The Waste & Resources Action Programme (WRAP) has launched a series of ‘sustainable procurement e-learning modules’ developed as part of its work for the European Pathway to Zero Waste (EPOW), supported by Defra.
The modules form part of Defra’s National Sustainable Public Procurement Programme (NSPP) and are designed to help practitioners realise the cost savings associated with implementing more sustainable practices when procuring goods and services, as well as meeting their Greening Government Commitments.
‘Unlock cost savings and reducing waste’
The free-to-use modules were developed in collaboration with industry and public sector procurers, and were designed to offer procurement practitioners ‘the tools and knowledge to confidently assess their own procurement processes, with a view to adopting more sustainable practices’.
Additionally the modules are hoped to help businesses and organisations save money by using resources more effectively, and sending less waste to landfill.
A total of six modules have been developed comprising of an ‘Introduction to Sustainable Procurement’ module, and five independent tutorials dedicated to the ‘high priority’ areas of:
- Construction and Major Refurbishment Projects;
- Furniture;
- Information, Communication and Technology;
- Reuse and Remanufacturing; and
- Textiles
The modules include good practice procurement wording, and sample contract clauses, to ‘help users implement sustainable procurement decisions simply’.
According to WRAP the modules can also be used as part of a work schedule and can be completed over time, rather than in one sitting.
“Economic, environmental and social benefits”
Dr Mervyn Jones, Head of Products and Materials at WRAP, said of the new resources: “Through EPOW, WRAP has worked directly with more than 40 public sector organisations in the south east as part of our targeted assistance programme. This has helped many to not only implement the Marrakech Approach to sustainable procurement into their policies and contracts, but also shape the behaviour of their private sector supply chains. By so doing, we’ve influenced more than €5.75 billion in policy spend, and almost €460 million-worth of contracts, in moving towards more sustainable procurement.
“WRAP developed this suite of e-learning modules to expand on this engagement work through online learning and further promote the impact sustainable procurement can have. The launch of the modules today will enable the public sector and its supply chains to increase their potential for economic, environmental and social benefits through sustainable procurement.”
EPOW is a EU demonstration project part funded by LIFE+, and is a partnership between the Environment Agency and WRAP. The project was set up to investigate practical ways to achieve zero waste landfill in the South East of England. The project runs to March 2013.
Read more about WRAP’s e-learning modules and EPOW.
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