Countryside Properties PLC (the Group) strives to be a market leader in property development, the creation of sustainable communities and urban regeneration. The Group is committed to operating sustainability throughout its business activities through the creation of sustainable communities and through urban and rural regeneration.
We recognise that the products and services we procure, whilst fundamental to the operation of our business, have wide environmental and social impacts. We are committed to ensuring that any impacts are minimised through our procurement strategies procedures and, wherever possible and within budgetary limitations, we will select environmentally and socially preferable products and suppliers, for the construction of our new dwellings and non-dwellings. Our policy objectives are to:
Ensure compliance with legislation and the Group’s procedures
- Ensure suppliers comply with all relevant legislation;
- Products and materials should be procured in line with the Group Buying Term Agreements, wherever possible;
- Confirm that suppliers comply with our ISO9001 quality standard by supplying products which are fit for purpose, meet the relevant industry standards, are delivered on time and are provided at a competitive price;
- Ensure suppliers also comply with our ISO14001 and OHSAS 18001 systems.
Use the Code for Sustainable Homes (the Code)/BREEAM as a framework for sustainable procurement
- Preferentially select materials rated within the Green Guide for specification;
- Ensure all timber originates from legal sources and is not included within the CITES list. A preference will be given to products with full Chain of Custody, e.g. accredited by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) or any other certification scheme specified within Tier Level 1 of the Code for Sustainable Homes;
- Ensure wherever possible that all other building materials are responsibly sourced/have a certified EMS for the key process and/or supply chain;
- Adopt a preference for recycled or reused materials;
- Select appliances and fittings that have lower environmental impacts, e.g. energy efficient white goods and lighting, low water use fittings, low-emission boilers, low to zero carbon technologies and any other similar aspects required by the Code;
- Avoid the use of products with high Global Warming or Ozone Depleting Potential;
- Continue to investigate alternative materials that have a lower environmental impact when developing material specifications.
Review suppliers and continue to work with them to improve performance
- Use a checklist to screen new suppliers based on sustainable procurement selection criteria;
- Use local suppliers wherever possible to minimise the environmental impact associated with transportation and contribute to the local economy;
- Ensure all suppliers and manufacturers comply with Health and Safety legislation, and have a Health and Safety Policy in place;
- Preferentially select suppliers which operate an Environmental / Sustainability policy and certified Quality and Environmental Management Systems (e.g. ISO’s 9001 & 14001);
- Proactively develop relationships with our suppliers to ensure that any adverse impacts are minimised;
- Promote improvements in products, such as the reduction of packaging, through ongoing liaison with suppliers and manufacturers;
- Evaluate procurement of materials to ensure that over-ordering and wastage is reduced.
Promote ethical sourcing
- Undertake ongoing investigation into manufacturers and their supply chains to ensure that products and materials are ethically sourced;
- Do not knowingly purchase any products which have used child labour in any stage of the supply chain;
- Where products are being sourced from developing countries, we expect suppliers to demonstrate that they are meeting labour standards in line with UN standards, through the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Although our most significant procurement impacts occur as a result of our developments, we acknowledge that impacts could occur from our other business activities. We will also employ the above environmentally and socially responsible procurement strategy whilst purchasing other goods such as company vehicles, stationery and IT equipment.
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Information correct as at 23/04/2010