43
As a preliminary step in selecting the national sponsors for the
Beijing 2008 Olympics,
the potential sponsors were requested to present their environmental qualifications; 51 of the 54 sponsors for the Beijing Olympics are environmentally certified. Sponsors are also requested to ensure that their material procurement, manufacturing, and business activities comply with the relevant national or industrial environmental standards.
Beijing 2008 Olympics: Environmental Protection, Innovation and Improvement
5. Sustainable sponsorship25 q Environmental principles: Include environmental principles into the criteria for selection of sponsors and in corresponding contracts. q Sponsors buy-in and commitment: Sponsors must commit to maintaining a good environmental public image and to supplying environmentally friendly products for the games. Work with sponsors in the creation and realization of the environmental concept. q Appropriate goods: Ensure that goods and services provided through sponsorship deals are also subject to environmental specifications. This may require selection of sponsorship opportunities based on what is best for the environment or negotiations with key sponsors to encourage them to deliver green or greener products and services.
6. Promoting transparency in procurement decision-making26 To ensure transparency all staff performing procurement duties should: q Perform the task honestly and without favour or prejudice; q Spend project money efficiently and effectively and in accordance with the law and project policy; q Deal fairly, impartially and consistently with suppliers; q Keep confidential all sensitive information obtained as part of the procurement activity; q Not have an actual conflict of interest in relation to the procurement activity; q Not seek or accept any remuneration, gift, advantage or other benefit except as maybe allowed in the normal course of their duties.
25 FIFA 2006, Green Goal Legacy Report; London 2012 Olympics Sustainability Strategy; Beijing 2008 Olympics - Environmental Protection, innovation and improvement 26 “Making government procurement transparent”: www.mier.org.my/mierscan/archives/pdf/nambiar28_2_2005.pdf
Crafts using recycled materials
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Green procurement criteria for products
Green products are produced in a way that consumes fewer natural resources, involves less energy and water and minimises hazardous and other waste. They may require less energy to operate, contain fewer toxic or hazardous substances, or be recyclable. They generally offer long-term cost savings through efficient use of energy, longer lifespan and the production of less toxic waste that is expensive to transport, dispose of and obtain permits for. When assessing how green a product is, consider all aspects of the product’s life cycle, including the acquisition of materials, manufacturing, distribution, use, maintenance and disposal. Also calculate the total annual cost of the product across its lifetime to identify value for money. Green Procurement Criteria for Products The following question should be asked when assessing products:
Certification: q Has the product been certified by a credible institution? Does the national government in the host region or an internationally recognised specialist in the field support the certification? If not, what are the requirements for certification? Why has the product not been certified? Acquisition of materials: q Were natural resources used in the product harvested in a sustainable manner? q Were other materials used produced in an environmentally responsible manner? q Were materials purchased from small, medium or micro enterprises? . Manufacturing: q Were products from threatened plants or animals, or resources from threatened environments used to manufacture the product? q Were recycled materials used to manufacture the product? q Were production methods, energy, water and resource efficient? . q Were production methods designed
to minimise waste and pollution? . q Was the use of toxic and hazardous materials minimised? q Was hazardous waste disposed of safely? q Were the staff informed about environmental practices in place? q Do manufactures comply with human health standards and pro-active employment equity? Distribution: q Is packaging minimised? q Can packaging be reused or locally recycled by the end user? q Do manufacturers accept packaging for reuse or recycling? q Is packaging made of recycled materials? q Is the transport strategy designed to minimise waste and pollution and use energy efficiently? q Are transport suppliers small, medium, or micro enterprises? Use and Maintenance: q Does the product have a long lifespan? q Are clear operating and maintenance instructions available?
Can the product be easily and costeffectively maintained and repaired? q Can the product be upgraded easily? q Is the product designed to use resources efficiently? q Is the product designed to minimise waste? q Is the product less polluting than its competitors? q What is the payback period of the product?
q
Disposal: q Is the product or its parts reusable? Can it/they be sold? q Is the product recyclable or biodegradable? Is it recyclable locally? q Can the product be returned to the manufacturer for reuse or recycling? q Does the product contain any banned or restricted substances? q Does the product contain hazardous materials requiring special disposal? q Do disposal methods include small, medium or micro enterprises?
Source: Canadian Department of Environment. 1995.
