What is Green Procurement?

Green procurement is procurement that is sustainable. It is recognised internationally as the practical way that an organisation can use its buying power to make a contribution to getting the Earth back into balance again. When it is properly structured in a procurement management system it becomes sustainable procurement. This allows a company to procure goods and services with substantially less impact on the environment while maintaining quality, functionality and cost competitiveness.

Sustainable Procurement Training Course

Good Environment Choice Australia (GECA) developed a training course in sustainable procurement from its special knowledge as the Australian standards-setting body for product ecolabelling. The course is the only training available in Australia and New Zealand that tackles procurement from a product category viewpoint.

One participant said:

“An experienced presenter, who kept things light and enjoyable whilst imparting a wealth of knowledge”

GECA's course covers the full range of environmental factors that buyers need to know so their organisation can become sustainable. It explains concepts and challenges that are relatively new to business and especially relevant to procurement professionals, including:

• The international environmental labelling standard, ISO 14024;
• Misleading environmental claims under Trade Practices law and ACCC's prosecution role;
• Sustainability, product certification, verification, life-cycle analysis and ecolabelling;
• Integration of non-quantitative factors into procurement systems;
• What motivates an organisation to buy products in an environmentally preferable manner; and
• How to make an effective transition to sustainable trade.

For non-technical people who are interested in Nature and how it works in the real world, the sustainable procurement training course starts with an introduction to environmental science to equip participants with enough grounding to get the ‘real economy' up and on its feet again. Then take the time to learn about ‘greenwash' and you won't be de-railed ever again by suppliers with misleading slogans. Don't let deliberate confusion by others ruin your genuine efforts to bring sustainable purchasing to your organisation.

Expected Outcomes

The training is a 2-day comprehensive course. Soon after completing the course, you will be equipped to design a sustainable procurement management system for your organisation. You will return from the course with an understanding of why and how you can change your company from being a mere ‘consumer' to become a customer of the highest environmental commitment, recognised by your suppliers, your executive and your customers in turn.

• Understand how to write a sustainable procurement specification for your organisation
• Keep up with corporate and policy shifts on sustainable procurement to deliver the best outcome for your organisation
• Recognise the set of criteria and specifications that is right for your procurement procedures and align environmental purchasing priorities with your existing activities
• Get value for money as tighter regulations for the environment impose stricter compliance on buyers.

Who Should Attend

The training is intended for people who make the decisions about which goods and services their organisation buys. The course is suitable for:

• procurement professionals
• environmental advisors
• managers
• local government
• public service agencies
• non-government organisations
• corporations
• small business
• start-up / innovative companies
• advocacy groups.