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Sustainability impacts.
‘Sustainability impacts’ embrace a wide range of effects of the various procurement decisions that are taken by all public and private sector organisations. In most organisations there is some understanding of the effect that the organisation has and/or can have on the environment, these would be known as ‘environmental impacts’. EU and UK Regulation and Legislation along with local authority and other requirements have ‘driven’ the environmental agenda and a lot of what is now in place is as a result of these various requirements. Most local authorities will have produced an environmental policy to set out how they will address these requirements, amongst other things, and some have produced Environmental Purchasing Policies or Green Guides (Leicester City, Chesterfield BC). In most cases the things that were introduced were put in place to remove or reduce the negative impacts (effects) and as a consequence there can be a tendency to consider impacts generally as negative impacts. This is not the case and as well as removing/reducing negative impacts there is much that needs to be and can be done to introduce and/or increase positive impacts. One example of a positive impact associated with the environment would be related to biodiversity and the creation/improved management of habitats to support species of wildlife currently in decline.
It is just as important to look to maximise the positive impacts of what is done as it is to remove/reduce the negative ones. Whilst environmental considerations are very important they are only one group of the overall sustainability impacts. Nevertheless, the more we build into procurement policy, procedures and practice those things that increase the positive and/or reduce the negative impacts on the environment the more sustainable procurement will become.
This initial focus on environmental concerns is considered by some to be associated with the ways in which early definitions of sustainable development were interpreted. For example a widely used and accepted definition of sustainable development taken from the Brundtland Report (1987) reads:
‘Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the needs of future generations’.
After the First World Summit in Rio de Janeiro in 1992 most world leaders adopted Agenda 21 as a blueprint to attain sustainable development in the 21st Century. Each country represented was urged to develop a local Agenda 21 (LA21) Strategy with the agenda set by the community itself rather than by central or local government. Each community was invited to carry out a comprehensive review of the global impact of it’s local actions. This was then translated into a local agreement (a local ‘Agenda21’) between all parties about what needed to be done to ensure that:
‘the planet bequeathed to future generations is at least as healthy and rich in resources and as diverse in natural assets as the one we now enjoy’.
Clearly this tended to re-inforce the environmental focus, often at the expense of other issues.
The UK Government has since produced two strategy documents relating to sustainable development. The first of these was in 1999.
This 1999 Sustainable Development Strategy focussed on four main objectives:
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social progress that recognises the needs of everyone
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effective protection of the environment
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prudent use of natural resources, and
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maintenance of high and stable levels of economic growth and employment.
In November 2005 the latest Sustainable Development Strategy, ‘Securing the Future’ was released and incorporated a small shift of emphasis to four key priority areas:
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sustainable consumption and production
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climate change and energy
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protecting natural resources
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creating sustainable communities and a fairer world.
There is still a sharp focus on environmental issues but a growing recognition of the importance of the well-being of the local community, inclusive and sustainable communities and a fairer world as equally important key aspects of sustainable development.
In parallel with this the Local Government Act 2000 was introduced to support the work of local authorities in setting out to achieve this community well-being.
“Local Government Act 2000.
Promotion of well-being.
2.Every local authority are to have the power to do anything which they consider is
likely to achieve any one or more of the following objects:
a) the promotion or improvement of the economic well-being of their area
b) the promotion or improvement of the social well-being of their area, and
c) the promotion or improvement of the environmental well-being of their area.
4. (1) Every local authority must prepare a strategy (referred to in this section as a
Community strategy) for promoting or improving the economic, social and
environmental well-being of their area and contributing to the achievement of sustainable development in the United Kingdom. “
The challenge that faces all local authorities, (and the wider public and private sector), is to:
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comprehend the breadth of their ‘sustainability impact’ incorporating socio-economic, ethical and reputational alongside the environmental impacts
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relate these impacts to goods, works and/or services
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determine a methodology for prioritising the impacts most important to the local authority
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identify the opportunities that exist to reduce/remove the negative and introduce/enhance positive impacts
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secure support and engagement of key officers and members.
The Sustainable Procurement Taskforce National Action Plan contains a Prioritisation Methodology Toolkit which introduces environmental impact, socio-economic impact and reputational risk as key elements associated with overall risk. In summary they set out these impacts in the following way.
Environmental impacts:
Impacts should be considered over the whole life cycle of the commodity.
The following themes are referred to:
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Emissions to air
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Emissions to water
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Waste to landfill
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Resource use
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Environmental Quality
Socio-Econmic impacts.
The following themes are referred to:
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Health
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Education and employment
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Communities and other social.
Reputational.
The toolkit asks you to consider whether:
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There is NGO activity in each potential priority area
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The press is likely to be interested in activity in each potential priority area
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Society at large is likely to be interested in activity in each potential priority area.
