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UK Government Sustainable Procurement Action Plan
Incorporating the Government response to the report of the Sustainable Procurement Task Force
In the 2005 Sustainable Development strategy ('Securing the Future') the Prime Minister committed Government to "lead by example" when spending taxpayers money sustainably. The UK Government and wider public sector buys £150 billion worth of goods and services each year. The Government commissioned a business-led Task Force to provide us with analysis and recommendations on how to achieve our goal in being among the leaders in the EU on sustainable procurement – 'Procuring the Future' sets out their findings.
Taking the lead - A guide to more responsible procurement practices
Published by the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply, and Traidcraft Exchange, ‘Taking the lead – A guide to more responsible procurement practices’
Leading distributor of electronic components evidence their commitment to sustainable development by ceasing the purchase of tungsten lightbulbs
Discover more about Premier Farnell’s bold decision to challenge cultural values, and find out how sustainable procurement really can lever competitive advantage
Starbucks audit finds suppliers' CSR flaws
Starbucks' audit finds suppliers' CSR flaws
Competitive advantage on a warming planet - an article in the Harvard Business Review
An article in the Harvard Business review looks at how climate change affects your company's competitive landscape in ways you might not realise.
World’s wildlife and environment already hit by climate change, major study shows
Scientists examined published reports dating back to 1970 and found that at least 90% of environmental damage and disruption around the world could be explained by rising temperatures driven by human activity.
Sustainable Procurement - myths & legends
An insight from Shaun McCarthy, Chair of the Commission for a Sustainable London 2012 and Director of Action Sustainability into the myths and legend surrounding the concept of sustainable procurement.
New Report and Toolkit - Buying a better world: sustainable public procurement
Forum for the Future, the sustainable development charity, has been working with local government and the NHS in the East Midlands to implement more sustainable procurement practice through the BEST Procurement Programme. Buying a better world, a report of Forum for the Future's role in this programme, explains the importance of considering sustainability in buying decisions.
Social issues in procurement - new working group
To remain at the cutting edge of sustainable procurement, the Strategic Supply Chain Group has decided to convene a working group to debate the potential to include social issues in both public and private sector procurement. Find out more and discover how you can participate
Radical and urgent action required if Government is to deliver against its sustainable development targets
Despite an overall improvement in government performance in terms of sustainable development, the Sustainable Development Commission report that government departments are a long way from meeting their key sustainability targets
The Mayor of London's Responsible Procurement Report
Discover how the GLA group has implemented responsible procurement, bringing about tangible benefits with real progress
A Guide to Sustainable Supply Chains for Procurement Professionals
The Business Resource Efficiency and Waste (BREW) Programme returns landfill tax to business through a variety of resource efficiency and waste minimisation programmes.
Socially and Environmentally Responsible Procurement
This major international collaborative project on social and environmental procurement is being undertaken by the Centre for Business Organisations and Society (University of Bath www.bath.ac.uk/cbos/) with partners in Italy (ALTIS, Universita Cattolica, Milan) and India (LIBA, Loyola College, Chenai).
The Mayor of London’s Green Procurement Code – what's in it for me?
Find out more about the Green purchasing support service, The Mayor of London’s Green Procurement Code, and understand how its online forum can benefit your organisation
Pre-Budget Report and Comprehensive Spending Review 07
Find out about the UK Government’s priorities and commitments to tackle climate change as indicated in the Comprehensive Spending Review 07
Personal Carbon Trading – an interim report by RSA Carbon Limited
Understand more about the implications and practicalities of personal carbon trading
Assuring a Legacy
In his role as Chair of the Commission for a Sustainable London 2012, Shaun McCarthy, one of Action Sustainability’s Directors, has published an article on the Legacy of London’s hosting of the 2012 Olympics.
3rd International Expert Meeting on the 10-Year Framework Programmes for Sustainable Consumption and Production (SCP) under the Marrakech process
The meeting was held in Stockholm from 26th to 29th June 2007. Organised by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), and hosted by the Swedish Ministries of Environment and of Integration and Gender Equality, it was attended by more than 250 SCP experts from 66 countries and included a significant participation of business and industry organisations.
Meet the Buyers success! £2.2M of new business estimated to be won for suppliers of sustainable products and services
Action Sustainability’s first Sustainable Solutions Meet the Buyer event took place in London in March with more than 35 major UK buyers taking part in pre-arranged meetings with more than 100 suppliers of sustainable products and services.
Action Sustainability is one year old!
Action Sustainability has completed one year of successful operation. Through our events and activities over the last year we have engaged with more than 2,000 businesses, creating an estimated 2.2M of potential business opportunities.
Introducing Acquisti & Sostenibilità
Acquisti & Sostenibilità (www.acquistiesostenibilita.org) is a brand new Italian not-for-profit organisation, established on 19th March 2007 in Rome, Italy. It aims to create economic, social and environmental value by informing, networking, training and supporting the private and public companies of any sector in their Procurement & Supply Chain Sustainability initiatives.
The Energy White paper
The Energy White Paper, published on 23rd May, builds on The Energy Challenge published in 2006. It underlines the two long-term energy challenges that the UK faces: tackling climate change by reducing CO2 emissions both within the UK and abroad and ensuring secure, clean and affordable energy as we become increasingly dependent on imported fuel.
