Challenges of Finding Sustainable Suppliers

Our Buy Smart Program was created to help us source suppliers with sustainable business practices and/or Aboriginal participation. In other words, we want to work with suppliers who not only offer price, service and quality, but also have environmental initiatives, respect human rights, and employ people who are Aboriginal, have a disability, or are from the inner city.

There is a relatively small supply of enterprises with sustainability and Aboriginal participation attributes, a positive track record of success and the capacity to deliver the volumes VANOC is seeking. Some of these suppliers are just beginning to organize to compete more readily. VANOC is working with our partners and community groups to help with brokering, outreach and education. We have vendor information on our website and that of the 2010 Commerce Centre. Potential suppliers can self-register on a database through the 2010 Commerce Centre website, which also offers outreach programs for British Columbia enterprises ( www.2010commercecentre.gov.bc.ca).