45 Table 3.4.1. Sample Sustainable Procurement Monitoring and Evaluation Indicators
OBJECTIVE
MONITORING In order to monitor and evaluate the level of success achieved in relation to each objective, a set of indicators is required. Each objective may have several indicators. Indicators should include measurable timeframes and be accompanied by targets and local standards where possible. Possible examples are outlined in the following Table: Strategy and labelling
INDICATOR
Eco procurement guidelines included into the overall procurement guideline documents for the event Select environmentally labelled or certified goods and services
TARGET RESULT
YES YES
COMMENT RE SUCCESS
This was a contractual obligation for the event organisers Certified products not always available in SA Local products not always available SMME’s not always able to provide required products Regulations were introduced to make this a requirement There was a demand for certain items not available locally. International requirements not always able to be met locally
50%
20%
Promote Local Economic Development (LED)
Give preference to local products and services Ensure that small, medium and micro enterprises (SMME’s) are supported Ensure that food packaging is avoided or reduced and consider the use of PLA instead of other petroleum based plastic products Ensure that food is locally produced, seasonal and healthy
80%
75%
60%
50%
Reduce the negative impact of catering at events
80%
80%
60%
55%
Reduce the negative impact of clothes, gear and other merchandise Sustainable sponsorship
Ensure that sports gear, clothes and other merchandise is locally manufactured
60%
55%
Ensure that sponsors comply with sustainability criteria
80%
45%
A new concept, and high level buy in is still needed
greening strategies: sustainable procurement
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Lessons Learnt At the Sydney Olympics a number of choices were identified: q defining specific green measures and obtaining alternative prices for them; or q setting minimum performance standards and allowing the competing suppliers to propose ways of achieving these; or q requesting each potential supplier to propose their own goals. Generally the third approach was taken. However, while this was probably the most practical method at the time, there is a risk that no tenderer will reach an appropriate standard. The second approach would allow greater achievement of best practice and would work particularly well with frequently repeated building types. In Sydney environmental guidelines were applied to all major projects and elicited serious responses from tenderers,
q
particularly since there was no transparency on how much weighting would be given to environmental features. q It is important that tenderers provide concrete evidence of Environmental Management Plans so as to ensure they are in a position to implement their undertakings. This requires a commitment to involve environmental consultants throughout the design and development process.
47
3.5 Biodiversity
OVERVIEW Biodiversity is variously defined from a simple “life on earth” to the more comprehensive “the variety of life on Earth at all its levels, from genes to ecosystems, and the ecological and evolutionary processes that sustain it”. Whatever the definition, our lives are dependent on it. Biodiversity is essential for ensuring ongoing provision of ecosystem services such as the production of clean water, prevention of erosion, carbon storage (to counteract global warming), and clean air. The resources provided by our biodiversity support the economy and economic development, are the basis of many livelihoods, and are the source of raw materials and medicines. Our well-being is also dependent on healthy ecosystems for meeting our recreation, cultural and spiritual needs. Biodiversity
will also be vital to our ability to adapt to climate change, as diverse ecosystems are more resilient to change. Biodiversity is often referred to as ‘insurance for life itself’. Despite the fact that people’s wellbeing relies on it, the loss of biodiversity due to human activities has been more rapid in the past 50 years than at any other time in human history. Over the past few hundred years, species extinction rates have increased by as much as 1,000 times above background rates that were typical over Earth’s history.27 At least 60% of the ecosystem services that have been measured are declining rapidly worldwide, because of the ongoing conversion and fragmentation of natural habitat, climate change, invasions by alien species, pollution of air, water and land, and other direct and indirect drivers of environmental change28.
Biodiversity in South Africa South Africa is one of the world’s most biologically diverse countries and contains three globally recognised biodiversity hotspots; the Cape Floristic Region, the Succulent Karoo, and Maputaland-Pondoland - an area shared with Mozambique and Swaziland. In keeping with international commitments to conserve this biodiversity, South Africa has put national legislation in place, and a National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP) have been developed. At the WSSD, 2002 in Johannesburg a further commitment was made to achieving a significant reduction in the current rate of loss of biological diversity by 2010. However, biodiversity loss continues to increase and recent studies have shown that 34% of our terrestrial ecosystems are threatened29. Loss of bio-diversity undermines our economy, livelihoods, health and quality of life,
Drakensberg
greening strategies: biodiversity
48
and reduces options for future generations. The destruction of natural habitats to provide land for other uses is one of the most significant causes of biodiversity loss in South Africa30. At the same time, South Africa’s biodiversity provides an important basis for economic activity and development. The tourism industry, including naturebased tourism and sporting events, other industries such as fishing, horticultural and agricultural industries based on indigenous species, aspects of our film industry, and medicinal applications of indigenous resources, are all dependent on these resources. Achieving our national Sustainable Development goals, poverty reduction and enhanced human well-being, are also dependent on how effectively we conserve biodiversity. Biodiversity plans that identify significant or sensitive ecosystems or habitats, critical ecological processes, and priority areas
for conservation have also been developed at both provincial and local levels. Cape Town, for example, has a welldeveloped municipal Biodiversity Strategy with a network of core conservation sites under management. Many other provinces also have biodiversity plans that act as key informants in spatial development plans and frameworks, and will inform future bioregional plans e.g. Mpumalanga, KwaZulu Natal.
Key Biodiversity Conventions/ Legislation/ Policies in South Africa:
• • • • • • Convention on Biological Diversity Ramsar Convention National Environmental Management Act, (Act 107 of 1998) The National Environmental Management: Air Quality Act (Act 39 of 2004) National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act, (Act 10 of 2004) National Environmental Management: Protected Areas Act, (Act 57 of 2003) National Environmental Management: Integrated Coastal Management bill Marine Living Resources Act, (Act 18 of 1998) National Water Act, (Act 36 of 1998) Conservation of Agricultural Resources Act (Act 43 of 1983) National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan, 2005 Local Authority strategies e.g. Cape Town’s IMEP (Integrated Metropolitan Environmental Policy) including the Biodiversity Strategy
27Millenium Ecosystem Assessment, 2005 28 Millenium Ecosystem Assessment, 2005 29 National Spatial Biodiversity Assessment, 2004 30 DEAT Environmental Outlook, 2007
• • • • • •