A collaboration between
Sweden's regions
Since 2010, Sweden's regions have collaborated in a national effort with sustainable procurement. The regions have a common code of conduct for suppliers that covers the areas of human rights, workers' rights, the environment and business ethics. The work with sustainable procurement aims to identify and minimize risks for people and the environment during the entire life cycle of the product or service.
WHAT?
The procurement work in Sweden's regions aims to secure access to the products and services required to carry out essential societal functions such as healthcare and public transportation. The procurement work also aims to deliver the best value for citizens. Value encompasses not only economic value but also promoting sustainable development. Therefore, the procurement departments in Sweden's regions work to ensure that the products and services purchased are produced under sustainable and responsible conditions. The negative impact on people and the environment throughout the entire life cycle of the product or service should be minimized. Sweden's regions have a common code of conduct for suppliers that is decided at the political level and covers areas such as human rights, workers' rights, the environment (including climate), and business ethics.
Procurement is a crucial tool for achieving socio-political objectives. Swedish public procurement generates over 800 billion SEK annually, and through the regions' collaboration on sustainable procurement, there are significant opportunities to accelerate the transition to a more sustainable society by demanding socially and environmentally sustainable products and services. National collaboration complements regional efforts, relieving organizations of requirements development, contract monitoring, and competence development. Risks in the Supply Chains Many of the procured products are manufactured in countries with significant sustainability risks concerning human rights, workers' rights, environmental protection, and corruption. The regions' work on sustainable procurement aims to identify, prevent, limit, and account for negative impacts in their own operations and supply chains. Agenda 2030 Citizens' increased expectations for regions to act towards enhanced sustainability in their operations and procurement contribute to the high demands on procurement departments for sustainable procurement. The 17 global goals for sustainable development in Agenda 2030, agreed upon by UN member states, are to be achieved by 2030. Public procurement serves as a tool to attain many of these global goals.
WHY?
HOW?
Every year, risk products are identified, and nationally prioritized suppliers are monitored within these categories. The expectations being monitored are outlined in the regions' common code of conduct for suppliers. These requirements include, among other things, risk analyses, monitoring, and action management. The regions' monitoring processes involve self-assessment surveys, dialogues, and audits. The summarized results from these follow-ups are shared with all 21 regions within the national collaboration.
