Responsible Procurement vision
Our city
Promoting greater environmental sustainability and making London a better place to live and work
Integrating environmental considerations into procurement activities represents one part of the work done by the GLA Group to be environmentally responsible. Across their own operations, all parts of the GLA Group have taken action to reduce energy use, cut carbon dioxide and air emissions, minimise waste, and support recycling.
An indication of this commitment is provided in the GLA Group’s adherence to the Mayor’s Green Procurement Code. All parts of the GLA Group achieved the code’s gold standard in their 2009 assessments, which are independent audits which take account of the quality of the corporate approach to RP and actual purchasing activities.
There are many examples of how the GLA Group is taking action to manage its own direct environmental impacts. LFEPA, for instance, was one of only six public sector organisations to be awarded the Carbon Trust standard when it was introduced in 2008, for efforts to reduce carbon emissions. The MPS, as part of a wide-ranging environmental strategy, are piloting the use of electric vehicles and TfL are working closely with suppliers to promote good environmental, as described in the DVfL Progress Report.
In addition to tackling their own impacts, the GLA Group has sought to stimulate action more widely. The LDA and GLA, for example, have developed programmes encouraging organisations across the capital to improve their environmental performance, such as the Mayor’s Green Procurement Code, the Green 500 initiative and the Buildings Energy Efficiency Programme (BEEP).
Electric vehicles
Support for electric vehicles provides another example of where procurement can make a significant contribution to meeting environmental and economic goals.
The Mayor has pledged to make London the electric car capital of Europe. We will work to develop a joint procurement plan across the GLA Group to deliver 1,000 electric vehicles by 2015, making use of the increased volumes to reduce cost. A comprehensive procurement plan will be in place by December 2009. The potential benefits of a shift to electric vehicles are significant. Electric cars improve air quality, cut emissions and reduce noise pollution. Sixty-nine percent of harmful particulate emissions in London come from road transport whereas electric cars have no emissions when being driven. Electric vehicles also result in between twenty-five and fifty percent lower carbon emissions than comparable petrol or diesel cars and this will reduce further over time as the amount of energy – which charges the electric vehicles batteries - generated by renewable sources increases.
In addition to the environmental benefits which arise from initiatives such as this, tackling environmental challenges can deliver economic gains. A recent study for the Mayor's office showed that the Mayor's plans to cut energy and tackle climate change could bring 10-15,000 jobs and contribute £600 million a year to the capital's economy by 2025.
The Buildings Energy Efficiency Programme (BEEP)
BEEP seeks to promote energy efficiency in the building estate by accelerating the retrofit of buildings through an innovative commercial model designed to leverage market expertise in the operational, technological and financial aspects of the energy market.
Work has begun by appointing service providers to retrofit energy efficiency measures into a set of GLA Group group buildings. For example, ten MPS and LFEPA buildings were included in the first tranche of properties assessed for energy efficiency under BEEP. Energy audits have been completed, and business cases developed for investment showing energy savings as high as 28% over an average six year simple payback. Tranche 3 of BEEP is currently being procured and will establish a framework contract which will make the BEEP model available nationally to public sector organisations.
The Freight Operator Recognition Scheme (FORS)
FORS, an initiative backed by TfL, forms part of the plan for sustainable freight operations across London. It sets a quality standard for freight operators designed to bring benefits in efficiency, road safety and environmental performance. TfL have made membership of the scheme a requirement in cases where it is relevant to their suppliers and LFEPA has joined the scheme and is encouraging its suppliers to do the same.
Ethical sourcing practices
The GLA Group has taken action to encourage suppliers to address ethical trading issues, such as labour standards, in supply chains. We have been working with SEDEX Supplier Ethical Data Exchange, a web-based system that enables businesses and their global suppliers to share ethical data with a view to securing continuous improvement in ethical performance.
MPS and TfL, for example, have been engaging with a number of uniform suppliers on ethical sourcing issues; the MPS through SEDEX and TfL through London Underground’s membership of the Ethical Trading Initiative (ETI). TfL are also piloting SEDEX with highways maintenance and works contractors - the first time major companies and suppliers in this sector have been engaged with an ethical data exchange.
