ARCHIVED - Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat

1. How is your department planning to meet the objectives of the Policy on Green Procurement?

The Secretariat's approach to green procurement meets the responsibilities outlined in Section 8 of the Policy on Green Procurement and supports the commitments made to advance green procurement in its Sustainable Development Strategy 2007–09 (SDS 2007–09).

The Secretariat will continue to provide advice, as appropriate, on the performance management framework for greening operations. Government-wide green procurement training is available through the Canada School of Public Service and Campusdirect. Stand-alone courses on green procurement are in place and available to procurement and materiel management practitioners and, where necessary, to line managers. Furthermore, green procurement is a mandatory component of the certification program for the procurement, materiel management, and real property communities. The Secretariat will continue to issue guidelines for integrated green procurement planning and for performance reporting on green procurement in the report on plans and priorities (RPP) and the corresponding departmental performance report (DPR).

Through its SDS 2007–09, the Secretariat made a number of commitments to advance green procurement. These commitments are shared with the Department of Finance Canada, and they encompass a life-cycle approach—from planning and acquisition through to use and disposal—to the procurement of goods and services.

2. Has your department established green procurement targets?

Yes

3. Describe the green procurement targets that have been set by your department and indicate the associated benefits anticipated.

(1) Introduce green procurement training for 60 per cent of acquisition card holders and ensure that new materiel managers also receive green procurement training

Benefits—Better awareness and application of the Policy on Green Procurement and improved tracking of green procurement performance

(2) Continue to ensure the purchase of green office furniture

Benefits—Increased purchase of better quality furniture to decrease long-term costs and of furniture that benefits improved air quality

(3) Evaluate the multi-function document manager pilot program

Benefits—Depending on the results of the evaluation, improved air quality as well as cost savings from the decrease in paper and energy use and the more efficient use of resources

(4) Update the recycling program to increase the landfill waste diversion rate to 75 per cent

Benefits—Improved waste diversion rate in the facilities occupied by the Department of Finance Canada and the Secretariat

(5) Continue and possibly expand the paper towel composting program

Benefits—Improved waste diversion rate in the facilities occupied by the Department of Finance Canada and the Secretariat

(6) Ensure all vehicles purchased meet the Treasury Board Directive on Fleet Management: Executive Vehicles

Benefits—Improved fuel efficiency and reduced greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions

(7) Ninety per cent of gasoline purchased will be ethanol-blended, where available

Benefits—Reduced dependence on fossil-based fuels and reduced GHG emissions

(8) Introduce green and defensive driver training for new fleet drivers

Benefits—Improved fuel efficiency and reduced GHG emissions

(9) Purchase lighting user controls to reduce GHG emissions by 5 per cent at L'Esplanade Laurier

Benefits—Decreased energy consumption and reduced GHG emissions

(10) Develop a shared environmental management system

Benefits—Compliance, due diligence, and reduced environmental risk

(11) Increase Green Citizenship Network membership by 25 per cent and improve opportunities for employee participation, including in green procurement programming

Benefits—Decreased consumption of resources through awareness and program delivery