ICLEI 2003

I C L E IThe International Council forLocal Environmental Initiatives

www.iclei.org/anz

Empowering Australian local

governments to implement

green purchasing

ICLEI 2003

I C L E IThe International Council forLocal Environmental Initiatives

www.iclei.org/anz

Structure of presentation

• Local governments as drivers for green purchasing

• ICLEI

• Green purchasing at the City of Melbourne

• ICLEI’s Australian Green Purchasing Pilot Project

• The next steps

ICLEI 2003

I C L E IThe International Council forLocal Environmental Initiatives

www.iclei.org/anz

Local governments as drivers

• Spend a considerable amount of money (half of all government spending in Europe)

• Capacity to act, innovate and lead– Close to people

» Participation of interest groups

» Pick-up new ideas and monitor implementation

– Adaptable, flexible, willing to experiment and innovate– Used to learning from others’ experiences– Local government pioneers get recognition

ICLEI 2003

I C L E IThe International Council forLocal Environmental Initiatives

www.iclei.org/anz

ICLEI

• Membership association of local governments• Mission:

To build and serve a world-wide movement of local governments to achieve tangible improvements in global environmental and sustainable development conditions through cumulative local actions

• Three international campaigns: – Local agenda 21

– Cities for Climate Protection

– Water

ICLEI 2003

I C L E IThe International Council forLocal Environmental Initiatives

www.iclei.org/anz

Melbourne’s Green Purchasing Policy

• Value for money over the lifetime of a product

• Use less, avoid waste, re-use or repair a product

• Choose easy to maintain, durable, recycled & recyclable products

• 10% price premium for green products

• Supplier environmental accountability

ICLEI 2003

I C L E IThe International Council forLocal Environmental Initiatives

www.iclei.org/anz

Melbourne’s green purchasing practices (1)

• A strong focus on recycled products!

ICLEI 2003

I C L E IThe International Council forLocal Environmental Initiatives

www.iclei.org/anz

Melbourne’s green purchasing practices (2)

• Other green products purchased– Green electricity (30% of street lighting and 20% of

contestable sites), solar and photo-voltaic power, – Energy-saving lights– Energy-efficient, dual-fuel and Liquefied Petroleum Gas

(LPG) vehicles

• Green purchasing is not systematically implemented!• Hence Melbourne’s participation in ICLEI’s Green

Purchasing Pilot Project

ICLEI 2003

I C L E IThe International Council forLocal Environmental Initiatives

www.iclei.org/anz

Green Purchasing Pilot Project - Overview

• Aim

– To develop a model system allowing councils to operationalise their green purchasing policies and goals

• Scope– Develop prototype tools to assist green purchasing

– Foster joint purchasing

– Monitor & quantify the environmental benefits of green purchasing

• Participants – 10 Australian councils

– LCA expert and Maps Groups

ICLEI 2003

I C L E IThe International Council forLocal Environmental Initiatives

www.iclei.org/anz

Green Purchasing Pilot Project - Steps

1. Establish a sound green purchasing policy

2. Audit purchasing processes

3. Determine high priority products for green purchasing

4. Identify environmental criteria to be included in the decision-

making process.

5. Develop and apply a system for the implementation of green

purchasing

6. Monitor and quantify benefits achieved

ICLEI 2003

I C L E IThe International Council forLocal Environmental Initiatives

www.iclei.org/anz

Green procurement practices in the Pilot Councils

ICLEI 2003

I C L E IThe International Council forLocal Environmental Initiatives

www.iclei.org/anz

Green purchasing benefits as perceived by the Pilot Councils

ICLEI 2003

I C L E IThe International Council forLocal Environmental Initiatives

www.iclei.org/anz

Green purchasing difficulties as perceived by the Pilot Councils

ICLEI 2003

I C L E IThe International Council forLocal Environmental Initiatives

www.iclei.org/anz

Driving forces behind the implementation of green purchasing in the Pilot Councils

ICLEI 2003

I C L E IThe International Council forLocal Environmental Initiatives

www.iclei.org/anz

Green Purchasing Pilot Project - First results (1)

– Political and administrative support through sound green purchasing policies and procedures is crucial

– Purchasers are willing to implement green purchasing, if its added-value is demonstrated

– Simple implementation tools should be developed

– Extensive training is required (purchasers, elected representatives, environmental staff, suppliers, end-users)

ICLEI 2003

I C L E IThe International Council forLocal Environmental Initiatives

www.iclei.org/anz

Green Purchasing Pilot Project - First results (2)

– Green purchasing requires a product-specific approach

– Project identified products with high potential» Electricity, buildings, light & heavy vehicles, street lighting

(Very high potential)

» Paper & cartridges, Management of green spaces, roads, IT equipment (High potential)

– Next steps: development of decision-making tools and quantification of environmental benefits achieved

ICLEI 2003

I C L E IThe International Council forLocal Environmental Initiatives

www.iclei.org/anz

Green Purchasing in Australian councils: the next steps

• ICLEI’s activities: by the end of 2003– Green Purchasing Pilot Project completed– Green Purchasing Program to be launched and aligned with

ICLEI’s European Eco-Procurement Campaign

• City of Melbourne– Systematise the implementation of green purchasing– Greening the supply chain by having suppliers commit to

environmental programs and management system– Introducing “Triple Bottom Line” principles in the management

of contracts.

ICLEI 2003

I C L E IThe International Council forLocal Environmental Initiatives

www.iclei.org/anz