REACH came into effect in June
The new European chemicals legislation REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restrictions of Chemicals) entered into force on 1st June 2007. It represents the product of a long period of development since the publication of the White Paper on a Strategy for a future Chemicals Policy in February 2001, during which there was a wide consultation with all relevant stakeholders.
Waste Strategy Review 2007
The Waste Strategy for England 2007 was published on 24th May. It stresses the significance of waste not only as an environmental concern including its contribution to GHG emissions but also as a drag on the economy and business as a result of inefficient use of resources.
Experts from construction, social justice and inclusion and health fields appointed to Commission for a Sustainable London 2012
The first appointments to the Commission for a Sustainable London 2012 were announced today, heralding a major milestone in the establishment of the commission and the sustainability and legacy assurance programme for the London Olympic Games and Paralympic Games.
John Rowan & Partners Waste Roundtable
On March 8th a roundtable was held at 30 St Mary Axe to discuss the issue of construction waste in light of recent targets set by the ODA for reusing and recycling demolition waste and materials. Consideration was also given to the challenge set by WRAP and the Sustainability Forum to reduce the amount of construction waste by half by 2012.
CIPS Responds to UK Government Sustainable Procurement Action Plan
Following the report issued today from DEFRA, The Chartered Institute of Purchasing & Supply (CIPS) has issued its response to the findings.
New commission to probe most sustainable Games ever
The Commission for a Sustainable London 2012 will independently monitor and verify London’s 2012 pledge to host the most sustainable Games ever – becoming the first body of its type set up in association with any Olympic Games and Paralympic Games.
Green Building Council launches in the UK
The Launch of the UK Green Building Council, which will promote environmental standards, sustainable design and sustainable products in the built environment.
Riding the wave of sustainable procurement in Manchester
Manchester is to host the first of a nationwide series of meetings to help businesses survive a new tidal wave of change.
More than 80 local companies have already signed up to find out more about sustainable procurement.
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Coinciding with World Environment Day, Wales launched Europe's first carbon-free minibus powered by three different green technologies; hydrogen fuel cell, lead acid battery technology and ultra-capacitators.
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With funding from the Big Lottery Fund and the Scottish Government, the community-led 'Going Carbon Neutral Stirling' project is aiming to transform Stirling into the UK's first carbon neutral city.
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Farmers, foresters and biomass producers can apply for up to £200,000 each under a new round of grants.
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According to a PhD thesis to be defended at the Mid Sweden University, the utilization of biomass from managed forests as a source of green energy is efficient at reducing CO2 emissions and at replacing fossil fuels.
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A landmark agreement has been reached between a number of Government departments, including the Ministry of Defence, and industry which aims to remove aviation and radar barriers to the major expansion of wind energy.
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The government has published new guidance aimed at ensuring local councils maximise planning rules to better manage flood risks in their area.
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The government will face mounting pressure to impose tougher carbon emissions limits after failing to do so in the Climate Change Bill's second Commons reading.
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Ministers have blocked plans for a law to stem the tide of rubbish from homes and businesses in Britain and across Europe. As a result, the best opportunity yet to halt the steady growth of waste is expected to be abandoned this week.
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Communities interested in finding out more about hosting an underground disposal facility for radioactive waste were invited today to open no-commitment discussions with the Government.
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It was not a good weekend to be stuck behind a lorry. From Bristol to Cheshire, truckers took to the road, applied the brakes and drove as slowly as possible, in convoy, in a glum protest against soaring diesel prices and a looming increase in fuel tax.
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Permission to build a 65mW biomass power plant in the north east of the UK has been granted to Helius Energy, by the UK's Department of Energy.
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In a speech today to environmental leaders, David Cameron said: "Today, I want to tackle an argument that seems to be as cyclical as the economy. The argument that when times are good, we can indulge ourselves with a bit of environmentalism - but when the economic going gets tough, the green agenda has to be dropped.
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The Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) has published a consultation on its next three-year strategy to drive sustainable development in the higher education sector.
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Local authorities will be given new powers and responsibilities over surface water flooding in their areas which will include the preparation of surface water development plans, the Government has announced.
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Inspectors visited a selection of primary and secondary schools to assess teaching about sustainability and progress towards meeting the expectations of the National framework for sustainable schools.
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Top United Nations officials have marked World
Environment Day by urging individuals, companies and governments alike to kick their addiction to carbon dioxide, a main contributor to global warming.
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More than 121 groups released today a statement
opposing the World Bank's proposed 'Climate Investment Funds' to address climate change and its impacts.
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The National Restaurant Association has launched "Conserve: Solutions for Sustainability," an initiative designed
to support the nation’s nearly one million restaurant and foodservice locations in becoming more eco-friendly.
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Turkey has dropped its strongest hint yet that it will sign up to the Kyoto Protocol on combating climate change, and will join in international efforts aimed at cutting greenhouse gasses.
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Children with asthma living in cities are especially vulnerable to urban pollution. Emissions from motor vehicles, in particular, are thought to provoke asthma-related symptoms. New research suggests that even 'safe' levels of atmospheric pollutants can affect children with asthma, causing breathing difficulties and an associated increase in health problems.
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BSC Press Release
Nick Raynsford joins representatives from Wates Group, Tesco, East Thames, University College
London and Urban Splash to speak at the launch of a major new HEFCE-funded initiative.
LSx Annual Report
