Useful websites

Low-carbon and green advice

• Act on CO2
  This government initiative encourages action on climate change. It includes an explanation of the science behind it as well as information on what businesses and individuals can do to help.
  Act on CO2 website
  
• The Carbon Trust
  The Carbon Trust provides specialist support to business and the public sector to help cut carbon emissions, save energy and commercialise low carbon technologies. Support for businesses includes 0% business loans and carbon surveys.
  Carbon Trust website
• Business Link
  This free business advice and support service is available through local advisers as well as online, where it includes a whole section on environment and efficiency.
  Business Link website
  
• Climate Friendly Foods
  Climate Friendly Foods is a social enterprise set up to support growers looking to embrace climate change. It provides best practice online toolkits, low-cost consultancy services in community food and carbon footprinting.
  Climate Friendly Foods website
  
• Department of Energy and Climate Change
  This is where businesses and public sector organisations can find definitive information and the latest news on government policy which affects businesss and the public sector, including the Climate Change and the Energy Acts.
  DECC website
  
• Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
  Defra’s site includes facts, figures, background information and policies on issues like sustainable procurement, waste and recycling.
  Defra website
  
• Energy Saving Trust
  The Energy Saving Trust provides a range of resources to help businesses and the public sector reduce carbon dioxide emissions and increase energy efficiency.
  Energy Saving Trust website
  
• Envirowise
  Envirowise provides free, government-supported environmental consultation, advice, and documentation for UK businesses.
  Envirowise website
• Food Climate Research Network
  The FCRN aims to provide a comprehensive learning resource for anyone wanting to learn more about food and climate change, including an e-newsletter and an online research library.
  FCRN website
• WRAP
  WRAP works closely with a number of sectors to help them achieve the benefits of resource efficiency and share best practice.
  WRAP website

Low-carbon incentives

• Climate Change Levy
  The CCL is chargeable on lighting, heating and power consumption in certain sectors of business, including industry, commerce, agriculture and public administration. Businesses that meet energy efficiency or carbon-saving targets (known as Climate Change Agreements) under this scheme receive a discount on the levy.
  CCL guidance
• CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme
  This mandatory scheme is aimed at improving energy efficiency and cutting emissions in the UK’s large public and private sector organisations.
  CRC guidance
• Enhanced Capital Allowance scheme
  The ECA allows businesses to claim 100% of first-year capital allowances on energy- saving plant and machinery, low carbon dioxide emission cars and natural gas and hydrogen refueling infrastructure, water conservation plant and machinery.
  ECA guidance
• Feed in Tariff
  The scheme encourages organisations, businesses, communities and individuals to invest in small-scale, low-carbon electricity generation by guaranteeing payment for electricity generated and exported to the national grid.
  Feed in Tariff guidance
  
• Renewable Heat Incentive
  This aims to provide long term support for, and to incentivise, renewable heat technologies, from household solar thermal panels to industrial wood pellet boilers.
  Renewable Heat Incentive guidance
  
• Renewables Obligation
  This support scheme for renewable electricity projects places an obligation on UK suppliers of electricity to source an increasing proportion of their electricity from renewable sources. It issues a green certificate to accredited generators for their energy output.
  Renewables Obligation guidance

Carbon accounting advice

• Greenhouse Gas Protocol
  The most widely used international accounting tool for government and business leaders to understand, quantify, and manage greenhouse gas emissions.
  Greenhouse Gas Protocol website
  
• Guidance on greenhouse gas reporting
  The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs’ guidance on how to measure, report and set targets for business greenhouse gas emissions.
  Defra guidance
  
• ISO 14001
  The best-known international standard for organisations wishing to implement a comprehensive environmental management system or ensure compliance with environmental laws and regulations.
  ISO 14001 information
• ISO 14064
  An international standard that provides a framework for organisations to quantify and report on greenhouse gas emissions.
  ISO 14064 information
  
• PAS 2050
  A recognised and accredited method for measuring the life cycle greenhouse gas emissions for goods and services.
  PAS 2050 information
  

Advice in Cornwall and the South West

• CoaST
  The Cornwall Sustainable Tourism Project offers networking and training support for sustainable business practice within the South West. It aims to support tourism businesses as well as those that work with them, including the food and drink industry, media and design companies and the transport and construction sector.
  CoaST website
  
• Cornwall Council
  The council can offer advisors and support for business, environment and planning within the county.
  Cornwall Council website
• Community Energy Plus
  A charity delivering local solutions to fuel poverty, energy efficiency and sustainable energy.
  Community Energy Plus website
  
• Eden Project’s Green Foundation course
  A free 10-day training programme for Cornish companies designed and delivered by the Eden Project, to provide businesses with the inspiration and tools they need to get ahead in the low-carbon economy.
  Green Foundation website
• SWARM Knowledge Hub
  A South West Agricultural Resource Management site dedicated to South West farmers and growers, to provide practical advice on reducing the costs of farm inputs, investing in energy-saving and getting funding and training for sustainable agriculture.
  SWARM Knowledge Hub website
  