The Prioritisation Toolkit does not make specific reference to Ethical impacts, though these could be considered a part of Reputational.
The framework below sets out impact, indicates positive/negative and refers to goods, works or services that could relate to a particular impact. Developing this framework for environmental impacts, socio-economic impacts and reputational/ethical will provide a fuller representation of the range of sustainability impacts a local authority may need to consider when seeking to identify their high sustainablility impact suppliers.
Environmental impacts.
Environmental impacts are considered throughout the whole life of a ‘commodity’.
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Theme |
Positive impact
(+ve)
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Negative impact
(-ve)
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Action possible |
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Emissions to Air
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Minimise
the impact of travel and transport.
Local sourcing of food
can significantly contribute to reduction in lorry distances travelled (15,000km), CO2 reduction(12 tonnes or 89%).
[Data in () from
Bradford
School meals project].
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Office supplies and equipment
such as correction fluids, spraymount adhesives and glues that contain ozone depleting substances, eg VOC’s.
Paints and varnishes
are likely to contain volatile organic compounds(VOC’s)
Almost all the energy and associated electrical equipment we use produces carbon dioxide which is a key contributor to global warming.
Vehicle use
can contribute significantly to the gaseous emissions that contribute to ozone depletion and global warming. This is also linked to the fuel type used the efficiency of use by the user.
PVC
production can cause release of dioxins which are a known carcinogen and hormone disruptor as are phthalates also used in production.
Incinerating PVC can result in further dioxin emissions from stacks.
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Do not buy items that contain ozone depleting substances.
Where possible use water based products, otherwise specify ‘low VOC’ or ‘low solvent’.
Reduce total energy use. Increase purchase of renewable energy.
Increase energy efficiency of electrical equipment as opportunity arises.
Replace all light bulbs/ fluorescent tubes with
energy saving alternatives.
Purchase lowest polluting vehicle that meets emission targets and service requirements.
Require staff and contractors to increase their use of low sulphur and bio-diesels.Purchase vehicles that meet Euro III standard. Service vehicles regularly. Reduce number of journeys made.
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Emissions to Water
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Use of certain Pesticides and wood preservatives can when misused or inappropriately disposed of be particularly dangerous if they enter water supplies.
Many cleaning products contain toxic and hazardous chemicals and often Industrial cleaning products are more powerful than domestic products, more concentrated and sold in larger quantities. All this can increase the potential for pollution or personal harm.
PVC
additives can leach from landfill to contaminate groundwater.
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Look for alternatives to chemical use. Do not use pesticides on the UK Red list or EC Black list.
Ensure when pesticides are necessary they are selected and used in accordance with COSHH and Control of Pesticide Regulations (1986).
Minimise the quantity and range of cleaning materials used. Ensure staff are trained to safely store, use and dispose of cleaning materials.
Buy those cleaning materials that minimise the toxic ingredients.
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Waste disposal including landfill.
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Incorporate a requirement to
reduce food waste
in food/catering contracts.
Limiting and reducing Packaging.
Requirement to incorporate recyclables and reusables into construction contracts
for highways, new build projects and refurbishment of existing stock.
Increase the quantity of products that have above a specific % recycled content.
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Continued use of batteries that are not rechargeable adds to potential pollution problems associated with disposal.
Packaging
continues to add to the unnecessary disposal of packaging materials, often to landfill. This is still very often the case with ICT equipment, furniture and containerised liquids.
Disposal of PVC products to landfill can often lead to additives being leached out to enter soil and groundwater. Dioxin concentration occurs in incinerator ash.
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Use mains electricity in preference to battery power. Buy rechargeable batteries if batteries are required. Dispose of any unwanted batteries safely.
Return or insist on removal from site by supplier of unwanted packaging.
Model specification clauses for food supply contract. East of
England LEA’s. Including the following.
The contractor shall:
*retain ownership of and take back all packaging materials unless otherwise agreed in writing by both parties
*collect any packaging left at the Authority’s premises within the period agreed in writing between the parties
*use recycled materials in the manufacture of crates,pallets, boxes,cartons,cushioning and forms of packaging, where these fulfil other packaging specifications.
Buy in bulk, greater concentration and dilute on site. Ask for recyclable containers if there is no alternative. Specify biodegradable or recycled packaging not containing ozone depleting substances.
Look to purchase products other than those that contain PVC.
Look to guidance documentation and specifications provided by WRAP.
Members of the mayor of
London’s Green Procurement Code spent £188m on recycled content in 2005, representing 386,532
tonnes of waste diverted from landfill. For recycled products and Sustainable products visit http://www.londonremade.com/
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Use of natural resources
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Reduce dependency on non renewable sources of energy.
Consider local/regional buying consortium for ‘green energy’
Increase energy efficiency.
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Use of tropical hardwoods
that can add to the destruction of forests and associated habitats.
