News item | 11-29-2022 | 08:43
At the end of last week, administrators from all kinds of governments signed the Manifesto for Socially Responsible Commissioning and Procurement (CSR) 2022-2025. Minister Schreinemacher has already signed the document before. It has been agreed with the manifesto that governments at all levels will contribute to the major challenges of our time through commissioning and purchasing and that they will make sustainable choices when purchasing products and services. It focuses, among other things, on the environment, climate, circular economy and international social conditions (chain responsibility). MVOI is part of the sustainability program of BZ Mission Sustainable. BZ has already drawn up an action plan for CSR.
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It BZ’s Socially Responsible Procurement and Procurement (CSR) action plan forms the strategic basis for our sustainable sourcing ambitions worldwide. We explain how our procurement (amounting to approximately €230 million annually) contributes to the responsibility and tasks of 150 embassies, consulates-general, other posts and directorates: stimulating global prosperity, security, a fair and sustainable world and supporting Dutch people abroad.
‘Sustainability is part of our foreign and BHOS policy’, says Deputy Secretary-General Carola van Rijnsoever. BZ is committed internationally to a sustainable and safe world.’ This also happened, for example, during the recent climate conference in Sharm El-Sheikh (COP27).
‘As an organisation, we also want to show how we ourselves work worldwide on sustainability by, for example, saving energy, organizing sustainable events, waste management, supply chain responsibility and conducting research into how we can travel more sustainably.’
Joint effort
Scot Cowan (coordinating director of Purchasing): ‘The CSR action plan is a joint effort by buyers and clients to make a noticeable difference in sustainable business operations. It therefore affects all colleagues, after all, every post and management makes purchases. Consider, for example, hiring cleaning, security, energy, but also events, office supplies and furniture. Everyone within BZ comes into contact with making business operations more sustainable and can therefore also make a contribution.’
‘Initiatives, knowledge and experience that missions and boards of directors gain from sustainable procurement are standardized and shared with colleagues so that they can also benefit from them,’ says Scot. ‘As a ministry, we exchange our experiences with other signatories of the manifesto. We also report our figures annually, demonstrating the added value of MVOI.’
Impact CSR
BZ has an exemplary role in the field of sustainability and applies CSR in contracts that are awarded via a European tender. But BZ also wants to ensure that attention is paid to CSR in smaller assignments. Because we realize that we can also make an impact with these assignments.
We want to propagate internationally that companies that do business with the Dutch government must pay attention to people and the environment. In this way we ultimately stimulate the most sustainable and social possible supply from the international market. By including the themes from CSR, we also contribute to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.
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Mission Sustainable: ‘We walk our talk’
Converting sustainable policy into sustainable action in our own organization: that is BZ’s Mission Sustainable. In short: Walk our talk! We want to set a good example to other governments, companies and organizations at home and abroad by making an impact with our international business operations. Signing this manifesto also contributes to this.
It concerns impact in three areas: climate change, circular economy and human rights. And for local sustainability opportunities at posts, we are happy to think along with you about tailor-made solutions. In this way, we are moving towards a more sustainable BZ together.
Sustainable initiatives
Various colleagues from all over the world have already initiated great initiatives in the field of sustainability in recent years. Examples include the recent Zero Emission Service Vehicle policy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the organization of sustainable events, the sustainable construction of the residence and embassy in Canberra, a roof full of solar panels in Bangkok and the sustainable renovation of the consulate general in Milan. All these projects come together under the banner of Mission Sustainable.
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International Social Conditions
International Social Conditions (ISV) is an integral part of the National Socially Responsible Procurement Plan (MVI) 2021 – 2025, and of the MVOI Manifesto (2022-2025). To further improve the application of these conditions, the Ministries of the Interior, Foreign Affairs and Social Affairs and Employment recently drew up the ISV implementation agenda and sent it to the House of Representatives. This describes 19 actions that will be implemented to improve the application of the ISV in government procurement.
Hannah Tijmes (deputy director of International Market Regulation and Trade Policy): ‘By applying ISV in tenders, the national government can use its market position to contribute to eliminating abuses in the field of human rights and the environment in the procurement chain and international corporate social responsibility to improve.’
At ISV, suppliers are expected to analyze whether there are risks of violations of labor standards, human rights and the environment in their production chain. If there are, the supplier must make efforts to prevent or mitigate these risks and take action to address violations.
Hannah: ‘The application of ISV, or due diligence, in government procurement is therefore part of the broader government policy on ICSR.’