Reporting on Green Procurement

This supplementary information table supports reporting on green procurement activities in accordance with the Policy on Green Procurement.

1. Context

Although the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) is not bound by the Federal Sustainable Development Act and is not required to develop a full Departmental Sustainable Development Strategy (DSDS), SSHRC adheres to the principles of the Federal Sustainable Development Strategy (FSDS) by complying with the Policy on Green Procurement.

The Policy on Green Procurement supports the Government of Canada’s effort to promote environmental stewardship. In keeping with the objectives of the policy, SSHRC supports sustainable development by integrating environmental performance considerations into the procurement decision‑making process through the actions described in the 2019 to 2022 FSDS “Greening Government” goal.

2. Commitments

Greening Government: The Government of Canada will transition to low-carbon, climate-resilient, and green operations

FSDS target(s) FSDS contributing action(s) Corresponding departmental action(s) Starting point(s)
Performance indicator(s)
Target(s)
Results achieved Contribution by each departmental result to the FSDS goal and target

Actions supporting the Greening Government goal and the Policy on Green Procurement

Departments will use environmental criteria to reduce the environmental impact and ensure best value in government procurement decisions

Integrate environmental considerations into procurement management processes and controls

Copy paper, commercial printing and/or envelope purchases will contain 100% recycled content and be certified to a recognized environmental standard to reduce the environmental impact of its production

Starting point: 95% of current paper contains a minimum of 30% recycled content.

Target: 90% of paper will contain 100% recycled content

No change in 2020–21: 95% of current paper contains a minimum of 30% recycled content.

Due to COVID and requirements for working remotely, the department has not purchased paper in the last fiscal year.

12.7 Promote public procurement practices that are sustainable in accordance with national policies and priorities

Insert in all contracts a procedure to provide Finance with an electronic copy of invoices instead of a paper copy

Starting point: 90% in 2019

Target: 100% by 2021

In 2020–21, 100% of contracts included a procedure to provide Finance with an electronic copy of invoices instead of a paper copy.

 

Minimize packaging waste by adding a packaging criterion to requests for quotations (RFQs) when ordering goods

Starting point: 10% in 2019

Target: 60% by 2021

No change in 2020–21. Due to COVID, all goods purchased were either done so on a sole source basis (no RFQ) or were purchased on SSHRC’s behalf by Shared Services Canada.

 

Support for green procurement will be strengthened, including guidance, tools and training for public service employees

Ensure that decision- makers and materiel management and procurement specialists have the necessary training and awareness to support green procurement

Percentage of procurement and/or materiel management specialists who have completed the Canada School of Public Service Green Procurement course (C215) or equivalent

Starting point: 87.5% in 2019

Target: 100% by 2020

In 2020–21, 100% of procurement and/or materiel management specialists have completed the Canada School of Public Service Green Procurement course (C215) or equivalent.

12.7 Promote public procurement practices that are sustainable in accordance with national policies and priorities

3. Report on integrating sustainable development

During the 2020–21 reporting cycle, SSHRC had no proposals that required a strategic environmental assessment and no public statements were produced.

Date modified: