LGP Sustainable Choice Newsletter
December 2017

" Incorporate economic, environmental and social considerations in your procurement process."

North Sydney Council wins LGP Sustainable Procurement Initiative Award!

Congratulations to North Sydney Council on winning the LGP Sustainable Procurement Initiative Award announced at the LGP Conference dinner on Thursday 30 November.

The key achievement of North Sydney Council's recent activities in the sustainable procurement space has been turning mere words on paper into tangible on the ground action. In other words: policy into practice

Council has taken this one step further by embedding sustainability objectives into its overarching procurement policy and manual. All procurement must now consider sustainability and (where practical) operate within the Quadruple Bottom Line (QBL) Framework by assessing economic, environmental, governance and societal factors.

Sustainable Choice

ISO 20400 Training

In February 2018 Sustainable Choice will be introducing its newly developed ISO 20400 Sustainable Procurement training package. The package includes interactive, hands on one-day training courses for both management and operational staff in understanding and integrating sustainability into the procurement process, based on the new ISO 20400: 2017 standard on Sustainable Procurement.

Below is some feedback from a recent pilot of the training:

‘Well-presented and easy to understand.’

‘Good discussion and engagement. Good real case studies.’

‘Very interactive and thinking outside of the box.’

Participants who attended gave it an overall evaluation score of 21 out of 25.

To find out more you can watch the video and read the brochure.

Contact us for further information and to book a session.

New Online Resources

Sustainable Choice has a comprehensive range of online resources for Sustainable Choice members. These resources include guides, factsheets, case studies and example documents. Check out recently added online resources for Sustainable Choice members.

Sustainable Procurement Framework

Eco Labels

We have also started to develop online resources for suppliers.

How to Register for an Account

How can SMEs become more sustainable?

Sustainable Choice Database

The Sustainable Choice Database makes the search for sustainable products and services easier for you. The expansive online database lists sustainable products and services, from energy-efficient lighting to recycled furniture and infrastructure products, paper and printing, road base, catering and events supplies. Sustainability indicators have been incorporated into the database to help you identify why a product is considered to be more sustainable than another in order for you to choose the most appropriate for your needs and budget. You can access the database at www.sustainablechoice.lgp.org.au

If you know of a sustainable supplier that isn’t listed on the database please let us know and we will contact them. Similarly if there is a particular product you are looking for and cannot find it on the database please let us know.

Suppliers new to the database:

Earthco Projects Road stabilising aids

Cardia Bioplastics Compostable bin liners, garden waste bags, dog-do bag

Novelex Promotional and corporate products and uniforms

Waste Collection Services Standard - Update

Good Environmental Choice Australia (GECA) have developed a Waste Collection Services standard in partnership with the NSW Office of Environment and Heritage, NSW EPA and City of Sydney, to promote and advocate best practice in waste management and recycling services. The goal is to help waste collection services provide transparent and accurate data and costs for their clients, and ultimately to reduce the impact of waste on our environment. You can see a draft version of the standard on the GECA website www.geca.eco. The standard is due for launch in early 2018.

The standard aims to provide assurance to facilities managers that their waste is being managed at the highest of standards within environmental and ethical criteria. It will enable capturing of data and accurate, streamlined reporting. It is designed to help reduce the need to duplicate reporting into other schemes by integrating with them, with metrics and criteria identified in working with the Green Building Council of Australia, City of Sydney’s Better Building Partnership, the Facilities Management Association, NABERS and the NSW EPA.

For any questions, contact:

Good Environmental Choice Australia
Standards Division P (02) 96992850

E standards@geca.org.au