CSR is about the behaviour of private sector organisations and their contribution to sustainable development goals. But the approach and values of good citizenship are also relevant to other organisations, including Government. Since the 1999 sustainable development strategy ‘A better quality of life’ we have regularly reported on the way our policies and practices contribute towards sustainable development. All Departments now produce Sustainable Development Action plans setting out their contribution and commitments towards the Government’s sustainability goals.

Since 1999 we have also regularly reported on the impacts of the operation of our Estate, initially in the Greening Government reports, and now in the Sustainable Development in Government series of reports. These reports should be seen in the context of the Framework for Sustainable Development on the Government Estate.

Sustainable procurement
As part of the World Summit on Sustainable Development commitment on sustainable production and consumption, we have pledged to ensure that the of goods and services we buy every year are sustainable.

The UK Sustainable Development Strategy set out our commitment to improve our performance as a sustainable procurer of goods and services with the aim of becoming a leader in the field.

In March 2007 the Government announced its Sustainable Procurement Action Plan which aims to to ensure that supply chains and public services will be increasingly low carbon, low waste and water efficient, respect biodiversity and deliver wider sustainable development goals.

You can find out more here.

In the international arena, we work with the European Commission, the United Nations and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) in promoting sustainable public procurement.

See our dedicated Sustainable Development in Government website for our reports, questionnaire responses and case studies.