• Tenders in Cornwall
  A site designed to give companies, small businesses and social enterprises the ability to search and view public sector tender opportunities in Cornwall.
  Tenders in Cornwall website

Sustainable procurement advice and toolkits

• Buying Green Handbook
  The European Union’s guidebook on green public procurement explains how public authorities can take environmental considerations into account within tenders.
  Buying Green Handbook
• Forum for the Future’s Sustainable Procurement Toolkit
  This toolkit is designed to help identify and prioritise the best opportunities for improving the sustainability on any contract or supply area. It gives guidance on how to select appropriate suppliers, develop specifications, award contracts and work with suppliers.
  Sustainable Procurement Toolkit
• Portal for Responsible Supply Chain Management
  Here, practitioners can access hands-on tools and information to further develop their own approach to corporate social responsibility in the supply chain.
  Portal for Responsible Supply Chain Management
  
• Procura+
  A European initiative to help support public authorities in implementing sustainable procurement – and help promote their achievements.
  Procura+ website
• Sustainable Procurement Centre of Excellence for Higher Education
  A website providing information on sustainable procurement, commodity areas, carbon reduction, whole life costing, legislation, toolkits, case studies, and best practice, as well as updates on the latest sustainability news, events and training.
  SPCE website
  
• Sustainable Procurement Cupboard
  A website where procurement professionals, within all sectors, can find case studies, tools, primary documents, and other content to help them to get to grips with sustainable procurement.
  Sustainable Procurement Cupboard
• Sustainable Procurement Guide
  A British Standards Institute guide to help procurement professionals meet the challenges of the sustainability agenda by providing clear, practical advice on how to approach sustainable procurement issues and how to embed these practices within an organisation.
  Sustainable Procurement Guide online
  
• Sustainable Procurement Training Materials
  Put together by the Environmental Association for Universities and Colleges, the training materials include resources designed for the higher education sector, but which would be of use for other organisations too.
  Sustainable Procurement Training Materials online
  
• Sustainable Sourcing
  A website and newsletter dedicated solely to opinion and analysis of the key sustainability issues that procurement professionals face, specifically in relation to sourcing and supply chains.
  Sustainable Sourcing website
  

Procurement guidance and membership organisations

• Association of Procurement Practitioners in the Fire Service
  A website containing news, information, advice and debate on topics affecting procurement professionals in the Fire and Rescue Service.
  APPFS website
• Association of University Procurement Officers
  The membership organisation was set up to promote the exchange of ideas, good practice and networking across and beyond the higher and further education sectors.AUPO website
  
• Buying Solutions
  This organisation helps the public sector – from the biggest central government departments, NHS Trusts and local councils, through to the smallest schools – find the products and services they need.
  Buying Solutions website
  
• Chartered Institute of Purchasing & Supply
  CIPS is an international membership organisation serving the purchasing and supply profession.
  CIPS website
  
• Government Buying Standards
  This site includes information on the government’s own sustainable procurement criteria, advice on how suppliers can meet these, and guidance for businesses and organisations on setting up their own policies.
  Government Buying Standards website
  
• Government Opportunities
  This website aims to provide anyone buying for or supplying to the public sector with the latest news, views, information and analysis of the multibillion-pound marketplace of public procurement.
  Government Opportunities website
  
• Office of Government Commerce
  This independent office within the Treasury was established to help the government deliver best value from its spending. Its website shares information on how they tackle sustainable procurement and offers advice on how other organisations can do it too.
  OGC website
• Procureweb
  Aimed at universities, colleges and research councils, Procureweb provide tools, information and support to anyone who participates in the procurement process within the sector, such as users, buyers or sellers.Procureweb
• Society of Procurement Officers in Local Government
  A society to provide guidance and promote best practice on purchasing, contracting and supplies, amongst, member local authorities. The website includes information of use to potential local authority suppliers too.
  SOPO website

Public procurement databases

• Blue Light Tenders
  A site dedicated to tendering within the Emergency Services, Police Authorities and Fire & Rescue Services. Potential suppliers can sign up to receive notifications of new opportunities.
  Blue Light Tenders online
• Contracts Finder
  A web-based database providing live information on the latest public sector contracts that suppliers can bid for.
  Contracts Finder online
• NHS Supply2Health
  An online resource that advertises opportunities to provide clinical services commissioned by the NHS in England.
  NHS Supply2Health online
  
• Tenders.ac.uk
  This site provides access to UK university contract opportunities, from buildings to computing equipment.
  Tenders.ac.uk online
  
• Tenders Electronic Daily
  An online site dedicated to European public procurement which is updated five times a week with approximately 1,500 public procurement notices from the European Union, the European Economic Area and beyond.
  Tenders Electronic Daily website
  
• Tenders in Cornwall
  A site designed to give companies, small businesses and social enterprises the ability to search and view public sector tender opportunities in Cornwall.
  Tenders in Cornwall website