Use of PVC products given use of oil, coal, natural gas and chemicals.
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Source greater % of ‘green energy’ when opportunities arise through Energy contracts.
Establish local/regional buying consortium
.
Consider setting Supplementary planning guidance requiring renewables to be integrated into all significant new developments.
Introduce facilities to increase production
of renewable energy when undertaking major refurbishment of existing properties.
Incorporate a requirement for a % (10-20) energy production from renewables on site in all major new builds, for example, Building Schools for the Future (BSF). Refer to Leicester City BSF scheme.
The LEA incorporated the following requirements for their schools:
*there needs to be a minimum of 10% of the energy requirements of the site produced from renewable sources on site
*all new-build schools to achieve an Excellent BREEAM rating
*all refurbished schools to achieve a Very Good BREEAM rating
*incorporate a range of features that could demonstrate good practice in environmental performance and be of educational value
*maximise educational value of school grounds.
As Estate manager
:
Integrate energy considerations into all procurement decisions. For example energy performance of new electrical goods. Issues such as food miles for school and ‘staff’ facilities are often overlooked. A focus on local food can also have wider sustainability benefits on health and the local economy.
As Service provider:
For example Housing and Transport. A LA with housing responsibilities should have a plan to improve domestic energy performance through the Home Energy Conservation Act(HECA). Also to meet Decent Homes standard by 2010.
As Community leader:
Consider developing community wide sustainable energy frameworks.(See LA Sustainable Energy Toolkit. Contact Notts CC,
Leicester
City or
High Peak
BC.)
Do not use tropical hardwood unless a specific match is necessary. Specify tropical hardwood that is certificated by the Forestry Stewardship Council (FSC).
Phase out use of items made from PVC
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Environmental Quality
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Create new areas for wildlife.
All new developments should be planned around sustainable water quality and resources and will have inbuilt water conservation measures.
Revised targets for woodland creation
will help increase woodland cover in the East Midlands from the current
5.1% compared with 8% for
England.
Promote the creation of salt marsh, mudflats, grazing marsh and associated habitats
Improve land use allocation in urban areas to conserve remaining habitats.
Create multifunctional green space and interconnecting links.
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Use of
peat for soil amelioration and the associated removal of peat from our lowland peat bogs has destroyed all but 6% of lowland peat bogs. Lowland peat bogs are one of
our most important habitats and are home to rare insects and birds.
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Ban (or limit) the use (by the Council or its contractors) of peat for soil amelioration purposes where an alternative product is available.
Imaginative use of Section 106 agreements to secure funding for long term management.
On the Verge, an article in Derbyshire's Biodiversity News illustrates how a simple contract variation can have a significant impact on biodiversity.
Derbyshire CC, District and Borough Councils, the Peak District National Park and Derbyshire Wildlife Trust all agreed where verge-cutting should be delayed until wild flowers had set their seeds.See page14, Nol3, Issue3 of the Derbyshire Biodiversity News.
Mandating Water Efficiency in New Buildings.
Consultation doc.13/12/06-9/03/07.
Require/request developers plant a specified number of trees and maintain them for a number of years
Planners consider the biodiversity value of urban and post-industrial habitats, LA’s.
Local delivery of Green Infrastructure is needed to establish successful sustainable communities through the planning system and housing development schemes.
(Guidance is available for LA’s and developers.
See
River
Nene
Regional
Park initiative.)
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Socio Economic impacts
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Theme |
Positive impact
(+ve) |
Negative impacts
(-ve)
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Action possible |
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Health
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The value of Biodiversity and wildlife habitats to people’s quality of life is now acknowledged as something that the land use planning system must protect and enhance as an essential component of Sustainable Development. Contact with the natural environment can;
-increase people’s sense of well-being
-improve physical and mental health.
Support conservation activity that combines health, biodiversity and practical action eg, BTCV Green Gym project
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All new developments will incorporate new habitats and make provision for long term management. (Section 106 agreements).
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Education and employment.
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Contact with the natural environment can:
-provide opportunities for life long learning
-engage people in community activities.
Sustainable tourism
based on enjoyment of the natural environment is a growth sector.
Enhance job satisfaction.
Provide local employment, particularly in an environment where volume of work is declining.
Requirement/willingness to actively participate in the economic regeneration of locality.
Social enterprise is fostered and encouraged as new ways of delivering and adding value to services.
Neighbourhood vitality and regeneration is enhanced.
Local distinctiveness is encouraged and maintained.
Social benefits related to worklessness have a positive impact on the life people and the economy of the area.
Provision of skills training for those in locality is introduced or enhanced.
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NHS Trusts and LA’s already specify that building contractors employ 20% of their workforce from long term unemployed registers.
