The public sector is the main buyer in any country in the world, so it is called to lead by example.
Many international studies show that public procurement is the world's largest market, valued at billions of dollars
For all of us who bid with the Costa Rican government and who see a great potential in this sector, it is important to start assessing and preparing internally with the issue of SCP (Sustainable Public Procurement), which will start to have a greater participation in the posters will be published in SICOP or any other platform used for purchases, by public institutions
And what is SCP? It is a programme promoted by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) of which Costa Rica is part of a pilot scheme, and which seeks to ensure that state institutions meet their needs for goods and services in a way that guarantees value for money based on the life cycle, in terms of generating benefits not only to the institution, but also to society and the country's economy, while minimising damage to the environment.
What benefit is sought at the environmental level (Green Purchasing)?
- Improved environmental performance and efficiency in the use of natural resources, throughout the life cycle of the products and/or services
- Efficient use of natural resources.
- Reduction of the generation of spills and polluting emissions.
- Protection of the natural environment and the toxic load of the products
What benefits are you looking for at the social level?
- Promotion of better working conditions
- Poverty reduction and employment generation.
- Empowerment of risk/minority groups.
- Improving people's health and quality of life.
- Development of social and labour capacities.
Finally, what is sought through economic benefits?
- Monetary value, price, quality, functionality.
- Promotion of the regional productive sector and SMEs.
- Job and wealth creation.
- Stimulation of innovation and market improvement
- Knowledge and technology transfer.
- Stimulation of sustainable consumption by other actors.
How will these details be integrated into the posters?
Perhaps you are reading this information and think, "but in the advertising industry, can this be integrated?" The answer is yes, from an internal action plan in our recycling companies, to having a social program in the community where employees participate, or even at the management level to consider a percentage of people over 45 or why not gender equality. All of the above in two ways, the first to improve every day as a company and the second to generate business with the sector that invests the most
What is a reality is that we have to prepare ourselves because this trend is not only of the Government, in our market there are already private sector companies that are looking for their suppliers to be directed towards this philosophy (as in the case of FITCO) and are considering more suppliers for purchases that comply with the stipulated characteristics.
It is clear that for many this is an untamed ocean, but it is not impossible, this makes us innovate, get out of the box and seek to be better as organizations, the first point is to want and believe it and the second to go looking for different tools or advice to be a "better" provider.
For more information on this topic, all companies should educate themselves independently of the industry. Institutions such as the Ministry of Finance and MINAE have information on their websites.