"Sustainability should be considered along with factors such as cost and quality as part of the overall drive for value for money."
John Swinney
Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth
Sustainability principles
All of our plans and activities, whether working with colleagues or stakeholders, are built around our principles for responsible sustainable procurement:
Having high professional standards: We will demonstrate the highest possible professional standards, operating in an open and accessible environment, with integrity. We will provide effective training, development and support to all staff involved in the procurement process. We will abide by the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply (CIPs) code of ethics.
Meeting the needs of local authorities: We will deliver best value collaborative contracts which are compliant with principles of responsible sustainable procurement and EU legislation, and have collective agreement for the appropriate commodity strategy.
Reducing environmental impact: We will ensure that the procurement decisions we take today have the minimum possible impact on the environment, both now and in the future. We aim to increase knowledge and skills to evaluate and respond to conflicting demands.
Delivering ethical and social improvement within our contracts: We will integrate ethical and social issues into the procurement process, and will be proactive in addressing issues of broader human rights within the supply chain.
Increasing contracting opportunities for the suppliers: We will engage with suppliers across the sectors and simplify our processes wherever possible, helping to better equip them to compete for public sector business. We will work in partnership with suppliers to drive responsible sustainable procurement benefits from contracts.
Communicating effectively: We will share expertise, best practice and engage with internal and external stakeholders to promote and sustain our responsible procurement approach. We will monitor our progress and publish outputs.
Being innovative and pursuing excellence: We will keep abreast of developments and take an innovative approach to procurement, ensuring that our decisions are based on the best available knowledge at the time.