Neighbourhood Renewal Funding was used to set up a new team of people who go into properties before the tradespeople come and get them ready for reoccupation. 'Void turnaround time has fallen from 63 days to 25 and the savings have allowed the scheme to be mainstreamed- as well as improving the built environment, part of the housing floor target'.
More information on this Doncaster MBC case and many others are contained in the Social Exclusion Report 'Neighbourhood Renewal and Social Inclusion'. [open]
As not for profit organisations with community objectives they can enable spending to support the disadvantaged. See Lincs CC and Hill Holt Wood scheme.
http://www.hillholtwood.com/
Environmental quality mark promoted by
Peak
District
National Park. This can only be achieved by businesses that actively support good environmental practices in the Peak District National Park.When you but a product or service that has been awarded the mark you can be confident that your purchase directly supports the high quality management of the special environment of the
Peak
District
National Park.
www.peakdistrict.gov.uk/looking-after/eqm.htm
By specifying training outcomes in their tender Nottingham City uses NECTA to supply landscaping and develop their workforce of the future.
NECTA
is a social enterprise working with people who have been excluded from the labour market for more than six months-taking them on as construction trainees.
http://www.necta.org.uk/
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Communities and other social.
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Promote the development of locally distinctive added value products, linking this with high standards of environmental performance.
Promotion of projects that enhance the economic and social benefit of the local community.
All Government Departments are required to tackle social exclusion and it is a legitimate priority of public bodies to identify social inclusion as one of their organidations objectives and consider this as an aim in the procurement process.
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Food produced in accordance with the
Red Tractor food
assurance scheme or, in the case of
eggs in their shells, the Lion Egg standard or equivalent.
Capturing Community benefits through the procurement cycle.
The training programme commissioned by Northamptoshire CC reflects their current aim to build more community benefits through procurement and highlights the following:
- your supply strategy should reflect your desire to attract companies that will deliver community benefits, where relevant to the contract
- the specification is the prime place to introduce community benefits
- working with your procurement colleagues, it is essential to agree how the value of the community benefits will be assessed in evaluating bids.
New Economics Foundation have shown using the LM3 approach that every £10 spent locally can generate £25 for the local economy.
London Borough of Tower Hamlets built in a section 106 agreement such that the developer undertook to make a sizeable Community Payment.
Bristol City Council's Economic Contributions from New Development has Appendices(3) which set out 13 socio-economic contributions and cross refers them to adopted and proposed policies and associated justifications. Appendix 4, the Bristol Charter includes a section outlining ' Developer Commitments'. [open] |
Ethical/Reputational
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Theme |
Positive impact
(+ve)
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Negative impact
(-ve)
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Action possible |
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Local Authority (LA)values
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Fairness in the dealings with people and in the provision of services.
Respecting the needs of future generations in the LA work and actions.
Quality and value for money in all LA endeavours.
Valuing employees
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LA promotes a range of Fair Trade products. FAB: Fair Trade Association Birmingham, promotes fair trade in Birmingham. FAB is a network of individuals, businesses, community and not for profit organisations, the City Council and anyone with a shared purpose of tackling poverty, guaranteeing growers and producers in developing countries a fair return for their crops and goods.
This could be replicated in your community.
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Press likely to be interested
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LA purchased products where there is evidence that the producers are not fairly paid and work in unreasonable conditions.
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Society at large likely to be interested
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Research by some LA's has shown that up to 12 points of action which, when delivered well, have a marked impact on a Coiuncil's reputation. |
LA knowingly bought foodstuffs that are genetically modified or contain genetically modified ingredients.
LA buys products that have been tested on animals where alternatives are available that are of equal quality and are comparable in price.
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Leicester City's policy is that it will not buy products that have been tested on animals where alternatives are available that are of an equal quality and comparable in price. It goes on to set out that 'The City Council will work internally and externally with it suppliers and contractors to increase awareness of the theical issues involved in purcahsing decisions'. See p63 of Leicester City Guide to Environmentally Friendly Purchasing.[open]
North Shropshire District Council commissioned MORI to investaigate actions that have an impact on a local authority's reputation. The points of action identified included:
- ensure no gaps in cleaning and maintenance contracts
- set a 24 hr target for action on fly tipping and abandoned cars
- aim to have a Green Flag award for at least one park.
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Employees/ suppliers.
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LA considers animal welfare when making food purchases and, where it is available and the price competitive, seeks to purchase food that guarantees the welfare of animals.
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Meat and dairy products produced in accordance with the standard set for the RSPCA Freedom Foods scheme
or equivalent.
Leicester City include in their Policy[p63 of their Environmentally Friendly Purchasing Guide] that they will consider Animal Welfare when making food purchases and where is isavaolable and the price is competitive, seek to purchase food guarantees the welfare of the animals in the way that they arekept, transported and slaughtered.[open]
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