Public Procurement and Property

Sustainable Procurement Duty – the Circular Economy Case Study

December 2, 2019 by Eddie Chapman No Comments | Category Best practice, Case study, climate change, community benefits, Environment, Sustainability, video

Circular Economy

The Circular Economy is one of the potential solutions buyers are implementing to help tackle this issue. This case study, on Scotland Excel’s Furniture framework, shows how working with the re-use sector, buyers can change behaviours and make a positive impact on both the environment and society.

These days working collaboratively is a mainstay of the buyer’s role. In this example, working with those who commission the contracting process, the clients on whose behalf procurement works, the buyer has been able to demonstrate and encourage greater use of re-use as a viable way of providing a service to those in need.

Moving from a linear to a circular economy means we can make the earth’s limited resources last longer by keeping items in high value use for as long as possible. It’s not only good for the environment, it’s also good for society and the economy as more jobs could be created through a repair economy. And as this case study shows, jobs and training can be successfully created when contracting with local companies, local social enterprises and local communities.

For the category manager, it meant working with the sector, to identify ways they could become involved in public sector contracting. Whilst at the same time, meeting the expectations and needs of the councils and their customers.

For members of the Community Resources Network Scotland (CRNS), it meant achieving certification under Zero Waste Scotland’s Revolve quality standard. This helps assure councils they are purchasing good quality items.

Having helped almost 5,000 households through this framework, it’s been a success. It’s meant over 10,000 re-use items have been supplied rather than going to landfill. And as Barry, Scotland Excel’s Category Analyst explains, dozens of jobs and training opportunities have been created.

Further information

If you’d like to learn more about how you could apply some of the lessons from this case study into your contracts, please contact:

Sustainable Procurement Duty – Jo Mitchell – Josephine.Mitchell@gov.scot

Scotland Excel – Barry Phillips – Barry.Phillips@scotland-excel.org.uk

Zero Waste Scotland – Claire Guerin – claire.guerin@zerowastescotland.org.uk

Community Resources Network Scotland (CRNS) – Michael Cook – michael@crns.org.uk

Tags: circular economy, climate emergency, inclusive economic growth, Power of procurement, Public procurement, Scotland Excel, Scottish Government, Scottish Procurement, sustainable procurement, Zero Waste Scotland

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