The principles governing ethical procurement comprise HUS policies on the one hand and general requirements for public procurement on the other. It is outlined in the HUS procurement strategy that HUS can and desires to influence the product and service offering to achieve positive environmental impacts (Procurement strategy, HUS Executive Board, June 6, 2016). The HUS procurement guideline stresses that environmental impacts must be considered at the procurement planning stage. Procurement decisions influence how much energy and materials will be consumed over the life cycle of the products and services procured, and how large the volumes of greenhouse gas emissions and waste will be.
HUS is committed to a continuous reduction in environmental impacts (HUS environmental policy, HUS Executive Board, May 9, 2016). HUS aims to achieve smarter resourcing, less waste and less of a load on the climate (HUS environmental program 2016–2020).
The public sector has both the power and an obligation to use their procurement power in an ethical way. Total public sector procurement in Finland amounts to about EUR 30 billion per year and thus has a significant impact on the properties of products on the market. Ethical procurement allows us to reduce harmful environmental impacts and emissions and to promote the sustainable use of natural resources throughout the life cycle of any given procurement. Moreover, the decision-in-principle adopted by the Government of Finland on June 13, 2013 also requires both central and local government to favor energy-efficient and environmentally friendly (‘cleantech’) solutions.
Ethical procurement management
HUS Logistics procurements comply with HUS sustainability goals. Sustainability is considered in all normal procurement operations, from planning to post-evaluation. Procurement experts are responsible for incorporating sustainability aspects into procurement, and materials such as an ethical procurement manual and an ethical procurement guideline have been produced to help them. Training on this subject has also been provided. All new employees are given training on ethical procurement as part of their orientation. In the HUS Logistics procurement organization, ethical procurement is developed and steered by the Procurement Development Manager and the category managers.