Supply Chain Sustainability
As we work towards creating a green campus, we are aware that our supply chain partners are important stakeholders in the process. We take environmental and social considerations into account as much as is feasible in all our procurement practices. These include developing green specifications for products, incorporating sustainability-related requirements in request-for-quotation documents, tender invitations and works contracts, and monitoring supplier performance during the lifecycle of the relevant products or services and the final disposal of the products, if applicable.
PolyU developed a purchasing policy in 2017 to ensure that all procurement practices, irrespective of the funding source and purchase value, are of the best cost for value and are executed in an accountable and impartial manner. We have also made all our tender invitations publicly available on our website in the reporting year and open to all suppliers – this enhances competitiveness and improves the transparency of the bidding process.
In the development process of green purchase guidelines for commonly-used products, PolyU makes reference to green specifications issued by the Environmental Protection Department (EPD) and aims to choose products which create minimal adverse environmental impacts, e.g. purchasing paper products with a high recycled content or which come from sustainable forests, such as those managed by the Forest Stewardship Council; and purchasing office equipment with an energy label or that is certified to be restriction of hazardous substances (RoHS)-compliant.
We also take into consideration the full life-cycle of procured products or services and request that our regular suppliers disclose, wherever and whenever practical and feasible, any environmental initiatives made during the manufacturing and logistics processes, in order to encourage reuse and recycling and to minimize the amount of waste sent to landfill.
PolyU works to ensure that our service contractors attain full compliance with all applicable environmental laws and regulations. For instance, our main renovation and building contractors are required to establish environmental management plans to address their use of resources, as well as to implement noise, dust, smell and waste controls. We also ensure that our service contractors adhere to all applicable employment and labour practices to protect workers’ legal rights and ensure that effective communication channels are in place to allow them to express any concerns. In addition, we require our service contractors to prepare site safety supervision plans, conduct site safety inspections and establish emergency procedures to safeguard on-site workers and property.
During the reporting period, the purchase of goods and services, including office supplies, equipment, maintenance and repair services were sourced via competitive bidding whenever possible. Among the purchase orders issued for general purchase, about 75% of our suppliers are Hong Kong-based, with the remaining 25% located in other regions. During the reporting period, we also enhanced our supplier performance review process by structurally record down user departments’ satisfactory levels and the performance of our suppliers.