Sustainable procurement - purchasing policy

Purchases of products and services account for a major share of Centrale Nantes' GHG emissions, see carbon footprinting.
 

A new purchasing policy was adopted by the Board of Governors in March 2024, including measures for sustainable development and corporate social responsibility. It is structured around 4 key areas:
 

• upstream questioning of actual needs,
• analysis of the possibilities for pooling or leasing,
• taking LCC (life cycle cost) and, not just financial cost, into account 

• Taking the Climate and Resilience Act provisions, transposed into the Public Procurement Code into account
• Invitation to draw inspiration from the AGEC law to give priority to re-used goods and avoid purchasing new goods. As a result, the IT Department has been using reconditioned equipment since 2022, and from 2024 onwards will be using office furniture sourced from re-use or recycling,
• Stop buying plastic cups and bottles,
• Stop buying auxiliary heaters,
• A business travel policy requiring the use of the train if the journey takes less than 4 hours and 30 minutes,
• Consideration of social aspects (social inclusion and diversity criteria) and, in particular, evaluation of the possibility of working with structures for employment integration or people with special needs. For example, since 2023, the landscaping contract has been awarded to a company employing people with special needs.

This policy, which was drawn up including proposals made by the Sustainable Development coordinators in 2023, was reviewed by the Sustainable Development Department before being submitted to the Board of Governors for approval in 2024.

• Procurement policy (in French)