Scotland Excel Environmental Policy

The objectives of Scotland Excel are to:

• Integrate environmental concerns into the procurement process
• Achieve environmental best practice for all purchasing activity
• Work in partnership with Member Councils and other agencies across the public sector to assist in achieving common environmental objectives whilst at the same time complying with European and national legislation and continuing to meet the aspirations of stakeholders in terms of choice, service and value for money

For customers, Scotland Excel will:

• Help to reduce the environmental impact of goods and services consumed by customers through a practical and sensible purchasing policy
• Encourage customers to select  products with due regard to their environmental impact and to participate in recycling schemes where appropriate
• Take account of environmental criteria as part of the contract evaluation process subject to the constraints of public procurement legislation
• Highlight environmental issues at forums and user intelligence groups
• Convene a forum of environmental officers to exchange views of mutual concern
• Highlight environmentally friendly suppliers and products in the Scotland Excel Catalogue

For suppliers, Scotland Excel will:

• Request all companies tendering for contracts to complete an environmental questionnaire
• Request information on supplier environmental accreditations e.g. ISO 14001
• Request all tenderers to provide a copy of their environmental policy with their offers
• (As outlined in all appropriate tender documents...) “consider the use of products containing recycled materials whenever these can be purchased at no extra cost and can be used without adverse effect on the services provided. If any of your products offered include recycled materials, please provide details with your offer. Samples of such items may be required on request. In addition, please state if any products containing recycled materials can be labelled accordingly at no extra cost”.

Within our own accommodation, Scotland Excel will:

• Select products used in their office environment with regard to their impact on the environment
• Use energy as efficiently as possible
• Re-use and recycle materials wherever possible

Protecting The Environment

As part of its commitment to incorporate environmental issues into the procurement process, the Scotland Excel Catalogue, and regular catalogue updates are printed on recycled paper to contribute to the relief of the world’s forest resources. The catalogue paper has been awarded the recycling mark of the National Association of Paper Merchants, signifying a minimum content of at least 75% recycled fibre with the remainder being mill broke or virgin fibre.