175000 tonnes of CO2 emissions saved by buying recycled

Embargoed until 00:01 on 21 November 2006

London organisations have saved 175,000 tonnes of C02 emissions from bein released through the purchase of recycled products1. This is equivalent to the yearly emissions produced by over 29,000 households.

The achievements of the Mayor’s Green Procurement Code – a sustainable purchasing programme, were announced last night at an awards ceremony in City Hall by Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone.

The Mayor also announced that those who have signed up to the Mayor’s Code have diverted 394,453 tonnes of waste from landfill by choosing to buy recycled products in the past year. This is enough to fill the Royal Albert Hall four times. Purchases include 19,150 square metres of recycled carpet, 15,582 items of recycled furniture and 35,550 recycled printer cartridges.

Over £379 million has been spent on recycled products through the Mayor’s Code funded by the London Development Agency and delivered by London Remade, since its launch in 2001. London organisations spent £157 million this year alone.

The Mayor announced the following winners in five categories: the London Borough of Tower Hamlets for best performing public sector organisation; Workspace Group
for best performing private sector organisation; Business Eco for best performing small to medium enterprise (SME); Environmental Business Products for best performing newcomer and, the Dominion Theatre for the extra mile award for innovation in creating a sustainable workplace. The Metropolitan Police Service
was also highly commended in the extra mile category.

Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone, said: “There are increasingly fewer reasons not to purchase recycled products. Increased demand generated by environmentally responsible companies has led to a range of high quality and value for money products on the market. The awards provide an ideal opportunity to recognise the outstanding achievements of companies across London in creating a sustainable city for the future.”

Tina Perfrement from London Remade, continued: “Climate change is high on the agenda for many organisations and suppliers are responding to demand for a greater range of recycled and sustainable products and practises. Sustainable
procurement is no longer limited to recycled paper but encompasses most office based activity including furniture, computers and energy. This year Mayor’s Code signatories purchased from 244 different suppliers compared to 125 in last year’s report.

“Members of the Mayor’s Code are leading the way in sustainable purchasing and will act as best practise champions for the rest of London and the UK to follow.”

Visit www.londonremade.com to view the full report
on sustainable purchasing in London.

For further information please contact Claire Appleby at London Remade on 020
7061 6380/07793 892 838 or email claire@londonremade.com