[{"id":2457,"date":"2026-03-06T14:46:38","date_gmt":"2026-03-06T19:46:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.niagaracollege.ca\/sustainability\/?page_id=2457"},"modified":"2026-03-06T14:46:39","modified_gmt":"2026-03-06T19:46:39","slug":"sustainable-procurement-toolkit","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.niagaracollege.ca\/sustainability\/sustainable-procurement-toolkit\/","title":{"rendered":"Sustainable Procurement Toolkit"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Sustainable procurement (SP) embeds relevant sustainability considerations into processes for selecting goods and services, alongside traditional considerations like price, quality, service, and technical specifications. SP ensures that buyers obtain the best value for money when purchasing more sustainable goods and services from more sustainable suppliers, to support Niagara College’s strategic goals. It is a broad umbrella term under which most sustainability issues that relate to procurement can be nested, including environmental, social, Indigenous and ethical considerations. Sustainable Procurement is a strategic priority at Niagara College, as outlined in the 2024-2029 Niagara College Sustainability Plan<\/a>, and the resources in this toolkit will help us put it into action. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Toolkit Resources<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The toolkit resources below have been prepared in collaboration between Reeves Consulting, the Ontario College Procurement Management Association, member institutions and Niagara College. These resources are intended to provide additional guidance to help make your purchasing activities more sustainable, but do not supersede regulations, trade agreements or Niagara College policies and procedures. If you have specific questions about the resources or require additional guidance, please contact purchasing@niagaracollege.ca<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\r\n

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Sustainability Tip Sheets for Low-Value Purchases <\/i><\/div>\r\n
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This series of modular tip-sheets contains helpful information, leading questions, and certifications to look out for to support you with considering sustainability when making low-value direct award, single source, and credit card purchases. You can access them all in the NC Sustainability Tip Sheets for Low-Value Purchases<\/a> or the individual tip sheets below:<\/p>\n

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  1. Tip Sheet #1: Sustainable Procurement 101<\/a>:<\/strong> A definition for \u2018sustainable procurement\u2019 and context for why its important to Niagara College.<\/li>\n
  2. Tip Sheet #2: Questions to Ask Yourself Before You Buy<\/a><\/strong>: Questions to ask yourself before making a purchase to reduce overall consumption.<\/li>\n
  3. Tip Sheet #3: Tips for Quick Market Research<\/a><\/strong>: Questions and tips for online research to learn more about the impacts of your purchase.<\/li>\n
  4. Tip Sheet #4: Tips for Making More Sustainable Credit Card Purchases<\/a><\/strong>: Five things to look for when making purchases with your corporate credit card.<\/li>\n
  5. Tip Sheet #5: Tips to Incorporate Sustainability into Sole Source and Invitational Competitive<\/a><\/strong>: Five things to consider when tendering or asking for quotes.<\/li>\n
  6. Tip Sheet #6: Third Party Certifications for More Sustainable Suppliers<\/a><\/strong>: Standards that indicate more sustainable suppliers and service providers.<\/li>\n
  7. Tip Sheet #7: Third Party Certifications for Products<\/a><\/strong>: Look for the Eco-label: Eco-logos and certifications to help indicate more sustainable products.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n <\/div>\r\n\r\n <\/div>\r\n\r\n \r\n
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    Eco-Label Guide <\/i><\/div>\r\n
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    The Niagara College Sustainable Procurement: Eco-Label Guide<\/a> provides information on eco-labels, types of product eco-labels, examples of eco-labels, and eco-labels and certifications for suppliers. Eco-labels, or certifications, provide information about the environmental, social, or ethical impacts associated with the production or use of a product or service. They help verify that a product meets or exceeds a specific set of standards. When purchasing goods and services, eco-labels provide detailed specifications to request from suppliers during competitive bids or to look for when making quick decisions on products or suppliers for low value and invitational competitive purchasing.<\/p>\n <\/div>\r\n\r\n <\/div>\r\n\r\n \r\n

