Orbis Procurement is a public sector shared procurement service between Surrey County Council, East Sussex County Council and Brighton & Hove City Council (the councils). Each council is committed to ensuring their operations are environmentally sustainable and resilient to future change. The councils recognise that a healthy and properly functioning natural environment is the foundation of a thriving economy, employment stability, prospering communities and personal wellbeing. The councils are aware that their procurement of goods, works and services will have environmental implications, both in their respective local areas and around the planet and, as a result, the councils are actively working to reduce and minimise these negative effects where possible. This policy will set out the councils’ expectations of prospective suppliers in line with their own environmental commitments.
Environmentally sustainable procurement is the commissioning, purchase and management of goods, works and services in a way that reduces or negates negative environmental impacts within the supply chain. This policy considers four interconnected focus areas of environmentally sustainable procurement:
- climate change mitigation and adaptation
- prevention of pollution
- sustainable resource use and consumption
- protection and restoration of biodiversity.
As a result of this policy, environmental considerations will be built into the procurement and delivery of goods, works and services through specifications, tender questions, evaluation criteria, key performance indicators and clauses of contracts.
Each of the Orbis Procurement councils have declared a Climate Emergency and have set themselves ambitious targets to achieve net zero carbon emissions. Local Authority supply chains are estimated to account for up to 90% of their total carbon footprint. Emissions from goods, works and services procured by the councils form part of the “scope 3” emissions of each authority. Where possible, we are seeking to decarbonise these in line with council specific carbon reduction targets. In addition, the councils’ have each committed to improve biodiversity, recover natural capital or enhance the natural environment. The procurement of goods, works and services have been identified as a Strategic Priority to drive significant carbon reductions and improve the natural environment.
For more information on specific targets and ambitions for each council, please refer to the relevant council’s website.