Sustainable Procurement Tools

Filter the case studies by risk and opportunity

Filter the case studies by sector

Filter the case studies by year

Organisation & date

Subject

Process/approach

Risks & Opportunities

Renfrewshire Council - January 2026

Renfrewshire Council – Embedding Climate and Sustainable Procurement in the Housing-led Regeneration and Renewal Programme.

Use of sustainability Test. Expert advice supporting development of a tailored structured approach to sustainability in a varied programme of requirements through a pilot project.

Circular economy – materials and waste

Climate Change - carbon reduction, carbon emissions, vehicles and logistics, hazardous materials

Community Benefits – jobs and training

Fair Work Practices

Renfrewshire Council - November 2025 Artificial Pitches Use of Sustainability Test. Procurement Strategy informed by commodity market analysis and consultation with key stakeholders. Single Procurement Document question 4C.7 use as “information only” and refinement of sustainability requirements across similar tenders

Circular economy – materials and waste

Climate Change - carbon reduction, carbon emissions

Community Benefits – jobs and training

Fair Work Practices

Renfrewshire Council - November 2025 Maximising Community Benefits through the Paisley Town Hall Re-development Project Robust and ambitious approach to Community Benefits. Use of mandated job outcomes to emphasise the importance of the requirements to the project.

Community Benefits – jobs skills and training

SMEs – Subcontracting opportunities

Fair Work Practices

North Ayrshire Council

August 2025

HVO Fuel

Use of Prioritisation, Life Cycle Impact Mapping, Sustainability Test tools.

Implementing a low emission fuel source (hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO)) in heavy trucks and refuse collection vehicles.

Climate change - carbon emissions

Circular Economy - reduced waste

Fife Council

April 2025

Prioritising Climate and Procurement.

Structured approach to prioritisation of categories and pipeline projects, to understand where to focus effort to achieve the most positive outcomes. Internal engagement.

Climate change: energy – embodied carbon, vehicles, adaptation & resilience.

Circular Economy - materials

Scotland Excel

March 2025 

The Multiple Benefits of Public Food Procurement.

Collaborative frameworks supporting local objectives. Engagement with local authorities and public sector, suppliers, Scottish food producers and manufacturers.

SMEs and Local sourcing – Scottish produce, business support, provenance and traceability 
Health - nutrition
Climate change - carbon emissions, food waste

Falkirk Council

January 2025

Climate Change Plans within Care contracts.

Tailored framework requirements and modified use of 4C.7 supplier selection statement. Early engagement, support and collaboration with suppliers of all sizes.

Climate Change - carbon reduction

Fair work practices and Community Benefits

Human Trafficking/ Modern Slavery

Dundee Health & Social Care Partnership

December 2024

Fair Working principles and test of change in Care at Home service.

Multi-provider framework. Testing impact of implementing fair working principles for the providers workforce – pay for full shifts worked.

Fair work practices

NHS National Services Scotland

November 2024

Haemodialysis Machines and Consumables.

Start of sustainability journey seeking relevant environmental and social improvement, for complex medical equipment and services. Early market engagement. Sustainability Test.

Climate Change - carbon reduction, carbon emissions, extended use and repair, recyclability

Scottish Government

June 2024 (includes video)

Heat in Buildings Scotland National Scheme.

Robust technical specification. Future proof to support innovation. Early adopter of Single Procurement Document question 4C.7, requiring climate change plans from bidders.

Climate Change - energy efficiency 

Community Benefits – vocational training and jobs, including in supply chain

Supply chain development

Fair Work Practices

North Ayrshire Council

May 2024

Millport Coastal Flood Protection Scheme.

Use of Prioritisation, Life Cycle Impact Mapping, Sustainability Test tools.

Open tender. Contract strategy to support objective 'to create a more Sustainable North Ayrshire'.

Climate Change - raw materials, vehicles, waste, climate change adaptation, hazardous materials, biodiversity

Fair work Practices

Community Benefits -  skills & training

City of Edinburgh Council

added April 2024 (video)

Hard Facilities Management contract (opens on Vimeo)

Extensive early market engagement. Use of sustainable procurement tools. Create lasting legacy for social & environmental improvement.

Climate Change - carbon reduction, vehicles and logistics

Circular economy – materials and waste

North Ayrshire Council

October 2023

Modular Construction of bungalows that meet accessible needs. 

Use of Prioritisation, Life Cycle Impact Mapping, Sustainability Test tools. Modern Methods of Construction, Category 1, Pre-Manufacturing (3D Primary Structural Systems).

Climate change – materials, waste

Community Benefits – skills & training –Equality and Fair Work Practices

Health & safety

Security & crime

Scottish Enterprise

October 2022

Reducing Carbon Footprint in Hybrid Cloud Hosting Services for IT Shared Services.

Use of sustainable procurement tools.

Crown Commercial Services G-Cloud framework call-off. Reporting of CO2 savings.

Climate Change – reducing carbon emissions, energy, renewable energy

Community Benefits – jobs and training (particularly for priority groups) – Fair work – UK data centres

Renfrewshire Council

September 2022

Sensor Monitoring Equipment for Social Housing Properties.

Use of Sustainability Test. Procurement Strategy informed by commodity market analysis and consultation with key stakeholders - revealed a gap in market for an innovative product.

Health - protect and improve tenants health

Climate Change – fuel poverty and energy efficiency

Community Benefits – jobs and Training

Fair Work Practices

Perth and Kinross Council

March 2022

The Cross Tay Link Road: Reducing Embodied Carbon Through Project Design.

Competitive Procedure with Negotiation (CPN). Reducing embodied carbon identified at pre-tender stage as a priority; target set. In accordance with PAS 2080.

Climate Change -  carbon reduction, carbon management

Environment – landscape

Glasgow City Council

February 2022

Fleet Strategy - A Pathway to Zero Emissions Fleet.

Use of sustainability test, to develop sourcing strategies. Collaboration between Corporate Procurement Unit and key stakeholders, whole life costs analysis.

Climate Change - Carbon reduction – hydrogen, energy, embodied carbon, climate change adaption

Community Benefits – jobs, skills and training

Fair Work practices

Health & Safety

Glasgow Kelvin College

February 2022

Reducing carbon footprint in ICT upgrade.

Life cycle impact mapping identified climate risks associated with purchasing new computers, which stimulated discussions around creative alternatives.

Climate Change – improved performance – reduced carbon emissions

Circular Economy - reduced waste

Scottish Government

November 2021

Hard and Soft Facilities Management.

Use of sustainable procurement tools. Expert advice from policy colleagues, externally and from the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB).

Fair Work Practices

Equality

Community Benefits – jobs and training

SMEs – Subcontracting opportunities

Climate Change - carbon reduction, energy, transport

Circular economy - waste, materials

 

We would welcome your feedback or suggestions on the above which can be e-mailed to: scottishprocurement@gov.scot