ARCHIVED - National Research Council Canada

Has the department incorporated environmental performance considerations in its procurement decision-making processes?

In progress

Summary of initiatives to incorporate environmental performance considerations in procurement decision-making processes:

Green Procurement and environmental performance considerations are evolving and being implemented at NRC. Green procurement has been discussed and reviewed with procurement officers. Green procurement reporting has been developed and implemented in NRC's SAP business system. Procurement officers have access to and use PWGSC-established Green Standing Offers for various commodities.

In addition, in 2008/09 NRC made major capital environmental investments in its facilites, has conducted environmental reviews of facilities and lands, completed storage tank replacements, implemented environmental action in its reprographic operations, addressed cleaning contract products, and fluorescent tube recycling.

Results achieved:

1. NRC has made major capitalization investment in our facilities across Canada, including $2.6 million on building envelope improvement, and $0.6 million on upgrading control systems and $0.7 million on upgrading building chiller systems. These have improved energy efficiency in our facilities, thereby reducing green house gas and ozone depleting substances and emissions;
2. NRC is conducting environmental operational reviews and site assessments at all major facilities and land uses to ensure compliance with envirnmental regulations and to identify potential environmental liabilities;
3. NRC completed the final phase of replacing underground storage tank systems. NRC has completed a compliance audit of all federal regulated tank systems to ensure compliance with the new regulations;
4. NRC's reprographic operations has initiated use of vegetable based inks, used paper with post and pre consumer waste where possible, initiated a recycling program for metal plates, initiated a chemical recycling unit on the plate processor, and has installed a silver recovery and pH neutralizer system on the plate processor;
5. NRC has initiated cleaning contracts that require environmentally friendly products;
6. NRC has streamlined the Fluorescent Tube Recycling Program in the NCR;
7. Converted printed engineering drawings for the government tendering process to electronic format;
8. Vehicle replacements and purchases were made earlier in the fiscal year to ensure vehicle availablity that meets the intended use, has acceptable service costs and fuel efficiency.

Contributions to facilitate government-wide implementation of green procurement:

NRC's procurement management has participated in meetings at PWGSC's Client Advisory Board and with the OGGO to stay abreast of developments in green procurement and to develop improved green procurement plans and reporting. At a recent national materiel management (MM) meeting of procurement and MM staff, a green procurement session was facilitated with the aim of developing a comprehensive program including training, reporting and enhanced environmental considerations in the 4 phases of life cycle management of materials.

Has the department established green procurement targets?

In progress

For 2008/09, NRC reported that this was "In progress". Specific targets were not established but various initiatives had been planned, some of which were identified in the Results Achieved section above.

Are these green procurement targets the same as those identified in your Sustainable Development Strategy?

Not applicable

Summary of green procurement targets:

Not applicable, as NRC reported these as being "In progress"

Results achieved:

Not applicable