Reporting on Green Procurement

This supplementary information table supports reporting on green procurement activities in accordance with the Policy on Green Procurement.

On this page

• Context
• Commitments
• Report on integrating sustainable development

Context

Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) is bound by the Federal Sustainable Development Act but did not develop an optional 2022 to 2023 Departmental Sustainable Development Strategy Report. Instead, to comply with the reporting requirements under the Policy on Green Procurement for 2022 to 2023, the Reporting on Green Procurement supplementary information table was prepared and listed in the 2022 to 2023 Departmental Results Report.

Commitments

Greening Government: the Government of Canada will transition to low-carbon, climate-resilient, and green operations

FSDS target: target 9 - actions supporting the Greening Government goal and the Policy on Green Procurement

FSDS contributing action: departments will use environmental criteria to reduce the environmental impact and ensure best value in government procurement decisions

Corresponding departmental action: action 9.3.1 - green procurement incorporates environmental considerations into purchasing decisions and is expected to motivate suppliers to green their goods, services and supply chain

Performance indicator: volume of expenditure through Standing Offers and Supply Arrangements (SOSA) that include environmental criteria

Results achieved: result 9.3.1 - in fiscal year 2022 to 2023, 48% of ESDC’s transactions by volume (which correspond to 71% of the total value of expenditures) were completed through standing offer contracts and supply arrangements for goods and services that include environmental criteria

Contribution of the departmental result to the FSDS goal and target: green procurement incorporates environmental considerations into purchasing decisions and is expected to motivate suppliers to reduce the environmental impact of the goods and services they deliver, and their supply chains

Corresponding departmental action: action 9.3.2 - procurement contracts for services/goods must include a mandatory greening declaration from the vendor

Performance indicator: percentage of procurement contracts for service/goods with greening declaration from vendors

Results achieved: result 9.3.2 - ESDC has included a green policy clause in sole source contracts for certain commodities (for example, shredding and armoured car services). The department has since broadened the implementation of this clause. In fiscal year 2022 to 2023, 68 % of ESDC procurement contracts were with suppliers who have green commitments. Beginning in fiscal year 2022 to 2023, a more generalised clause has been added into all procurement documents under ESDC authority, which will ensure that the largest number of contracts possible contain green declarations. The department is currently developing a Green Procurement Strategy to help inform procurement decisions moving forward

Contribution of the departmental result to the FSDS goal and target: green procurement incorporates environmental considerations into purchasing decisions and is expected to motivate suppliers to reduce the environmental impact of the goods and services they deliver, and their supply chains

Corresponding departmental action: action 9.3.3 - use Public Service and Procurement Canada’s (PSPC) tools with green measures (for example, furniture) in support of green procurement

Performance indicators:

• inclusion of environmental considerations (for example, reduce, reuse, or include environmental criteria) in new common-use procurement instruments
• inclusion of environmental considerations (for example, reduce, reuse, or include environmental criteria) in procurements valued over $2 million

Results achieved:

• result 9.3.3a - ESDC is performing green disposal measures to reuse or re-direct government surplus to non-profits and away from landfills for real property projects. All ESDC real property procurement began with consideration of asset reuse or reduction. Considerations for re-use of stock Crown assets was part of each pre-procurement checklist. When unsuitable for reuse, assets were always considered for sale via GC Surplus or donation to charity or other government department as per Treasury Board policy. To support green procurement, ESDC follows the green measure tools from Public Service and Procurement Canada to ensure greening criteria is included in our procurement requisitions
• result 9.3.3b - ESDC issued 5,067 contracts, 3,432 of which included environmental considerations. The department issued 175 contracts over $2 million, of which 143 contained environmental considerations

Contribution of the departmental result to the FSDS goal and target: green procurement incorporates environmental considerations into purchasing decisions and is expected to motivate suppliers to reduce the environmental impact of the goods and services they deliver, and their supply chains

FSDS target: target 9 - actions supporting the Greening Government goal and the Policy on Green Procurement

FSDS contributing action: departments will adopt clean technology and undertake clean technology demonstration projects

Corresponding departmental action: action 9.4.1 - select and operate IT and office equipment in a manner that reduces energy consumption and material usage

Performance indicators:

