Leveraging Purchasing Power for Business and Community Impact
Date and time
Location
Discovery Parks
887 Great Northern Way Vancouver, BC V5T 4T5 CanadaRefund Policy
Description
It’s About Buying Value
As a progressive business owner, you know that purchasing products and services based on cost alone can result in missed opportunities to enhance your brand, create a strong supply chain and build customer and employee loyalty. A shift to best value purchasing that integrates environmental, ethical and social factors together with financial factors is an emerging trend that deserves a serious look.
Learn How
Best value purchasing takes a focused strategy, supported by simple tools, scorecards and product guidelines — and can generate social, environmental and financial benefits.
The workshop will show you how to:
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{ Build internal buy-in to maximize the strategic impact of your sustainable purchasing program
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{ Send clear sustainability performance signals to the market and enhance relationships with your suppliers
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{ Refine your procurement process to integrate environmental, ethical and/or social requirements into your requests for quotation / bid documents
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{ Introduce supplier sustainability performance scorecards
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{ Consider the different methods of evaluating supplier proposals ... and more!
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Who Should Come?
This workshop is designed for business owners and for managers and staff of private, public and non-profit organizations who are responsible for purchasing, sustainability or corporate responsibility — and for anyone else interested in how purchasing can be harnessed as a force for positive change.
Whether you are just getting started with best value, sustainable purchasing or want to build on your existing program, this event is for you! You’ll take away practical information, tools and relevant case examples — and connect with others doing similar work.
Meet our Presenters
Trevor Bowden — Co-founder, Big Room Inc.
Trevor is a co-founder of Big Room, a venture begun in 2007 with the goal of making it easier for people to make sustainable choices. Big Room is recognized for its work in creating the Ecolabel Index, the largest global directory of ecolabels. In this capacity, Big Room advises companies, governments and organizations on ecolabels, certification and green purchasing.
Amy Robinson — Founder and Co-Executive Director, LOCO BC
Amy started the not-for-profit LOCO BC in 2009 to connect, support and promote local businesses while advocating for increased local spending by consumers, businesses and institutions. LOCO’s work springs from her perception that BC undervalues the economic and social pillars of sustainability that strengthen communities, build resilience and foster innovation.
Barb Silverthorn — Director of Operations, Savoury Chef
Barb oversees daily operations and the sales team at the Savoury Chef, a catering and event-planning business in Vancouver. A former restaurant, banquet and conference services manager at the Four Seasons Hotel in Toronto for seven years. A champion of service excellence in hospitality, Barb has also worked as Director of Catering for Talon International Development and helped open the doors of the new Trump Hotel and Tower before moving west in 2011.
Bob Purdy — Director of External Relations and Corporate Development, Fraser Basin Council
Bob is a member of the Fraser Basin Council’s senior management team. His responsibilities include corporate development, public relations and overseeing several programs, including the BuySmart Network, an educational hub for sustainable purchasing. Bob has over 20 years’ experience in bringing people together to address complex sustainability challenges. He will be the moderator and a sessional instructor at the workshop.
