Sustainable procurement advances supplier operations and performance. It allows us to:
- Achieve better value and outcomes by leveraging resources and relationships to support sector knowledge, growth, and development
- Play a leadership role in who we do business with and what we buy, exposing emerging and innovative opportunities
Social (value) procurement
Invests in equitable economic participation that advance outcomes of inclusion, diversity, reconciliation, equity, and well-being, by:
- Increasing economic opportunities for businesses:
- With recognized certification
- Are social or diverse based on being owned or controlled by an equity seeking population (examples: non-profits, coops, women, Indigenous persons, people with disabilities, LGBTQ+)
- Improving economic independence and capacities through:
- Employment equity, access, and rights
- Ethical purchasing – fairtrade, labour standards, health and safety, animal welfare
- Economic well-being - Employee development and advancement
- Workforce diversity – participation for underemployed, unemployed, under-represented or equity-seeking populations
Environmental and green procurement
Invests in suppliers aligned with Green Vancouver and climate smart operations that are striving to be better for the environment, by:
- Preserving and restoring healthy ecosystems and natural habitats by minimizing pollution, conserving natural resources, and regenerating ecological/food systems, including:
- Clean water
- Water consumption
- Toxicity
- Local food
- Reducing and diverting waste (packaging, end of life, single-use elimination) “Zero Waste”
- Reducing and eliminating the dependence on fossil fuels and minimizing the release of greenhouse gases (GHG) (renewable energy, circular economy) “Zero Carbon”
