Sustainable Procurement Tools

Lessons learned

There are a number of lessons arising from the work undertaken in 2023/24 which build on the recognition of the Council’s GO Awards.

There has been a leap in progress during this period. While more needs to be done and is underway, building blocks have been put in place to help focus development and improvement to the Council’s approach.

Prioritisation results

Undertaking the sustainable procurement prioritisation methodology may reinforce expectations regarding priorities, while also highlighting others.

Carrying out the prioritisation exercise will provide:

• An audit trail showing alignment from national and organisational objectives to priorities within categories and projects, to provide background for relevant and proportionate quality/ technical and contract management requirements;
• Clarity on relevant risks and opportunities within category and project strategies, and confidence to draw out key risks and opportunities in contracts and frameworks;
• Stakeholder understanding and capability;
• Market and supplier engagement and development opportunities. It helps prioritise the focus on a clear message to the market and provides a positive collaborative environment in the relevant sectors; and
• A structured plan to ensure resources are focused where the most positive outcomes are deliverable.

The climate and procurement prioritisation helped support the ongoing wider sustainable procurement prioritisation.

Collaboration - Building and sharing knowledge, experience and confidence

The use of relevant tools, backward review of contracts and engagement sessions helps to build greater confidence regarding climate and wider sustainable procurement, reflecting a focus on priority stakeholders.

Lessons from priority categories and projects may, for example, be applied to others, avoiding some duplication of effort.

This informs the development of tender requirements for the future iteration of contracts. This includes the use of a relevant carbon reduction question, based on evidence obtained during the lifetime of the contracts and engagement and collaboration with providers. This enables the implementation and acceleration of carbon reduction, through both contract and supplier management and future tenders. 

The approach has resulted in more positive feedback from category managers and interest in relevant requirements.

As well as learning from other Councils, such as the tailored use of 4C.7 by Falkirk Council, further collaboration with Councils regarding implementation of sustainable procurement requirements is important, given the significant commonality of procurement categories and projects.

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