SPP IN SEPA

The Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA) is a public body of the Scottish Government, whose role it is to make sure that the environment and human health are protected, to ensure that Scotland’s natural resources and services are used as sustainably as possible and contribute to sustainable economic growth.

SEPA 1300 employees are based across Scotland, from where they regulate and advise on a wide range of environmental activities. Part of its tasks is to assess the quality of the environment by monitoring air, land and water. SEPA uses their findings to advise government, industry and the public on environmental best practice.

As an organisation with a strong environmental mission, SEPA wants to promote sustainability through its own activities, which is why it puts an emphasis on effective sustainable public procurement.

SEPA has set an ambitious target to be a “Regenerative Organisation” by 2030. This means going beyond net zero greenhouse gas emissions, waste, materials and water.

SPP HIGHLIGHTS

• New Sustainable Procurement approach to launch in 2020
• Prioritisation undertaken to focus SPP efforts
• Working towards a fully electric vehicle fleet by 2022/23
• Working towards net zero Scope 1 and 2 Greenhouse Gas Emissions by 2025
• Working towards net zero supply chain Greenhouse Gas Emissions by 2030
• Innovation procurement undertaken to improve the waste industry
• Invested in renewable energy
• 42% CO2 emission reduction since 2006

CONTACT

SPP IN ACTION

POLICY AND STRATEGY

SEPA's goal is to protect and improve the environment, in ways that, as far as possible also help create health and wellbeing benefits and sustainable economic growth. SEPA’s procurement strategy is geared towards supporting this goal and underpins the delivery of SEPA’s key strategies.

Therefore, SEPA’s procurement activities are undertaken following the organisational characteristics:

• Procurement decisions are based on evidence, promote the delivery of value for money and improve SEPA’s environmental impact
• Procurement options include innovative and collaborative ways of working wherever possible
• SEPA undertakes its procurement activities in ways that make them accessible for SMEs and local business, to promote economic sustainability

The Scottish Government has announced the objective of mobilising the £11bn of public sector procurement spend to support tackling the climate emergency. SEPA represent non-departmental public bodies on the Scottish Government Procurement and Climate Change Forum.

SEPA is also looking to build capacity internally to implement SPP more broadly.

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