How often are we presented with a low-cost, low-effort, high-impact sustainability initiative? Almost never.
The United Nations Environment Programme has referred to sustainable (public) procurement as a “sleeping giant”. This is particularly true in New Zealand, where we’ve largely been a laggard when it comes to Sustainable Development Goal 12.7. This isn’t due to a shortage of responsibly produced goods or services, but because we’ve been overly focused on the lowest upfront cost.
But the reality is cheap isn’t cost-effective if the product breaks prematurely, ends up in a landfill, harms our environment, or people’s health.
Helping procurers understand this, and empowering them to buy better, is exactly why Eco Choice Aotearoa partnered with TCO Development and the New Zealand Procurement Excellence Forum to deliver an expanded Sustainable Procurement Toolkit.
The toolkit is designed to meet organisations wherever they are on their journey. It simplifies decision-making through certifications like Eco Choice and TCO Certified, provides guidance on interpreting Rule 8 (Economic Benefit) of the Government Procurement Rules, and addresses critical issues such as modern slavery.
Key insights from our launch event hosted by Tonkin & Taylor on 22 April 2026:
- Perfection is the enemy of progress. Begin by focusing on high-value products or those you buy in bulk.
- Bring your suppliers with you. Real impact comes from evolving supply chains through engagement, not knee-jerk reactions like shifting spend elsewhere.
- Push for extended producer responsibility (EPR). For example, TCO has shared that asking IT providers to extend a laptop’s lifespan by just one year can reduce its climate impact by up to 24%.
- Review weighting. Too often, sustainability is weighted at only 5–10% in procurement processes (if at all). This needs to change.
- Stop confusing price with value. A “cheap” product becomes more expensive over its life if it cannot be serviced, repaired, or refurbished.
- Use credible certifications as due diligence tools. Ones you can trust will address the most material impacts of the product or take a comprehensive approach like Eco Choice and TCO. Certification requirements should be transparent and verified by independent auditors.
- Modern slavery happens in Aotearoa and it rarely looks like “chains and shackles.” It looks like withheld travel documents, overcrowded boarding houses, and exorbitant migrant recruitment premiums. Don’t stop at your immediate supplier. The panel urged procurers to dig deeper into supply chains.
- Organisations should not wait for regulatory pressure or mandatory reporting requirements. Responsible procurement is critical to organisational trust and reputation.
Take action
Ready to get started? Explore Eco Choice’s product finder for environmentally preferable products, or dive into the Sustainable Procurement Toolkit to learn more.
