麻豆社区

Across听the Welsh public sector, sustainability is becoming a听huge factor听in procurement decisions.听That means that businesses that can听demonstrate听credible environmental action听are looked on favourably as potential partners,听while those who do not听risk being left behind.听

The Welsh public sector has an ambition to achieve net zero by 2030, with Wales as a whole targeting net zero by 2050. This means that听public sector organisations are under increasing pressure to reduce carbon emissions throughout their supply chains. That means the听government听is听looking closely at the environmental performance of the businesses听it works听with.听

For many SMEs, this can听seem听overwhelming. Terms like听鈥榥et听zero鈥�,听鈥榗arbon reporting鈥櫶齛nd听鈥榮ustainability strategy鈥�,听may be things you have yet to听encounter听but the good news is that you听don鈥檛听need to become an environmental expert听to navigate this new procurement landscape.听听

There are practical steps you can take to ensure your business is competitive听and desirable for public sector contracts.

What鈥檚听your impact?听

If your business wants to work with听organisations such as the Welsh Government, local authorities, the NHS, Welsh universities and colleges or public-funded projects,听you will increasingly be asked about your environmental impact, particularly for larger or higher-value contracts where sustainability scoring is formalised.听It鈥檚听something that is increasingly on these organisations鈥� radar and something that should be on听yours听too.听These expectations align with legislation such as the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act, which requires public bodies to consider long-term environmental impact.听

Your impact includes:听

• Your energy use听听
• Carbon emissions听听
• Waste management听听
• Sustainable travel policies听听
• Supply chain practices听听
• Environmental targets and reporting听听

In some tenders, environmental scoring already contributes directly to whether you win or lose the contract.听

It鈥檚听important that you start keeping detailed records of these practices听and ensuring that out-of-date policies are reviewed and renewed.

How big is your footprint?听

One of the first things public sector buyers may ask is whether you understand your business鈥� carbon footprint.听Understanding is the first step to improving, so ensuring you get to grips with your carbon footprint and what can be done to improve will put you ahead.听

If you听don鈥檛听know where to start, break it down into these elements:听

• Electricity usage听听
• Gas or heating fuel usage听听
• Business travel听听
• Fleet fuel consumption听听
• Waste generation听听
• Water use听听

These areas broadly fall into direct emissions (such as fuel use), indirect emissions from energy and supply chain impacts.听

Even听if you can draft a听simple baseline听this will听give you something to improve against.听

Many businesses delay this step because they think carbon accounting is only for large corporations.听This听isn鈥檛听true.听SMEs听can get ahead of their competitors if they can show that they are听consciously听monitoring听their听environmental outputs and putting plans in place to听improve their footprint.

Is there a policy in place?

A surprising number of businesses bidding for public contracts don’t have a formal environmental policy, even though an environmental policy is often a minimum requirement and a strong indicator of an environmentally conscious organisation.

A policy听doesn鈥檛听need to听be听lengthy or filled with technical jargon. Buyers听mainly want听evidence that environmental responsibility is built into how your business听operates.听

Your policy should clearly explain:听

• Your commitment to reducing environmental impact听听
• How you manage waste and recycling听听
• How you reduce energy use听听
• The听sustainability targets you are working towards听听
• Who听(in your team)听is responsible听for听these different elements. 听

Goals should remain realistic听

While it might be tempting to put down lofty goals that look impressive on paper,听public sector organisations want to see听action not just promises.听

It鈥檚听also important to avoid making vague claims such as 鈥榳e care about sustainability鈥�,听instead use听specifics.听

Examples of this could be:听

• Reducing energy consumption by a certain percentage听听
• Switching to renewable electricity suppliers听听
• Introducing hybrid or electric vehicles听听
• Reducing landfill waste听听
• Encouraging remote or lower-carbon working practices听听

You听don鈥檛听have to make a complete overhaul of your operations, two to three measurable environmental goals for the next year will be a great start.听

Small improvements can make a big difference

You鈥檇 be forgiven for thinking that听sustainability requires expensive investment, but some of the easiest, most impactful听wins can听also听be the most cost听effective.听

Simple听changes such as switching to LED lighting, improving听insulation听or installing timers/sensors can often听reduce operating costs as well as emissions.

Is your supply sustainable?听

Don鈥檛听be surprised if public sector buyers听ask not just about your sustainability听but听also your suppliers鈥�.听听

When looking at new suppliers, or renewing existing contracts, ensure听you鈥檙e听considering sustainability. Think 鈥榠s this company following environmental standards?鈥� 鈥楢re they reducing packaging waste?鈥� 鈥楧o they use sustainable materials?鈥� 鈥楢re there ethical sourcing policies in place?鈥�听

Being more mindful about your supply chain isn鈥檛 about replacing every supplier overnight, it鈥檚 more about showing awareness and asking better questions moving forward.

Is it time to train up your team?听

Green compliance听often comes down to听confidence.听Many businesses know sustainability听matters,听but听their teams are听unsure where to begin.听

Firstly, it鈥檚 important to听identify who is responsible for sustainability in your team;听that could be听the facilities team who听oversee听energy and waste,听the听finance听team who are responsible for procurement and supply chain contracts or听the听project managers听who lead on sustainability ventures.听

If there are gaps in their knowledge there will be missed opportunities to innovate.听听

麻豆社区 offers a听variety of听accredited听courses that can be undertaken by any employee, regardless of their role and sector. These courses help teams understand,听implement听and champion sustainable practices in the workplace.听听

麻豆社区 also offers the Energy and Carbon Management qualification, a more advanced course suitable for those in charge of environmental management听(such as your facilities or finance teams).听This is for those听looking to better implement efficiency strategies within their organisation.听听

You can find all of 麻豆社区鈥檚 course here.