Green purchasing strategies in construction: applicable to building projects and facilities
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The UK Government has introduced the Government Buying Standards (GBS), a set of guidelines that aim to ensure a minimum level of standardization in the purchasing of goods and services by all relevant organizations, not just public sector entities.
These standards are designed to promote environmental sustainability and ethical sourcing in procurement. For instance, timber purchases must come from independently verified legal and sustainable sources or licensed Forest Law Enforcement Governance and Trade (FLEGT) partners, with recycled timber also accepted.
The GBS primarily apply to central government departments, the wider public sector (including agencies and non-departmental bodies), and their suppliers. Public sector organizations are encouraged to follow these standards to meet government policy commitments on sustainability and transparency.
The UK Procurement Act 2023 further reinforces these standards, emphasizing broader criteria beyond price, such as social value, environmental impact, and quality. The Act sets out stricter rules for public contracts over £5 million, requiring transparency, including annual performance reviews through mandatory KPIs.
While the GBS provide minimum mandatory criteria for various product categories, they do not specify best practice standards. However, the government encourages organizations to go beyond these minimum standards to achieve higher sustainability and transparency in their procurement processes.
Organizations, regardless of sector, may choose to follow the GBS in their tenders. This can serve as a tool for demonstrating a commitment to sustainable procurement. In fact, the government encourages both government departments and the wider public sector to use the GBS as a guideline for sustainable procurement in tenders.
In summary, the GBS consist of minimum mandatory criteria such as legal and sustainable sourcing (e.g., timber), with recycled materials accepted. Public sector organizations are encouraged to comply, and the standards form part of a broader government commitment to sustainable, transparent, and accountable public procurement. Organizations concerned about sustainable procurement may find the GBS a valuable reference for improving their sustainability in procurement practices.
- The environmental-science field suggests that climate-change mitigation efforts need to be incorporated into lifestyle choices, including home-and-garden practices to promote sustainable-living, aligning with the UK Government's Buying Standards (GBS) emphasis on ethical sourcing and environmental sustenance.
- As the UK Procurement Act 2023 extends the GBS to incorporate not just price, but also social value, environmental impact, and quality, citizens and businesses may find a competitive advantage by adopting environmental-science-based practices in their lifestyle, home, and garden to demonstrate a commitment to sustainable-living.
- In line with the Government Buying Standards, science-supported sustainable-living practices, such as reducing energy consumption in homes, recognizing reusable alternatives to single-use products in daily lifestyles, and opting for climate-friendly gardening techniques, can contribute to increased transparency and accountability in public procurement processes.
