Exclusive survey: green procurement trends
More than 70 percent of purchasers report that they include environmental performance specifications in government contracts at least sometimes, according to a May 2014 survey conducted by Government Procurement. Eleven percent report that they always do.
The survey also reveals that a third of government purchasing organizations report they have a formal green purchasing policy, and another 26 percent have an informal one. The survey results identify the variety of green purchasing activities under way across North America.
The brief 20-question survey results reflect interesting growth in the green purchasing world over the past five years since a similar study of government purchasers was last conducted. This article summarizes some of the new survey’s key findings.
Does you organization have a green purchasing policy?
Green Purchasing is a Popular Policy Tool
Sixty percent of government purchasers have a formal or informal green purchasing policy in place.
Forty-four percent of governments without a green purchasing policy plan to implement one.
Do you include environmental performance requirements in product specifications of contracts?
Green Purchasing Continues to Grow
More than 70 percent of purchasers report that they at least sometimes include environmental performance specifications in contracts, with 11 percent reporting that they always do.
Forty-one percent of government purchasers report that their organizations are more active in green purchasing than a year ago.
Sixty-one percent indicate that their organization will be even more active in green purchasing two years from now.
Does your organization have experience including environmental considerations in the following product categories?
There Are a Variety of Green Purchasing Opportunities
The bar graph identifies some of the most common green purchasing opportunities. Additional product categories identified by the survey respondents include: appliances, vehicles, lighting and laboratory supplies.
One respondent explained that all request for proposals (RFPs) include a 25 percent point allocation for sustainability-related issues, which surely covers an even broader array of products and services.
Does your office have any of the following programs?
Other Green Activities Are Increasing
Government purchasers are recycling more at the office and engaging in other “green” activities at higher rates now than in 2007 when the question was last asked. Paper recycling initiatives have increased from 88 to 95 percent of offices. Paper reduction efforts have increased from 53 to 75 percent of offices. And 15 percent of government purchasing offices now have a zero waste initiative.
In addition, government purchasers reported increased recycling of toner cartridges, organic food waste, batteries and electronics.
Environmental Labels are a Trusted Source of Environmental Information
Greenwashing – that is, manufacturers making potentially false or misleading environmental claims about their products – is a problem for 35 percent of government purchasers, with another 50 percent indicating that they are not sure if it is a problem. Only 15 percent stated that greenwashing is not a problem.
Fifty percent of government purchasers believe environmental labels help make better purchasing decisions, although 25 percent are unsure if they help or not.
Unfortunately, due to a coding error in the online survey questions designed to indicate which environmental labels are referenced most frequently, it is impossible to identify the labels in order of popularity. Several labels were referenced by respondents in their open comments, including:
- EnerGuide
- Energy Star
- EPEAT
- Fair Trade
- Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)
- Green Seal
- UL ECOLOGO
- UL GREENGUARD
One participant emphasized the importance of environmental labels by suggesting that his or her organization will use “any [eco-label] we can get.”