2017-2020 Departmental Sustainable Development Strategy

Section 1: Context for the Departmental Sustainable Development Strategy (DSDS)

The Policy on Green Procurement supports the Government of Canada’s effort to promote environmental stewardship. In keeping with the objectives of the policy, the Veterans Review and Appeal Board supports sustainable development by integrating environmental performance considerations into the procurement decision making process through the activities in this DSDS.

Although the Board is not bound by the Federal Sustainable Development Act and is not required to develop a departmental sustainable development strategy, it adheres to the principles of the Federal Sustainable Development Strategy (FSDS) by implementing the Policy on Green Procurement.

Section 2: Sustainable Development at the Veterans Review and Appeal Board

The Policy on Green Procurement seeks to reduce the environmental impacts of government operations and promote environmental stewardship by integrating environmental performance considerations into the procurement process.

The Board supports the Government of Canada’s approach to sustainable development by implementing the Policy on Green Procurement.

The Board supports the transition to a low-carbon economy through green procurement. It identified a range of measures to do this, which include:

establishing performance targets related to specific goods or services with the goal of reducing their environmental impact;
training on green procurement for acquisition card holders;
including green procurement objectives in the performance management agreements of key procurement staff; and
promoting environmental considerations in the workplace.

Section 3: Commitments for the Veterans Review and Appeal Board

Low-Carbon Government: The Government of Canada leads by example by making its operations low-carbon

Responsible Minister: All Ministers
Low-Carbon Government FSDS target	FSDS Contributing Action	Corresponding departmental actions	Contribution by each departmental action to the FSDS goal and target	Starting point(s) where available, and your choice of performance indicators for departmental actions	Program(s) in which the departmental actions will occur
Reduce GHG emissions from federal government buildings and fleets by 40% below 2005 levels by 2030, with an aspiration to achieve this reduction by 2025	Support the transition to a low-carbon economy through green procurement	Ensure environmental considerations are taken into account in procurement activities by including green procurement objectives in the Performance Management Agreements for key procurement staff. Enhance capacity to incorporate environmental performance consideration into procurement decisions by requiring that all new acquisition cardholders take green procurement training within one year of hire. Set a minimum of three green procurement targets to reduce the environmental impact of purchases. By March 31, 2019, 30% of accommodation stays will take place in establishments that have a high environmental rating based on an industry recognized tool. By March 31, 2019, 90% of purchases of imaging hardware will include criteria to reduce the environmental impact associated with the production, acquisition, use and/or disposal of the equipment. By March 31, 2019, 90% of toner cartridges are recycled at end of life.	Green procurement incorporates environmental considerations into purchasing decisions and is expected to motivate suppliers to green their goods, services and supply chain. GHG reductions are one area of consideration in green procurement.	Percentage of key procurement staff whose Performance Management Agreements includes green procurement objectives. Percentage of acquisition cardholders that take green procurement training within one year of hire. Number of accommodation stays that meet the target objective relative to the total number of all accommodation stays in the given year. Volume of imaging hardware purchased that meet the target objective relative to the total volume of all imaging hardware purchased in the year. Volume of toner cartridges recycled relative to the total volume of toner cartridges purchased in the given year.	Review and Appeal

Section 4. Integrating sustainable development

Green procurement practices

The Board receives procurement services from Veterans Affairs Canada under a Memorandum of Understanding; it does very little of its own procurement (approximately 10%).
As a small organization that does very little of its own procurement, it is more effective for the Board to leverage the benefits of existing green procurement instruments. The Board will maximize the use of green procurement instruments provided by Public Services and Procurement Canada, such as standing offers and supply arrangements, as environmental considerations are integrated into the planning process. These common use instruments are designed to meet federal government green procurement standards.
Where possible, the Board has put management processes in place to support the achievement of its targets to reduce the environmental impact of purchases.

Sustainable workplace practices

Over the past two years, the Board has invested a significant amount of time and effort into redesigning its hearing process to reduce its reliance on paper by incorporating more technology.
The goal of this initiative is to increase efficiency in operations and reduce time spent mailing documents between the Board’s administration office in Charlottetown and hearing locations across Canada.
This service improvement project involves new systems, new equipment, and new methods of sharing information so that Veterans’ applications move more quickly through the appeal process without relying on paper.
Going paperless will make the Board’s process more green, efficient and reliable.
The Board also supports green meetings as a sustainable workplace practice.

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