Posted on May, 10 2002

The Northern Ireland government has heard how it could save a staggering £54 million if it adopts a green purchasing strategy similar to that used by a university in America. The revelation came during a green purchasing seminar on 8 May at Parliament Buildings, Stormont, organised by WWF Northern Ireland.

Assembly Members, Council chief executives and academics listened to keynote speaker Kevin Lyons, from Rutgers University in New Jersey, as he demonstrated environmentally friendly methods of procurement. As Rutgers University�s Head of Purchasing, he spoke of his responsibility for the US$450 million annual budget for goods and services, which includes US$25 million for energy and US$3.3 million on waste management and recycling. His policy of green purchasing helped the university achieve a 60 per cent reduction in waste and a 3.2 per cent annual saving in overall procurement expenditure between 1998 and 2001.

With government procurement in Northern Ireland amounting to over £1500 million per year, the seminar provided eye-opening information for procurement officials. Lyons illustrated how adopting green purchasing policies could make a major contribution to sustainable development by �greening� the supply chain and allowing suppliers to make greater use of environmentally friendly goods and services.

�Through my daily purchasing activities, I have first hand knowledge of the strain the types of contracts, and the commodities we buy are putting on our natural resources, in our own country and worldwide,� Lyons said.

�When resources close to hand are used up, I can search the earth to find alternative resources that have not yet been tapped into. As a purchasing professional, one can have the wisdom to conduct these activities in a more environmentally responsible way."

The Procurement Service � formerly the Government Purchasing Agency � has already realised the potential of �buying green�. It deals with approximately £250-300 million of the total £1500 million expenditure, and has a clause relating to sustainable environmental protection inserted in its tendering document.

Malachy Campbell, Policy Officer at WWF Northern Ireland said: �Whilst there are potential financial benefits for governments committing to green purchasing principles, the environmental benefits are even more significant. With the World Summit on Sustainable Development about to bring sustainability issues to the fore, it is an appropriate time for Northern Ireland government officials to implement a clearly defined, integrated policy for green purchasing.�

Also speaking at the event were Gordon Murray, Procurement Advisor for the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy and former Procurement Manager for Belfast City Council, and Rachel Shotton, WWF 95+ Group Government Partnerships Co-ordinator.

For further information:
Edel Moss
Press Officer, WWF Northern Ireland
Tel.: +44 28 9335 5166
E-mail: emoss@wwf.org.uk