Sustainable Procurement (4)

Trends in Sustainable/Responsible Purchasing

Some of the findings of the Responsible Purchasing Trends 2010 report published by the Responsible Purchasing Network, a group of buyers dedicated to socially responsible and environmentally sustainable purchasing, were:

• Recycled content, energy conservation and human health considerations are the most important criteria for companies; key general considerations include product performance, price and availability;
• Only one in three purchasers publish a report outlining their green purchasing initiatives;
• Cost is the most significant barrier to responsible procurement;
• Respondents report needing more help with clarifying what is "green";
• More companies said they would be procuring increasing numbers of "green" products over the next two years and indicated that improving their tracking and reporting will help them achieve this.

Collaborations and partnerships
Many companies are partnering with others in the industry to develop industry-wide procurement standards and share knowledge and best practice. Examples of such initiatives include the Business Social Compliance Initiative (BSCI), Sedex (Supplier Ethical Data Exchange), the Electronics Industry Citizenship Coalition (EICC) and the International Council of Toy Industries' (ITCI) CARE Foundation.
One of the biggest challenges for hoteliers is not having a consistent “green” measurement. It’s the reason why some hotel chains has teamed up with hotel suppliers, architecture firms, purchasing companies and sustainability experts to launch the Hospitality Sustainable Purchasing Consortium (HSPC), whose aim is to help create common industry standards for sustainable purchasing.
Working with MindClick SGM, several hotel chains are developing the web-based Hospitality Sustainable Purchasing Index (HSPI), initially for fixtures, fittings and equipment (FF&E), that will measure and report on the CSR, environmental and product sustainability performance of suppliers. Consortium members will work together to facilitate alignment of HSPI with industry-accepted sustainability standards, including the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating system and various product category standards.

"AGREE ON REALISTIC TARGETS OR KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS (KPI'S) WITH SUPPLIERS TO HELP YOU EVALAUTE SUPPLIERS!"

 

Local sourcing goes beyond food
Sourcing food and drink locally is now an established strategy for many in the hospitality industry and the practice will continue to expand into other areas of procurement as well. The benefits of local sourcing are many, including reducing transportation costs, support for the local economy, creation of a strong community relationship and more certainty and predictability of delivery.
Palacio Nazarenas in the Peruvian city of Cuzco that opened in summer 2012, sourced and is sourcing nearly everything in Peru, from its linen to its ceramics and artwork. The hotel is working with a community of local weavers to produce its textiles and rugs, a local wood carver is making furniture pieces and two of Peru’s top fashion designers are creating the staff uniforms.

Recycling industry as a new product provider
As the recycling industry increasingly finds ways of turning waste into new products, so the choice of quality items made out of recycled and/or reclaimed content will grow. Sustainable/responsible procurement managers will be increasingly looking to the recycling industry as a supplier of alternative "green" products, whether it is recycled aggregates for construction, crockery and glasses made from reclaimed materials or furniture created from salvaged timber. Many hotels around the world use carpets made with up to 100% recycled content and wall art is mounted on bases made from reused car tires.

Energy and water efficiency are priorities
The ever changing price of crude oil, natural gas, electricity and heating oil will continue to compel procurement managers to look for products that use less energy. Concerns about water shortages will also focus hoteliers' attention on finding suppliers committed to using less water in the manufacturing process and water-saving products, from shower heads and taps to dishwashers.

About Hospro

HOSPRO|Hospitality Procurement prides itself on being a bit different. Traditional values are sustained and a good reputation is something to be proud of. Good business is building lasting relationships, helping us to grow our assets together. With a background in international hospitality and procurement services for some 30 years, our combination of market knowledge and expertise ensures the best possible service for our business relations. We support our clienteles with specific recommendations and references to stay focused on the total process. 

(Source: Greenhotelier.org)