Details of the Green Tenders procurement plan announced
The Irish government has illustrated its support for the purchasing of products and services from eco-friendly suppliers by launching a green procurement plan for local authorities.
The development is designed to assist these authorities in effectively implementing sustainable purchasing policies and is hoped to boost the region's low carbon economy.
Environment Minister Phil Hogan and Public Expenditure Minister Brendan Howlin announced details of the Green Tenders procurement plan earlier this month (January 18th) and said that the development is hoped to encourage the cultivation of green products and services. In a joint foreword to Green Tenders, the ministers explained: "Reform of the public procurement function is, and remains, driven by the need to obtain maximum value for public money in procuring works, supplies and services." This is great news for an eco-friendly printing supplier like Flyerzone which may find that its custom increases as a result.
The plan states that: "By using their purchasing power to choose, goods, services and works with a reduced environmental impact, public authorities can make an important contribution towards local, national and international sustainability goals."
Ireland's public authority spending currently stands at €14bn (the equivalent of £11.7bn) and the plan is focused on eight priority areas: construction, energy, transport, food and catering services, cleaning products and services, paper, uniforms and textiles, and ICT.
In light of the fact that around four per cent of carbon emissions generated around the world come from our use of computers, a number of organisations looking to makes a difference look to improve their computer efficiency. Others choose to implement a "cycle to work" programme to allow their employees to target their own carbon footprint. However, a particularly popular method is eco-printing, which helps these organisations to build their reputation and keep their operational costs to a minimum, as well as helping to lower damage to the environment. With the supply eco-friendly products and services on the rise, supply now appears to be catching up with demand, meaning the cost of such purchases have typically shrunk as a result.
This guest article was provided by our supporter Flyerzone
