Procurement accounts for 37% of UGA’s carbon footprint, alongside buildings and energy (42%) and transportation (21%). To promote frugal, ethical, and accessible public procurement, the UGA has established a thematic plan dedicated to responsible procurement, following the model of previous plans focused on sustainable mobility, biodiversity, and energy and building efficiency.
Like the other plans, it was drafted collaboratively with academic departments and experts in the field. It is also structured around quantified objectives with monitoring indicators. The responsible procurement plan serves as the Plan for the Promotion of Socially and Environmentally Responsible Procurement (SPASER), a mandatory strategic planning document under the Public Procurement Code.
This new thematic plan aims to integrate social and environmental criteria into all of UGA’s public procurement contracts and to support purchasers in adopting these practices through training. In terms of advanced sustainable practices, it promotes resource efficiency in procurement by, for example, prioritizing reuse and extending the lifespan of the institution’s assets. It is structured around five commitments, which fall under four categories: environmental, social, economic, and ethical, as well as a coordination category.
Under the environmental pillar, two commitments have been announced: to place environmental considerations at the heart of our purchasing decisions and to accelerate the transition to a circular economy, as well as waste reduction and prevention.
In the social area, the commitment is to support inclusive employment and promote workplace equality. In the economic and ethical area, the goal is to ensure that public procurement is accessible and ethical. In the coordination area, the focus will be on promoting, developing, and overseeing the responsible procurement policy.
To learn more about the related goals and commitments: The Responsible Procurement Plan
