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Is your cleaning contractor reducing waste? Are your cheques and paper forms sustainable? Are the refreshments at your AGM promoting social inclusion?
Many credit unions look at their purchasing practices as a first step to developing their CSR baseline and strategy. Adopting a CSR purchasing policy can help credit unions achieve their own goals, while sending ripples into the economy so that suppliers see the benefits of reducing their environmental impact or increase positive social outcomes.
One example taken right from the Credit Union Social Responsibility Roadmap is Assiniboine Credit Union’s decision to source from community enterprises that create jobs for target groups, like Aboriginal people. For instance, Assiniboine bought goods and services from two Aboriginal co-ops in 2009, including Neechi Foods Co-op and Northern Star Worker Co-op.
Responding to your feedback, Canadian Central is in the process of developing a tool on CSR purchasing. But first, we want to know more about how your credit union is making purchasing part of your CSR plan. Specifically, does your credit union have any of the following:
A sustainable purchasing policy? A sustainable purchasing strategy or program? Sustainable purchasing procedures (Supplier Codes of Conduct, RFP clauses etc.)? Examples of supplier engagement or partnerships with other organizations on sustainable purchasing projects? Measurement and reporting system for sustainable purchasing? Examples of “green” screened purchases (e.g. green cleaning supplies, renewable energy)? Examples of social benefit purchases (e.g. sourcing from a co-operative, social enterprise or Aboriginal company)? Or cost savings from sustainable purchasing efforts?
Please take a minute to comment below to let us know one of the ways your credit union is innovating in CSR purchasing. |