The STM is honoured at the Gala reconnaissance en environnement et développement durable de Montréal for its approach to sustainable procurement

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Today the STM and its approach to sustainable procurement were honoured at the Gala reconnaissance en environnement et développement durable de Montréal. The STM’s submission stood out among the 17 received in the “businesses and institutions” category.

Today the STM and its approach to sustainable procurement were honoured at the Gala reconnaissance en environnement et développement durable de Montréal. The STM’s submission stood out among the 17 received in the “businesses and institutions” category.

In adopting its corporate sustainable development policy in 2010, the STM committed to continuously improving the environmental, social and economic performance of its business activities and processes. Bolstered by the expertise it has developed over the years, the STM put its sustainable procurement plan into action in 2014 by creating a committee and issuing guidelines whose principles and measures apply to all of the company’s contract processes. Two handbooks were also developed to make the guidelines easier to apply.

A source of inspiration 
The STM’s approach is inspiring other organizations seeking to adopt responsible procurement practices. Due to the rigorous nature of its approach, the STM has been cited as a role model.

In its continuous bid to contribute to the advancement of sustainable development practices and to help other organizations to set up such an approach, the STM is pleased to release its two handbooks, in French,  to the public domain: the Guide des principes et mesures de l’approvisionnement responsable (responsible procurement handbook) and the Guide des certifications (certifications handbook).

Promising results 
Between 2011 and 2014, the percentage of contracts in progress that include sustainable development criteria increased from 8% to 21%, while the percentage of the value of contracts that include sustainable development criteria jumped from 5% to 60%. Thanks to the new guidelines, the STM is also confident in its ability to meet the target it set itself for 2020, that 90% of contracts include sustainable development criteria by that time.

What is responsible procurement? 
Responsible procurement includes sustainable development criteria in all processes governing goods and services contracts. This approach can reduce impact on the environment, increase social benefits and boost an organization’s economic sustainability, throughout each product’s lifecycle.

Video presenting the approach (French only)
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