Sustainability Policy

Strategic Procurement Team Sustainability Policy Statement

The Strategic Procurement Team (SPT) is committed to Environmental, Economic, Social and Regenerative Sustainability. The advice we provide to officers is aimed at improving the lives of everyone in our community as part of the ‘One Islington’ Vision.

Procurement has a big impact on the local community. The impact could be direct or through the services our partners deliver on our behalf. We encourage our partners to improve their sustainable practices and support all of the council’s sustainability plans.

We will use our influence to ensure our partners consider doing things which will benefit our residents and reduce environmental problems through the procurement process.

We will consult on our guidance when we can.

Our aim is to:

• have a nominated officer who will work with the Strategic Procurement Manager on sustainability matters
• make procurement plans and rules as flexible as possible to help create sustainable solutions
• improve the management of risks and identify benefits and opportunities
• encourage and support officers to complete environmental and equalities impact assessments
• promote best practice in writing specifications that focus on improving benefits to customers
• listen to our residents and consider the effect of what we do on our customers
• provide guidance on contracts that have been put in place

We are committed to:

• complying with all national and European legislation relating to sustainability
• following best practice and voluntary codes
• achieving a greater understanding of the partners we work with by developing a better understanding of their business
• maintaining and updating the Procurement Rules and Green Procurement Rules
• making sustainability a part of any future changes to the Procurement Strategy
• ensuring sustainability is part of the supplier selection process at either the pre qualification and/or tender stage
• attending a minimum of two ‘meet the buyers’ sessions for our businesses
• offering 4 procurement training sessions in each year to officers
• supporting the Sustainability Unit to deliver the Mayor’s Green Procurement Code annual return
• ensuring environmental and regenerative clauses are carried out and monitored in every contract
• offering at least three people on the worklessness programme the opportunity of a placement within Procurement every year