PUBLIC PROCUREMENT NEWS

  

News

23 July 2015

Cape Town to look at how SPP can reduce costs and increase sustainability

The City of Cape Town will be undertaking a review of its spending to assess where the greatest environmental impact can be achieved, including the role that sustainable public procurement (SPP) can play. The review will form part of the city’s commitment to increasingly include green procurement criteria into its bid specifications and evaluation for key products and services to improve resource efficiency and environmental sustainability and to unlock the potential of the green economy.

Cape Town is taking an international leadership role in the field of green procurement having joined the Global Lead Cities Network on SPP, which was established during the ICLEI World Congress held in Seoul (Korea) in April 2015. “Given its significant purchasing power, the public sector has a key role to play in driving the market for environmentally sustainable products and, consequently, promoting more sustainable consumption and production for a better future,” said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Energy, Environmental and Spatial Planning, Councillor Johan van der Merwe.

“Green procurement means amending our procurement system with the intent to optimise the city’s resource efficiency and to promote environmental sustainability while using our public market power to bring about environmental and social benefits locally. It focuses on achieving value for money across the entire value chain and promotes growth in the green economy in Cape Town,” he added. As a result of the city’s green procurement efforts, a total saving of approximately R120 million is expected by 2018.

For more information, visit CapeTown.gov.za.