As of 1 April 2014, the Government of Canada will continue to take action to embed environmental considerations into public procurement, in accordance with the federal Policy on Green Procurement.

Scope and Context

Approach

The Office of the Auditor General of Canada’s (the Office’s) approach to implementing green procurement is to target the use of Public Works and Government Services Canada’s (PWGSC) procurement instruments and to train key management and procurement personnel.

Management Processes and Controls

The Office’s procurement needs are predominantly for commodity goods, such as computers, printers and copiers, office supplies, and furniture, and for professional services, including construction services (at times). For all significant purchases, the Office maximizes its green procurement by taking advantage of PWGSC’s procurement instruments, such as National Master Standing Offers or Departmental Standing Offers. In so doing, the Office achieves the levels of green procurement that have been negotiated by PWGSC.

Since the 2010–11 fiscal year, the Office has followed PWGSC’s Federal Electronic Waste Strategy for electronic and electrical equipment (for example, for the acquisition of ENERGY STAR high-efficiency appliances and equipment, and for the disposal of electronic equipment and appliances).

Performance Measurement

Expected Result

Environmentally responsible acquisition, use, and disposal of good and services

Performance Indicator	Result
Number and percentage of specialists in procurement and/or materiel management who have completed the Canada School of Public Service Green Procurement course, or equivalent, in the given fiscal year.	5 people or 100%
Additional Performance Indicators	Result
Ensure that purchases of paper contain post-consumer fibre; are certified by EcoLogo and processed chlorine free; are certified as Forest Stewardship Council recycled; and are manufactured using biogas energy.	100% of paper purchases
Ensure that purchases of notebook computers, servers, and software are made through PWGSC consolidated procurement instruments, where available.	100% of purchases
Ensure that the Auditor General’s vehicle (Office vehicle fleet) is replaced using the PWGSC National Master Standing Offer, when required. The Executive Vehicle Policy states that executives’ vehicles will be hybrid-electric; factory-equipped for natural gas, propane, or E-85 ethanol fuel; or factory-equipped, four-cylinder, with a conventional engine emitting less than 4,200 kg of CO2 emissions per year.	100% of fleet
Ensure that acquisitions of electronic equipment and appliances are ENERGY STAR–rated high efficiency	100% of acquisitions

Additional Activities:

• The Office also promotes the acquisition of eco-friendly products (such as binders, pens, staplers, and hole punches) from companies with “green” catalogues.
• All printing and photocopying requires the use of an access card.
• Since spring 2013, the Office has reduced the printing of complete Auditor General reports by 78 percent (to 325 copies, down from 1,500).