Sutton takes the LEAP to Promote Greener Purchasing
The London Borough of Sutton has been championing environmental sustainability for the past decade and, as part of its ongoing commitment to the preservation of global resources, we are partners in a three-year pan-European project to promote “green” purchasing, funded by the European Union.
What is LEAP?
The Local Authority EMAS and Procurement (LEAP) project has brought together 11 public authorities around Europe to determine how current “green” buying practices can be improved by their integration into existing environmental management systems. The LEAP partners have combined forces to share valuable information, experience and best practice to develop practical tools and methodologies for EMS integration and to realise the environmental and financial benefits of joint regional procurement.
But what does this actually mean? All local authorities are responsible for buying a wide range of goods, in very large quantities, ranging from foodstuffs to computer equipment to building materials and it is important for sustainability purposes that we try to buy environmentally friendly products from trusted suppliers. Although prices for green products may sometimes be higher for authorities buying alone, combining the purchasing actions of several organisations, could make these products more economically favourable.
- The main outcome of the LEAP project has been to produce a set of key tools outlining procurement and sustainability best practice. During 2005, these tools were subject to a vigorous testing phase by local authorities across Europe to access their usability and content. This toolkit will become available free of charge for use by all public authorities throughout the EU. The CD-ROM toolkit will be also become available in a downloadable format towards the end of 2006.
- The secondary outcome has been to explore the possibility of joint procurement across the partners collaborating on commonly bought goods. The first exercise has resulted in many opportunities and challenges arising, not least the different legislative frameworks in which the different European countries work. A second joint procurement is currently under consideration having broken down some of the barriers.
Who are the LEAP partners?
Leicester City Council, UK
London Borough of Lewisham, UK
London Borough of Southwark, UK
London Borough of Sutton, UK
Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council, UK
ESPO, Eastern Shires Purchasing Organisation, UK Municipality of Holargos, Greece
Global to Local, UK
Municipality of Amaroussion, Greece
Municipality of Kalithea-Rhodes, Greece
City of Goteborg, Sweden
Barcelona Provincial Council, Spain
City of Almada, Portugal
ICLEI, Germany
Who do I contact for more information?
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Please log on to the LEAP website http://www.iclei-europe.org/index.php?id=LEAP or contact
Melanie Wosner on: 0208 770 6227 for environmental sustainability or;
Mark Brewer on: 0208 770 5300 for procurement
