Clean Air Partnership conducted a study on sustainable procurement practices implemented by municipalities in North America to support municipalities in understanding the current landscape of green procurement, including best practices and implementation challenges. Sustainable procurement practices encompass all elements of sustainability and have the potential to positively influence every municipality's efforts to combat climate change impacts.
As an outcome of the project, a report and a green procurement practices database were developed.
Municipal Green Procurement Practices Database is meant to function as a living document that summarizes the existing green procurement policies and practices being implemented both within and beyond the CAC. Each database entry is categorized by country, municipality, population size, and type of green procurement so that users can sort and filter to show the policies and practices most applicable to their goals and resources. Additionally, each entry includes whether the municipality is a CAC member or not, the source, and the year the information was most recently updated.
Procuring Sustainability: A Close Look at Green Practices in Municipal Procurement Report categorizes various green procurement practices that promote environmental sustainability, including Green Cleaning Supplies, Green Office Supplies, Green Reporting, Life-Cycle Analysis, Local Procurement, Recycled Materials, Responsible Supply Chain, Staff Education, Supplier Awareness and Accountability, Third-Party Certification, Third-Party Programs, Waste Reduction, and other unique practices. These practices aim to increase transparency and promote replicability and scale into other municipalities, encouraging the adoption of best practices that can lead to a more sustainable future, reduce municipal carbon footprints, and positively impact both the environment and the community.