Reporting on green procurement

Starting points:

In 2020-2021, 100% of the Department’s procurement specialists have completed Green Procurement Training and have familiarized themselves with the Policy on Green Procurement. They provide relevant advice and guidance to internal clients as applicable.

In 2021-2022, 100% of the Department’s procurement functional specialists were trained in green procurement within one year of being appointed to their position.

Performance indicator:

Integration of Environmental considerations into procurement management processes and controls.

Target:

100%

Result:

In 2022-23, 100% of the Department’s procurement functional specialists were trained in green procurement within one year of being appointed to their position.

FSDS:

Green procurement incorporates environmental considerations into purchasing decisions and is expected to motivate suppliers to reduce the environmental impact of the goods and services they deliver, and their supply chains.

UN SDG:

SDG 12 - Responsible Consumption and Production

SDG 13 - Climate Action

Starting points:

In 2020-2021, the Department continued to manage commonly used office supplies and furniture. Upon the end of an item's useful life VAC follows the divestiture requirements to ensure that we optimize the lifecycle of the product.

The following divestiture methods were employed for material assets:

2020-2021
GC Transfer – 0; GC Sale – 6; GC Donate – 25; Computers for Schools (CFS) – 16

2021-2022
GC Transfer – 69; GC Sale – 119; GC Donate – 4; Computers for Schools (CFS) – 8

Performance indicator:

Inclusion of environmental considerations (e.g. reduce, reuse, or include environmental criteria) in new common-use procurement instruments

Target:

To ensure that materials are managed throughout their life cycle as effectively as possible. This includes after they become surplus to the requirements of program delivery, in a manner that obtains highest net value for the Crown, and in compliance with the Treasury Board of Canada.

Result:

In 2022-23, the Department continued to manage commonly used office supplies and furniture and also adapted to a unassigned seating model. As a result of this, and a space reduction exercise, there was a large volume of articles that were identified for divestiture.

2022-23

GC Transfer – approx. 175 transfers to educational institutions.

GC Sale – 240 lots of furniture sold through GCSurplus strategies.

GC Donate – approx 17 direct donations were made to various local charities such as Habitat for Humanity and Blooming House etc.

CFS – donations of IT equipment through the CFS program.

No waste was declared through the divestiture programs as of March 31, 2023.

UN SDG:

SDG 12 - Responsible Consumption and Production

SDG 13 - Climate Action

Starting points:

Given the scope of VAC’s procurement practices, a substantial portion of procurement activities are completed by Functional Specialists, who have completed the COR 405 (formerly C-215) among other training on the subject.

All acquisition cardholders are offered internal procurement training that includes green procurement among other priorities

In 2021-2022, 100% of the Department’s acquisition cardholders were trained in green procurement.

Performance indicator:

Percentage of acquisition cardholders with green procurement training

Target:

100% of acquisition cardholders received training on green procurement as a best practice.

Result:

The data is not available for 2022-23.

FSDS:

Train 100% of acquisition cardholders on green procurement as a best practice

UN SDG:

SDG 12 - Responsible Consumption and Production

SDG 13 - Climate Action

Starting points:

VAC’s procurement team created two information sessions, one for Project Authorities (PA) and Managers and one for Administrative Assistants.

These were well attended, with 106 participants attending the Admin Session and 29 attending the PA and Managers session.

Performance indicator:

Percentage of managers with purchasing ability who have had awareness training on green procurement

Target:

100% of managers with purchasing ability receive awareness training on green procurement.

Result:

Training continues for Managers through Procurement Information Sessions.

FSDS:

Increase awareness of the Policy on Green Procurement among managers as a best practice

UN SDG:

SDG 12 - Responsible Consumption and Production

SDG 13 - Climate Action

Starting points:

In 2020-2021, the pandemic brought key officials to focus their efforts on changing the way VAC operates and on providing employees with guidance on safety among others. Performance evaluations were amended to reflect this changing time. Contribution and support for the Policy on Green Procurement were not considered in performance evaluations.

In 2021-2022 the Department continued their focus on pandemic management. As a result, performance evaluations were not amended to reflect the Policy on Green Procurement. This will be revisited for when re-occupancy occurs.

Performance indicator:

Inclusion of support for the Policy on Green Procurement objectives in key officials' performance evaluations

Target:

100% of managers with purchasing ability received awareness training on green procurement

Result:

In 2022-23 the Department continued their focus on pandemic management. As a result, performance evaluations were not amended to reflect the Policy on Green Procurement. Re-occupancy has occurred in 2023-24, therefore this will be revisited.

FSDS:

Collaborate with Procurement and HR to identify a means to track this information

UN SDG:

SDG 12 - Responsible Consumption and Production

SDG 13 - Climate Action

Starting points:

In 2021-22, as Government Employees worked from home for almost the whole duration of this progress report, there were no single-use plastics in government operations, events and meetings.

Single use water bottles are used in certain offices in small quantities when the water is not potable due to lower occupancy or other issues identified in annual water testing.

No data is available on the percentage of attendees that used reusable drinkware during events, whether they worked remotely or in an office.

Performance indicator:

Total number of managers and functional heads of procurement and material with green procurement training

Target:

Develop departmental policy instruments to mandate and support the elimination of unnecessary single-use plastics.

Create a standard for operational, events and meeting planning that includes reducing single-use plastics as best practice, second to best money value.

Increase attendees' awareness on unnecessary use of single-use plastics.

Result:

In 2022-23, as Government Employees worked from home for almost the whole duration of this progress report, there were no single-use plastics in government operations, events and meetings.

Single use water bottles are used in certain offices in small quantities when the water is not potable due to lower occupancy or other issues identified in annual water testing.

No data is available on the percentage of attendees that used reusable drinkware during events, whether they worked remotely or in an office.

FSDS:

Collaborate with Procurement and HR to identify a means to track this information

UN SDG:

SDG 12 - Responsible Consumption and Production

SDG 13 - Climate Action

FSDS:

Promote and distribute green meetings awareness guide to management teams for government operations, events and meetings

UN SDG:

SDG 13 - Climate Action

Starting points:

In 2020-2021, Managers and Functional Heads continue to procure products from suppliers who promote the procurement of sustainable plastic products and the reduction of associated plastic packaging waste

Performance indicator:

Total number of managers and functional heads of procurement and material with green procurement training.

Target:

100% of Managers and Functional Heads of procurement are trained in green procurement, including lifecycle analysis. Second to best money, sustainable development, such as supporting plastic waste reduction, is considered best practice.

Result:

In 2022-23, 100% of the Department’s procurement functional specialists were trained in green procurement within one year of being appointed to their position

FSDS:

Promote and provide training in green procurement

UN SDG:

SDG 13 - Climate Action