• ESDC has a strategy to increase the current ratio of mobile to desktop devices to 90% by Q2 2020 to 2021
• increasing the use of mobile devices (laptops/ tablets) facilitates reducing overall energy consumption within the department

Results achieved:

• result 9.4.1a - ESDC has maintained a 95% mobile device rate in fiscal year 2022 to 2023. The last 90 days usage report shows that 36,105 out of 38,045 employees are equipped with a mobile device. As in past years, ESDC continues to adhere to energy consumption guidelines established for equipment purchased via the National Master Standing Offer (NMSO). 100% of all ESDC equipment is procured through the NMSO, which is overseen by Shared Services Canada. This ensures that vendor products and services are energy efficient when awarding contracts
• result 9.4.1b - ESDC’s efforts to further reduce its printer footprint to 3 per floor in locations that had over 3 printers will continue to progress. This will reduce energy consumption. While printers were identified for the reduction strategy, this fiscal year the department had to prioritize adapting workstations for the return to the office of its employees

Contribution of the departmental result to the FSDS goal and target: adopting clean technology incorporates environmental considerations into purchasing decisions and is expected to motivate suppliers to reduce the environmental impact of the goods and services they deliver, and their supply chains

FSDS target: target 9 - actions supporting the Greening Government goal and the Policy on Green Procurement

FSDS contributing action: support for green procurement will be strengthened, including guidance, tools and training for public service employees

Corresponding departmental action: action 9.5.1 - ensure 90% of procurement specialists, new materiel managers and 100% of new acquisition cardholders complete CSPS green procurement training within 1 year of starting in the position

Performance indicators:

• percentage of new procurement specialist, materiel managers and new acquisition card holders who have completed green procurement training
• percentage of specialists in procurement and materiel management and acquisition card holders who have completed training on green procurement

Results achieved:

• result 9.5.1a - The department has a mandatory provision to complete the Canada School of Public Service green procurement course prior to receiving an acquisition card as of April 1, 2022. Green procurement training is now required as part of training for new employees working in procurement and must be completed within one year. All of ESDC’s new procurement specialists have completed the green procurement course
• result 9.5.1b - 100% of CFOB procurement specialists have completed the green procurement course. (31 procurement specialists have completed the course). 93% of materiel managers have completed the green procurement course. All of the department’s acquisition cardholders must complete mandatory training, which includes information on green procurement

Contribution of the departmental result to the FSDS goal and target: 100% of new procurement specialist and materiel managers will complete the Canada School of Public Service (CSPS) Green Procurement Training. 100% of new acquisition cardholders will complete the green procurement component of the mandatory training

Corresponding departmental action: action 9.5.2 - integrate sustainability into common-use procurement instruments, processes and controls

Performance indicators: count of procurement instruments, processes and controls that include green procurement

Results achieved: result 9.5.2 - ESDC has implemented a green procurement checklist and questionnaire to assist procurement staff for real property related requirements. Green procurement training is in place for departmental employees working in real property. All project team members and acquisition officers in real property are taking Canada School of Public Service course 215 Green Procurement Training. ESDC supported the establishment of a national working group to better integrate green practices and sustainable development standards into base-building lease conditions

Contribution of the departmental result to the FSDS goal and target: by 2023 ESDC will have integrated more green procurement information into existing procurement instruments, processes and controls

Corresponding departmental action: action 9.5.3 - build staff awareness of the benefits of green procurement

Performance indicators: count of communications promoting green procurement

Results achieved: result 9.5.3 - ESDC’s Chief Financial Officer Branch continued with a Speakers Series, which was open to all employees of the branch, including those working in procurement. The series featured academics and industry leaders to build staff awareness on sustainable development topics, including green procurement. The department developed and hosted green procurement training sessions for employees in real property and asset management teams. Information is always available through ESDC’s Procurement Roadmap. Use of the Procurement Roadmap is communicated regularly in client meetings and emails as the one-stop shop for procurement processes. Communications were sent to procurement officers to ensure they are identifying green procurement in SAP

Contribution of the departmental result to the FSDS goal and target: promote and encourage the use of green procurement

Report on integrating sustainable development

During the 2022 to 2023 reporting cycle, Employment and Social Development had no proposals that required a strategic environmental assessment (SEA) and no public statements were produced.