Procurement work is much more than just securing the right products, in the right quantity and quality at the right place... Let's think wider, more holistically, writes Robert Freeman, a procurement and supply chain expert at Future Procurement, a procurement coaching and consultancy organisation.
Green Procurement
Love procurement - because it can impact society and the environment |
Factoring political dimensions into municipal procurement
Although the importance of council supervision in the municipal procurement process is clear, difficulties arise when the political side of council thinking begins to cloud the discharge of its fiduciary responsibility. Stephen Bauld explores the political dimension that procurement must appreciate, in this month's SmartProcurement. |
G20 Summit: supply chains disrupted for clear blue skies
 In preparation for the upcoming G20 summit in China this September, the Shanghai Environmental Protection Bureau (SEPB) issued an order for an estimated 1 000 factories within a 300-km radius of Shanghai to cut down production.This measure was enacted to reduce pollution before world leaders arrive for the event. So how will this affect global supply chains? This year, China hosts its first-ever G20 summit in Hangzhou, a city situated 240 kilometres south-west of Shanghai, where significant industrial, construction and residential emissions affect the air quality of its neighbouring cities. |
In 5 Days 2000 Procurement Professionals will meet to network, learn and do business!
 With only a few days to go, 3000 attendees have confirmed – Smart Procurement World, Africa’s largest supply chain indaba, kicks off on Tuesday, 9 September.
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When talking about procurement projects for a municipality it is safe to say you must factor in the political dimension. Reducing supply chain costs through the circular economy
 Today, the linear ‘take, make, dispose’ economy that relies heavily on cheap resources for growth, is under threat from increasing commodity prices and growing consumer demand. The ‘circular economy’ offers a viable alternative, with cost savings estimated at over $1-trillion per annum by 2025. The supply chain has a key role to play in driving the transition to a circular economy, Tech-Pro tells SmartProcurement.¹
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Why 'green building' is vital to your supply chain
 As the world embraces ‘green’ initiatives, products and services, South Africa is implementing renewable energy, green building practises and environmental regulation to lessen the impact on our environment and precious resources. This opens doors for suppliers to turn their operations “green” and provide services that comply with current standards and that enhance corporate responsibility, says Shawn Theunissen, head of CSR at Growthpoint Properties and Property Point (Growthpoint Properties’ enterprise development programme) in this month’s SmartProcurement.
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Enough innovation in South African Supply Chains?
 Today, a high-performance supply chain is a strategic asset, the complexity of which is increased by numerous factors, making constant innovation a necessity, Tech-Pro Personnel tells SmartProcurement.
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Electronic waste - making green from going green
 By ignoring reverse logistics – the returns and proper disposal of obsolete products – organisations are not only indirectly damaging the environment, but their corporate reputations. Furthermore, most South African companies fail to take advantage of the potential that exists to make millions of Rands from recycling electronic waste (defined as anything that runs on electricity).
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Going green in the SA supply chain
 “Without action, the overall costs of climate change will be equivalent to losing at least 5% of global GDP each year, now and forever…the benefits of strong, early action far outweigh the costs of not acting,” warned British economist Lord Stern of the effects of climate change on the world economy in the 2006 Stern Review on the Economics of Climate Change.
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Obama can with the power of procurement. What about you? In his second inaugural address US President Barak Obama promised to take action on climate change in 2013. How can he do it? Well, one critical step identified for him would be to use the procurement process for the federal government to procure green technologies.
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Procurement planning for 2013: what will set the agenda for next year? One of the key talking points in the procurement industry right now is sustainability and “green” sourcing. Companies are now being held accountable for the actions of their suppliers and there are no longer excuses for irresponsible behaviour within supply chains.
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Sustainable Procurement matters Sustainable Procurement recently moved into the blogosphere following publication of the 5th edition of an HEC-Paris/EcoVadis report, ‘Sustainable Procurement: Back to Management!’ For a view on the survey’s findings of European procurement realities within 2011, SmartProcurement spoke to Abrie de Swardt, IMPERIAL Logistics Marketing Director.
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Logistics - lean, green supply chains As South Africa focuses more intently on issues of sustainability, supply chains hold substantial potential to contribute to the country achieving ‘Vision 2025’, which aims to improve SA’s energy mix by having 30% of clean energy by 2025. One global logistics organisation that is successfully integrating sustainability practices throughout the supply chain is IMPERIAL Logistics, Abrie de Swardt, Logistics Marketing Director, tells SmartProcurement.
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Government's Green Paper - data management implications The Department of Environmental Affairs has released the much anticipated and long delayed National Climate Change Response Green Paper (the Green Paper). Global Carbon Exchange’s Kevin James provides SmartProcurement with the points pertinent to you and your business.
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'Greening' the Supply Chain Just as procurement officers across South Africa are starting to get to grips with BEE with its scorecards, criteria and nuances, along comes GEE (the green version). Much like in BEE, where companies are starting to be measured on the basis of whom they do business with, the green version is starting to develop in a similar format, Kevin James, CEO of Global Carbon Exchange, tells SmartProcurement.
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Carbon emissions tax - another TCO cost element Purchasing or Fleet Managers should not over-react to the carbon emissions tax on new vehicles, but should rather look at the tax’s impact on vehicle total cost of ownership (TCO), Ashleigh Young, Chief Executive of the TransAuto Group, tells SmartProcurement.
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