Today, when environmental issues are more serious than ever, industries are rethinking their policies. Construction may be one of the areas that has to prioritise sustainability. Sustainable procurement is key to construction sustainability. But what does this phrase mean? This blog article will explain sustainable procurement and why it matters in construction. Learn how to make your next building project greener and more socially responsible!
Sustainable procurement definition
There is no single definition of “sustainable procurement.” The word refers to any procurement strategy that meets environmental, social, and economic goals.
Sustainable procurement promotes social responsibility, environmental protection, and economic efficiency. The procurement process must evaluate all product or service factors to achieve these goals.
A waste reduction plan is essential to sustainable procurement. This strategy should identify where and how construction waste will be generated and how to reduce it.
Local supplier engagement is crucial to sustainable buying. Construction projects can minimise transportation costs and assist local companies by doing so. Small firms are also more environmentally and socially responsible than big companies.
To develop a sustainable procurement process in construction, precise project requirements data is needed. This data can be collected from construction project participants through surveys or interviews. This data can be utilised to design a resource allocation strategy that meets project participants’ needs.
Implementing Sustainable Construction Procurement
Avoiding climate change’s many harmful effects requires sustainable infrastructure. Procuring products and services with little environmental effect can help make building more sustainable.
There are many strategies to conduct sustainable building procurement. Four examples:
1. Use Renewable Energy Certificates to measure green building.
2. Use green building providers.
3. Create a purchasing policy that requires contractors and subcontractors to report their environmental consequences when bidding.
4. Consider if the planned project would have a major environmental impact and find lower-impact alternatives before proceeding.
Challenges of Sustainable Construction Procurement
Sustainable construction procurement is difficult since materials and products must meet environmental and social standards. Materials must be legally sourced, trash must be minimised, and workers must be treated decently. Construction projects generally entail extensive data collecting and analysis, which helps improve resource allocation decisions.
Summary
Sustainable construction procurement relies on the context and project, thus there’s no uniform definition. However, all sustainable buying practices should follow these principles:
1. Sustainability should be considered throughout a project’s life cycle.
2. Benefits must be linked to sustainability factors in procurement decisions.
3. Use renewable energy and repurposed or green materials whenever possible.
4. When choosing procurement techniques, products, and services, consider project social and environmental implications.
