VANOC has identified purchasing, licensing and business development as a strategic opportunity to advance our sustainability commitments and create value on a variety of fronts. This means making economically, environmentally and socially conscious choices when purchasing products and services. To support sustainable business development, VANOC has been working with our government partners, as well as other companies and organizations interested in sustainable purchasing.

Sustainable purchasing can help generate: 

• More jobs and access to training for disadvantaged populations 
• Growth of businesses and social and environmental enterprises involving residents of the inner city, Aboriginal communities, people with disabilities, at-risk women and youth, and visible minorities 
• Increased innovation, trade and investment in BC’s sustainability sector 
• Increased integration of social, ethical and environmental considerations into business operations 
• Creation of a best practice model for sustainable purchasing for the Olympic Movement

Through our sustainable purchasing practices, we can also measure our contributions to local economies and suppliers who support our sustainability goals. For instance, in the last fiscal year (2006-07), we can report that: 

• 54 per cent of VANOC’s spending went into the local economy (we define local as including Vancouver, Whistler, Richmond and the District of West Vancouver) 
• 30 per cent was spent on provincial businesses beyond our local economic region 
• 10 per cent went to Canadian enterprises outside British Columbia 
• 6 per cent was spent outside Canada

Our Corporate Procurement Policy was adopted on May 17, 2006. It requires our procurement team to evaluate the sustainability and ethical practices of all VANOC suppliers and licensees. These procedures were informed by, and will be measured against, best practices for ensuring ethical behaviour and human rights. This is done through self-declarations in qualification packages regarding compliance with legal requirements and VANOC-specified requirements.

• Buy Smart Program
• Buy Smart Stakeholder Engagement Feedback
• Licensee Code of Conduct
• Education and Outreach
• Sustainability in Action: VANOC Licensees and the Factory Factor
• Challenges of Finding Sustainable Suppliers