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Sustainable Procurement Policy

The City of Fremantle has adopted the Sustainable Procurement Policy. At its core, the Sustainable Procurement Policy guide's purchasing by the organisation towards socially and environmentally preferred products and services that do not cause undue social or environmental harm.

The policy will apply generally but in the first instance, the types of products and services that will be specifically targeted include:

• general office consumables;
• utilities (e.g. energy including renewable energy, treated greywater);
• equipment (excluding plant equipment already covered by the Alternative and Sustainable Fuels Policy and Motor Vehicle Policy);
• cleaning products and services;
• construction and maintenance products and services;
• catering (food) products and services; and
• any other product and service deemed potentially harmful to the environment if not used or purchased in accordance with this policy.

The goals that will be used to guide purchasing these products and services are outlined as follows and extracted from the policy.

"Where considered appropriate to meet the needs and aspirations of the city, the City of Fremantle through this policy, will use its best efforts to ascertain and procure products and services that:

• have been determined as necessary;
• comply with all relevant legislation and additional requirements set by the City;
• meet environmental best practice in energy efficiency and/or consumption which is demonstrable through a suitable rating system (e.g. Energy Star);
• are environmentally sound in manufacture, use and disposal with a specific preference for products made using the minimum amount of raw materials from a sustainable resource, free of toxic or polluting materials and has consumed minimal energy during the production stage;
• will not release toxic substances to the environment (including indoor office environments) at any stage of their life cycle;
• are produced as close to Fremantle as possible to reduce transport-related environmental issues;
• are reusable or recyclable, designed for ease of recycling, re-manufacture or otherwise minimise waste;
• are designed and made for reliability, long life and easy upgrading or updating;
• can be returned to the manufacturer for recycling and reuse (product stewardship);
• have been produced by a company that has an accredited environmental management system, documented waste reduction strategy, meets relevant quality criteria for that particular product or service, is listed in the EcoRecycle Victoria publication “Waste Wise Purchasing Guide for Government and Industry” and/or has a good track record for quality and environmental performance;
• for food, is made with ingredients free from genetically modified or genetically engineered organisms and/or organic, free trade certified or from a sustainable agricultural system;
• have a suitable length of warranty for the purpose of the product and/or service; and
• manufactured in socially acceptable circumstances that are in accordance with Human Right’s conventions, laws or treaties where labour considerations, social exclusion and equal opportunity are taken into account."

The next steps are implementation and recording of achievements and results.

For more information, please contact Alan Carmichael (City of Fremantle) on 9432 9715.