Principles for procuring sustainably
Value for money is the core principle underpinning Australian Government procurement. This means that all relevant financial and non-financial costs and benefits should be taken into account over the entire life of the procurement. Sustainability should be considered as part of the value for money assessment.
Other principles of sustainable procurement include:
• adopting strategies to avoid unnecessary consumption and manage demand
• minimising environmental impacts over the life of the goods and services by choosing products or services that have lower adverse impacts associated with any stage in their production, use or disposal
• fostering innovation in sustainable products and services through the design and implementation of procurements
• ensuring that fair and ethical sourcing practices are applied and that suppliers are complying with socially responsible practices, including legislative obligations to employees.