Projects

Sustainable Procurement Guidelines for UNEP

Sustainable procurement guidelines for IT equipment, Office Furniture, Stationery, and Cleaning Products and Services

2007 - 2009
In co-operation with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), ICLEI developed guidance for sustainable procurement by the United Nations. The guidance is specifically for office IT equipment, office furniture, office stationery (paper, paper consumables, writing implements, and toner cartridges) for 6 UN regional offices - Europe, Latin America, North America, East Africa, Middle East and Asia-Pacific.
The assessment of sustainable procurement policies and practices within the United Nations system carried out in 2006 by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) for the Environmental Management Group (EMG) highlighted the need for clear guidelines and other tools, by product category, to identify more sustainable options. In co-operation with UNEP, ICLEI has developed guidelines for office IT equipment (covering computers, monitors and imaging devices), office furniture, office stationery (paper, paper consumables, writing implements, and toner cartridges) to assist UN procurers to make their purchasing more sustainable. The guidelines include technical specifications (sustainability criteria), and provide background information justifying the choice of sustainability criteria. The sustainabilty criteria are available in the form of easy-to-use Product Sheets and Check-lists.