2011 Annual Statistical Report on United Nations ... - UNOPS

Figure 13
Sustainability reporting among UN agencies for <strong>2011</strong>
40%
60%
Agencies reporting on
sustainability
Agencies not reporting on
sustainability
From vision to implementation: description of measures by agency
Some of the major advances in practice and measurement of sustainable procurement initiatives reported by United Nations
agencies include;
• United Nations Volunteers (UNV) and the International Trade Centre (ITC) reported the implementation of a sustainable
procurement policy (SPP), and the World Trade Organization (WTO), the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) and UNOPS
have indicated plans to adopt a SPP in 2012, complemented by the adoption of a global sustainable procurement
programme.
• The Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) and UNV apply, where appropriate, environmental criteria for in the
evaluation of certain tenders (cleaning contract, furniture, construction, stationary, paper and IT). UNV has also applied
its sustainable procurement policy to cases where environment and social issues are prevalent, such as printing, travel and
contracts.
• ITC estimates that about 26 percent of its suppliers have a written statement of their environmental policy, and 100 percent
of procurement and resources consumption for administrative needs are recycled, eco-labelled or based on the Sustainable
Procurement Guidelines.
• UNICEF reported that 47 percent of its orders are placed with suppliers holding an ISO 14001 certification (or equivalent),
while 43 percent are placed with suppliers holding the SA 8000 certification (or equivalent), a global social accountability
standard for decent working conditions.
• Recycling initiatives and waste management programmes have been initiated in UNOPS offices, encouraging personnel to
reduce paper, water and electricity consumption. The UNOPS sustainability team in cooperation with UNDP, UNFPA and
WFP have developed initiatives for the Common Facilities to raise awareness on sustainability by implementing recycling
measures and by proposing suggestions to the management to move toward improved environmental performance.
• The UN World Trade Organization (WTO) has implemented “green office” initiatives to raise awareness of actions staff
should undertake towards neutralizing the organization’s carbon footprint. This includes for instance the circulation by
the Management team of an internal note with recommendations and measures to follow, as well as the organization of
debates on environmental issues during the management and Staff Association meetings. A “Climate-neutral” focal points
has also been designated, and measures regarding paper recycling and reduction have been reinforced, as no printed
documents are sent in the context of WTO statutory meetings.
13 | <strong>2011</strong> <strong>Annual</strong> <strong>Statistical</strong> <strong>Report</strong> on United Nations Procurement