Today’s announcement follows on from the publication of the London 2012 Sustainability Plan in November 2007 which outlined London 2012’s commitment to ensuring that the Games are managed in a way that is environmentally sound, economically viable and socially responsible. With procurement activities building over the next four years, it is anticipated that LOCOG alone will generate up to 5,000 direct business opportunities, creating around 25,000 supply chain opportunities throughout the supply chain pyramid.
Sedex is a secure, web-based system through which suppliers and licensees share data with their customers on four key 'pillars' - labour standards, health and safety, business integrity and environmental issues at factories and facilities they use. Membership of Sedex improves LOCOG’s ability to monitor and manage ethical and environmental impacts in its key supply chains. The expectation is that licensees and key suppliers – if not already members – will also sign up to Sedex.
The Sustainable Sourcing Code will require suppliers and licensees to London 2012 to identify, source and use environmentally sound and socially responsible practices based around four basic principles:
- Responsible Sourcing – ensuring goods and services are sourced and processed under a set of internationally acceptable environmental, social and ethical guidelines and standards (such as requiring suppliers and licensees to take steps towards fulfilling the provisions of the Ethical Trading Initiative’s Base Code);
- Use of Secondary Materials – maximising opportunities for products and materials with recycled content, minimising packaging materials, and designing with disassembly in mind so thought is given to reusing or recycling materials;
- Minimising Embodied Impacts – maximising resource and energy efficiency in the manufacturing and supply process in order to minimise carbon impacts; and
- Healthy Materials – ensuring non-polluting / non-toxic materials and substances are used.
London 2012 Chair Sebastian Coe commented: 'The Sustainability Plan which was launched last year marked the start of a process that underpins all of our preparations for London 2012. Our membership of Sedex and publication of our Sustainable Sourcing Code later this year are two significant examples of this plan coming to fruition.'
As LOCOG works to finalise the Sustainable Sourcing Code, comments are invited on the four sourcing principles. These can be sent to sustainablesourcing@london2012.com
– Ends –
Notes to editors:
- For further information about Sedex, go to www.sedex.org.uk
- The Ethical Trading Initiative (ETI) is an alliance of companies, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and trade union organisations promoting ethical consumerism. Further details at www.ethicaltrade.org
- Find out more about our plans for sustainability
For further information please contact the London 2012 Press Office on +44 (0)203 2012 100
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