Government of Canada

The Government of Canada is one institution that has taken some specific steps to define its institutional buying criteria under the general label Green Procurement (is this used elsewhere?) and Greening Government. Efforts include:

• GreeningGovernment.GC.CA overall strategy
• Public Works and Government Service Canada - cgsb which also does ISO 14001 certification for other agencies - green leasing and green citizenship programs including such things as vermiculture for trash - see detailed PDF report which reports
  • office chairs including reduced gas emission, off-gassing, waste minimizing, packaging requirements
  • remanufactured toner cartridges
• (PPT presentation, 2004) Life Cycle Considerations in Environmental Purchasing Decisions with top goals:
  • Reduce Toxics Constituents
  • Increased Recycled Content
  • Design for Recycling
  • Reduced Materials use
  • Promote Energy Conservation
  • Extend Product Life
  • Packaging
  • Promote environmentally sound recycling
  • Promote take-back options
  • Reward corporate environmental policy

The Government creates and funds directories of acceptable products and advises their use in FAQs and its more general guides for suppliers:

• • "designinggreen.com"
  • "procara.ca"

are these essential projects? governments often set buying standards

In addition, agencies commit to specific sustainable development goals, e.g. the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency list of commitments to SD and phased plans such as their Sustainable Development Strategy III which may be useful as a template for other government agencies.

It and other regional Canadian agencies offer more specific resources and help than the GC.CA does, for instance listing benefits of eco-efficiency for private business:

• • Reduced inefficiencies and waste
  • Lower operating costs or increased revenue
  • Improved quality
  • Better customer, staff and supplier relations
  • Enhanced business image
  • Reduced environmental liabilities
  • Improved regulatory compliance
  • Continuous improvement of processes and practices
  • Improved workplace safety and employee health
  • Improved bottom line
  • Reduced environmental impact

and seven (more specific than the overall GC.CA) ways to do so:

• • Reduce the amount of material required in the production of your goods and services.
  • Reduce the amount of energy required in the production and delivery of your goods and services.
  • Reduce toxic emissions.
  • Design your products to be recyclable.
  • Maximize the use of renewable resources in the production and delivery of your products and services.
  • Design products that are durable and easier to repair.
  • Design products that serve multiple purposes and that can be easily upgraded.

references

• ACOA library - tools for sustainable development - an excellent list