geelong in 2017 presented a challenge to manufacturers - to design and build a 100 year maintenance free pedestrian bridge.
SPL has supported Geelong since then on engaging with the market and developing appropriate tender specifications. 
A short video has now been published by the City describing the Cowie's Creek bridge, which utilises waste by-products and results in a bridge which has a carbon footprint 30-80% lower than conventional concrete. 
Picture
]]>