Opinion: Driving sustainable change in the public sector
Declan Boyce, Enterprise Account Director at Cinos explores the growing emphasis on sustainable practices and the ways in which resellers can align their operations with the sustainability goals of the public sector.
As the UK government strives to meet ambitious environmental targets, including net-zero emissions by 2050, sustainability and the environment are now at the forefront of every aspect of key decision-making. It’s become a guiding force for organisations striving to be more efficient and responsible, not just to meet targets but to future-proof our society and the environment.
Photo by Brooke Lark
Within the public sector, the time for discussing how to be environmentally sustainable has passed. Government departments are now required to update their procurement practices and supplier engagement strategies to align with sustainability initiatives. Technology suppliers play an essential role in this transformation, helping to achieve ambitious sustainability goals and facilitate the transition towards digital operations.
Sustainability is not limited to products and services
In reality, what organisations sell and what organisations do must be aligned. Those organisations who advertise products that support sustainability but don’t have a strategy for reducing other key areas such as their carbon footprint must be aware that they’re only tackling half the issue.
From a product standpoint, significant strides have been made in recent years toward developing solutions with sustainability in mind. For instance, resource monitoring platforms empower organisations to oversee and manage their office technology centrally, yielding numerous sustainability advantages. These platforms facilitate remote troubleshooting of technology issues and reduce the need for onsite engineer visits. Moreover, they enable organisations to regulate systems like heating, ventilation and air conditioning by adjusting room temperatures based on occupancy and intelligently powering down meeting room technology during periods of inactivity.
But sustainability is more than just the eco-friendliness of products. It covers the entire lifecycle of goods and services, including the practices of the reseller and the broader supply chain. In line with Defra’s sustainability objectives, which advocate for procurement solely from ‘suppliers who have committed to or are in the process of setting science-based targets that match departmental sustainability outcomes’, resellers must show a comprehensive commitment to sustainability across their operations. This holistic approach is essential to meet the evolving expectations of public sector buyers.
A defined sustainability agenda
The public sector expects IT suppliers to support its sustainability goals and follow its standards. To help guide IT suppliers towards becoming more sustainable and meet the sustainable standards of government contracts; the Greening government policy paper sets out the business rules that suppliers should follow. It requires IT suppliers to have science-based net-zero targets, carbon mitigation and adaptation strategies, and circular IT policies and strategies. IT suppliers must also design products for durability, ease of maintenance and recycling.
The public sector’s commitment to sustainability is clear. It is therefore crucial that suppliers continuously review and adapt processes to ensure they meet carbon reduction targets. As mentioned previously, this extends beyond the capabilities of solutions and services. Instead, there must be an unwavering commitment to sustainability throughout the entire business; embedding sustainable practices at every operational level and ensuring they are integrated into the wider supply chain.
There is a huge opportunity for the IT channel to be the frontrunners in sustainable engagement but there must be a mindset shift – in both those who make key decisions within bids and those bidding. Ultimately, monetary savings cannot be sought at the expense of long-term environmental sustainability.
The focus on public sector sustainability is here to stay
Undoubtedly sustainability will continue to be a key component of the public sector’s agenda. This shift in focus is reflective of the challenge on a global scale and for the UK to meet its sustainability targets, the public sector must lead the way. Chris Howes, Chief Digital Information Officer, Defra stated: ‘ICT and digital services are increasingly held up as a key component of any solution to the global climate crisis and associated targets and goals.’
The enduring focus on sustainability is here to stay. This means the time to be taking continuous action and being visibly conscious of maintaining and improving sustainability, is now. As we continue to refine our ability to collect and analyse data, sustainable initiatives and practices will seamlessly integrate into the core operations of public sector entities and permeate throughout the broader supply chain. It is therefore crucial that resellers, along with the entire supply chain, demonstrate an unwavering commitment to sustainability, from product development right through to procurement practices and technology utilisation.
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