GO! Checklist
Category 4: Sustainable Procurement
Sustainable procurement is a way of ensuring that the products and services we buy are as sustainable as possible. CUHK has adopted policies and guidelines to encourage offices to couple positive economic and social results with the lowest possible environmental impact, thereby maximizing net benefits for ourselves and the wider world.
Action
We use 100% recycled A3 and A4 white paper for in-house printing and photocopying.
Resources
[FNO] CUHK Centralised Tenders
Action
We ensure that our purchases (apart from A3 and A4 white paper) comply with the mandatory requirements stated in the Sustainable Procurement Guidelines.
Resources
Sustainable Procurement Guidelines (Annex B)
Action
We purchase or customise other paper products (e.g., name cards, envelopes, letterheads, publications and promotional materials) according to the following specifications:
- printed on 100% recycled paper (for all printed matter); and
- with inks containing soy oil or vegetable oils (for name card printing).
Resources
Sustainable Procurement Guidelines (Annex D)
Evidence
e.g., Specification of purchased items
Action
Before purchasing any new furniture or equipment, we first consider whether the requisite items are being offered by other offices, through postings in the ITSC’s Weekly Mass Mail.
Resources
Waste Management Guidelines (2.4 - Used Furniture and Equipment)
Evidence
e.g., Email correspondence of receiving furniture or equipment from other offices
Action
When we purchase other necessary supplies and services (apart from the mandatory items listed in the Sustainable Procurement Guidelines), we give due weight to the following principles, where applicable and practicable:
- Economic: Ensuring that local businesses, particularly small and medium sized enterprises, can benefit from our procurement;
- Environmental: Seeking to minimize any negative environmental impacts of all goods and services purchased, throughout their life cycle;
- Social: Managing and monitoring supply chains to ensure that fair contract prices and terms are applied and that ethical, human rights and employment standards are met.
Resources
- Sustainable Procurement Guidelines (Section 2 – General Principles)
- [FNO] CUHK Centralised Tenders
Evidence
e.g., Specification of purchased items
