The following climate change and environmental
policies, which are covered in the Treasurer's Instruction 1121 (in relation to goods and
services) and the Treasurer's Instruction 1227 (in relation to building and
construction/roads and bridges), apply to the purchase of
goods:
Climate
Change
Energy
Conservation and Greenhouse Emissions
Ozone
Depleting Substances
Waste
Water
Efficiency and Quality
Climate
Change
Guiding Principles
In addition to the principles that apply to
all procurements, the following additional principles should apply
to ensuring that climate change considerations are factored into
procurement decisions.
Achieving an appropriate balance between climate change and
other considerations
-
Climate change is one of a number of factors that must be
considered by Government buyers to ensure good procurement
outcomes. Fitness for purpose, quality, risk management, the
capacity of the supplier to provide the goods or services, price
and whole of life costs are also important considerations in the
development of specifications, evaluation of offers and achieving a
good value for money outcome.
-
The extent and manner in which climate change impacts are addressed
in specifications and weighted in evaluation criteria will vary
according to the nature of the procurement.
-
In all major procurements, climate change considerations should
form part of the evaluation process.
-
Climate change considerations should also be taken into account for
relevant minor procurements (eg for the purchase of whitegoods
etc).
The full
lifecycle impact of the goods/services should be considered
wherever
possible
-
For the purchase of goods, this includes consideration of the
sourcing, manufacturing, packaging, transport, ongoing running
costs and impacts, and disposal of the goods.
-
For the purchase of services, this includes consideration of the
goods and energy utilised by the service provider in the delivery
of the service.
-
For the design and construction of buildings, roads and bridges,
this includes consideration of climate change impacts of site
choice, waste, materials, energy efficiency, construction
techniques, water conservation and waste, etc in order to minimise
the carbon footprint of the asset.
-
Consideration should also be given to the climate change and
environmental policies, credentials and commitment of the
tenderer.
Decision making is based on scientific measurement tools where
available
-
The climate change impacts of the class of goods or services being
purchased should be understood, and relevant, authoritative and
credible measures that can be utilised in the specifications and
evaluation criteria should be identified as part of the planning
and market research stage of the procurement.
-
Decision making should be based on appropriate evidence and
independent science based measurement tools should be used wherever
possible. While such measures will be readily available for some
goods, such as whitegoods, in many cases, there will be an absence
of credible information - although this will improve over time.
Examples of credible sources include:
-
Where applicable, agencies should seek details of appropriate
certification of companies and products against relevant
environmental standards. For instance:
-
Australian Wood Heating Standards AS4013
-
Environmental Management Systems (ISO4000 series)
-
Major Government developments and procurements should be undertaken
having regard for national and international practices.
-
The Tasmanian Climate Change Office will develop a list of relevant
and authoritative information to assist buyers to give proper
consideration to climate change.
Agency Requirements
Agencies must ensure that the impact of
climate change is included in the evaluation criteria for all major
purchases of goods and services and is taken into consideration in
the selection of goods and services for all minor purchases of
relevant goods and services.
Climate change considerations must also be
taken into account in the planning, design, specifications,
construction, operation and ongoing maintenance of all relevant
major building and construction/roads and bridges projects; and
ensure that evaluation criteria for the selection of consultants
and contractors to deliver major building and construction/roads
and bridges works include consideration of their commitment to and
capacity to deliver effective climate change outcomes.
Climate change considerations and appropriate
criteria will vary according to the nature of the goods and/or
service being purchased. Climate change considerations could
involve looking for opportunities to reduce energy and fuel
consumption, and consideration of waste disposal implications.
Criteria could include the supplier's level of commitment and
capacity to deliver positive climate change outcomes, or
consideration of the carbon emissions in the production and/or
utilisation of a product or in the delivery of a service. Where
relevant, climate change impacts should be considered over the full
life cycle of the product, from production, delivery, use and
disposal.
For information and guidance in relation to
climate change impacts, contact the Tasmanian Climate Change Office
by email: Climatechange@dpac.tas.gov.au.
Energy Conservation and
Greenhouse Emissions
Government agencies must give consideration to
goods with the following attributes and options, so long as they
represent value for money, are of appropriate quality and functionality,
and there are no technical reasons for not doing so:
-
energy efficient goods and mechanical services, including
vehicles;
-
goods manufactured using energy efficient practices and processes
which will contribute to minimal greenhouse gas emissions;
-
goods which will contribute to minimal greenhouse gas emissions
during operation;
-
video or telephone conferencing as an alternative to vehicle and
air travel; and
-
'green power' (energy sourced from renewable
sources).
Where the price of an energy efficient
alternative is higher, but all other evaluation criteria are
assessed as equal, the purchase decision must be based on the value for money principle.
Examples of energy efficient goods
include:
-
low energy light bulbs;
-
battery recharging systems; and
-
low energy appliances.
Ozone Depleting
Substances
Government agencies must not purchase goods
known to involve the use of ozone depleting substances (as defined
in the Ozone Protection and Synthetic Greenhouse Gas Management
Regulations 1995), either as a refrigerant or in the production of
insulating foams, unless no practical alternatives are available.
Agencies must seek information from suppliers on whether the
products offered involve the use of ozone depleting substances.
As there are strict legislative controls over
ozone depleting substances, when decommissioning equipment that
uses, or may have used, ozone depleting substances, agencies must
ensure that every possible action is taken to ensure that residual
amounts of these substances are recovered and disposed of in
accordance with the law.
Further information may be sought from the
Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment.
Waste
Government agencies must give consideration to
goods with the following attributes, so long as they represent value for money, are of appropriate quality and functionality,
and there are no technical reasons for not doing so:
-
recycled/recyclable goods with recycled composition or
components;
-
reclaimed materials, eg crushed concrete aggregate;
-
goods which have less packaging than alternatives;
-
goods with a take-back scheme at end-of-life;
-
goods which guarantee longevity or are reusable; and
-
equipment that can use consumables made from recycled/recyclable
materials.
Where the price of a viable
recycled/recyclable alternative is higher than a
non-recycled/non-recyclable good, but all other evaluation criteria
are equal, the purchase decision must be based on the value for money principle.
Examples of products which reduce waste
include:
-
recycled paper;
-
refillable whiteboard markers;
-
remanufactured copier and printer cartridges;
-
copiers and printers capable of double-siding and printing
two-to-a-page;
-
recycled tyre products;
-
recycled building materials;
-
recycled compost and mulch;
-
electronic goods designed to be recycled (eg no brominated flame
retardants or lead); and
-
recycled plastic parks furniture, posts and signage.
Water Efficiency and Quality
Agencies must give consideration to goods with
the following attributes, so long as they represent value for money, are of appropriate quality and functionality,
and there are no technical reasons for not doing so:
-
water efficient goods;
-
goods manufactured with water efficient practices and processes
which do not contribute to water pollution; and
-
goods manufactured with water efficient practices and processes
which do not contribute to decreased environmental flows.
Where the price of a water efficient
alternative is higher, but all other evaluation criteria are
assessed as equal, the purchase decision must be based on the value for money principle.
Examples of goods which are water efficient
and do not contribute to water pollution include:
-
water efficient appliances, such as AAAA-rated dishwashers;
-
chlorine-free office paper;
-
cleaning products with no phosphates, low volatile organic
compounds (VOCs), no hazardous chemicals and are biodegradable;
and
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dual-flush toilets.
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