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    Quick Guide for Sustainable Goods, Services and Suppliers <\/i><\/div>\r\n
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    The Niagara College Quick Guide for Sustainable Goods, Services and Suppliers<\/a> helps to build an understanding by providing an overview of how to think about sustainability for goods, services, and suppliers, relevant for any type of purchasing. It also supports the invitational competitive procurement process by providing a checklist of the most key sustainability attributes to look for and that can be quickly referenced to incorporate into Tenders and Requests for Quotes. Almost everything that we purchase has an opportunity to be more sustainable and this Guide can help you do that.<\/p>\n <\/div>\r\n\r\n <\/div>\r\n\r\n \r\n <\/div>\r\n\r\n\n\n\n

    Regulatory Compliance<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    Implementing sustainable procurement practices also supports Niagara College’s provincial and federal regulatory compliance as a public institution in Ontario. <\/p>\n\n\n\r\n

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    Buy Ontario Act, 2025 <\/i><\/div>\r\n
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    As a Public institution in Ontario, Niagara College is required to comply with the Buy Ontario Act, 2025<\/a>. The purpose of this Act is to establish a framework for regulating procurement within the public sector in order to:<\/p>\n

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    1. Transform public sector procurement practices on the basis of principles of integrity and value-for-money and with an aim to supporting economic development and supply chain resilience; and<\/li>\n
    2. Leverage public sector procurement as a means of promoting, protecting and building Ontario\u2019s economy and businesses and safeguarding its supply chain.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n <\/div>\r\n\r\n <\/div>\r\n\r\n \r\n
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      Ontario Blue Box <\/i><\/div>\r\n
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      As a public institution in Ontario, Niagara College is required to comply with the Ontario Blue Box regulation (O.Reg. 391\/21)<\/a>. The purpose of this regulation is to establish a full producer responsibility framework for paper, packaging, and packaging\u2011like products supplied into Ontario. Key features of the regulation includes:<\/p>\n

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      1. Shifting responsibility from municipalities to producers<\/li>\n
      2. Standardizing what materials are collected<\/li>\n
      3. Establishing requirements for proper management of collected materials<\/li>\n
      4. Strengthening oversight, reporting, and transparency<\/li>\n
      5. Supporting education and promotion<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

        For more information about annual reporting, please visit the NC Ontario Blue Box Reporting<\/a> website.<\/p>\n <\/div>\r\n\r\n <\/div>\r\n\r\n \r\n

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        Federal Plastics Registry <\/i><\/div>\r\n
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        As a public institution in Ontario, Niagara College is required to comply with the Federal Plastics Registry<\/a>. The purpose of this regulation is to Track plastic across its full life cycle by collecting standardized data on plastics from manufacture to end\u2011of\u2011life, enabling Canada to monitor how plastic flows through the economy. Key features of the regulation includes:<\/p>\n

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        1. Improve transparency and evidence\u2011based decision\u2011making<\/li>\n
        2. Identify opportunities to reduce plastic waste and pollution<\/li>\n
        3. Support national alignment on extended producer responsibility<\/li>\n
        4. Monitor progress toward zero plastic waste goals<\/li>\n
        5. Provide accessible data for innovators, decision\u2011makers, and the public<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n <\/div>\r\n\r\n <\/div>\r\n\r\n \r\n <\/div>\r\n\r\n\n\n\n

          Sustainable Procurement Working Group<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

          The Sustainable Procurement Working Group is comprised of representatives appointed by their respective Vice Presidents to represent each division. The purpose of this working group is to identify risks and opportunities related to sustainable procurement at Niagara College, working collaboratively across internal divisions and departments to create a Niagara College-specific approach to prioritizing financial efficiency, regulatory compliance, sustainability, social inclusion and brand reputation. This working group is also responsible for sharing information from the group, for example updated procurement policies, to their division, as well as to bring information, feedback and questions back to the group. For more information on the working group itself or to find out who your divisional representative is, please contact sustainability@niagaracollege.ca<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

          NC Connection<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

          Niagara College has policies, procedures and plans that support sustainable procurement on campus, including:<\/p>\n\n\n\n