Supply chain
We have adopted the Government's flexible framework approach to assessing the sustainability of procurement processes in order to improve procurement practice for the benefit of suppliers and ourselves.
Our 2008 strategy identified the need for embedding the key aspects of the company's overarching sustainability policy into supply chain processes and sub-contract requirements. To address this, our supply chain sustainability strategy was approved and implemented during 2009.
The strategy includes an explanation of what we want to achieve, our sustainable procurement policy, a supply chain sustainability criteria matrix and sustainability reporting requirements.
Our supply chain performance measurement system (PMS) enables us to monitor sub-contract performance and, from 2009, this has included sustainability criteria. This assesses our key subcontractors' performance in areas such as waste management, energy efficiency, new innovative ways of working and considerate community relations.
We have engaged with an external organisation to independently assess our performance against the flexible framework. The first review was undertaken in March 2007, and provided specific actions for us to make improvements. Further reviews were undertaken in 2008 and 2009, with measurement set to continue for 2010. Our performance can be seen in the reports below.