Paper and paper products
| Stage 1: Initial ‘Buying For Government’ standards are developed from existing environmental standards, external expertise or by the Commission and discussed at cross-Government Steering Groups. | |
| Stage 2: Initial cost benefit analysis undertaken to provide indicative whole life costs and market capacity appraisal for the relevant product group. | |
| Stage 3: A Cross-Government Steering Group reviews the initial draft standards taking into account Green Public Procurement criteria and agrees draft standards. | |
| Stage 4: A partial cost benefit analysis and market capacity assessment is prepared (likely to be largely based on initial cost benefit analysis) and a review document published for a shortened stakeholder review period, as part of wider evidence gathering. | |
| Stage 5: A full cost benefit analysis and market capacity assessment carried out and final draft standards developed. | |
| Stage 6: Short stakeholder with other Government Departments and the results are fed back to the Cross-Government Steering Group. | |
| Stage 7: The mandatory standards are finalised for SPPS Project Board approval. | |
| Stage 8: The mandatory standards are submitted to the Defra Minister for final approval. | |
| Stage 9: 3 month lead in period before the new standard goes live. |
This section links to the official Government Buying Standards for sustainable procurement of paper and envelopes published in January 2010.
What does sustainability mean for paper and envelopes?
It can be procuring recycled paper which has long been on the agenda for public sector buyers. However, the new specifications set out more stringent criteria for the use of recycled paper. These aim to both reduce the amount of waste paper sent to landfill or incineration, and to reduce the amount of virgin fibre needed.
The underlying goal of course is to reduce the volume of trees used in paper production.
All central government departments and their related organisations must ensure that they meet at least the mandatory Government Buying Standards when buying goods and services in the product groups covered on this site.
See also
- Paper and envelope standards follow the UK government policy on sustainable timber procurement
Page last modified: 11 July, 2011
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