Sustainable contracts

13th of May 2013
Sustainable contracts

Italian correspondent Anna Garbagna reports from a recent round table in Rome for the cleaning sector.

The round table Environmental Criteria in Cleaning Services – Comparing Experiences took place recently in Rome - organised by cleaning association ANIP at the suggestion of the Ministry of Environment, as part of the programme for Sustainable Development. General secretary of ANIP, Giuseppe Gherardelli chaired the meeting.

Lidia Capparelli, who is in charge of CONSIP (headquarters of purchasing for the Italian state) stressed the interest in the recent bid managed by CONSIP for the cleaning of about 4,000 Italian schools, highlighting the different environmental criteria used during the selection  phase and the need for good practice in communicating with the end users of the service.

More attention needed

Ivan Cicconi, director of ITACA (Institute for Innovation and Transparency in Tenders CONTRACTS and Environmental Compatibility) remarked on a total inattention on the part of institutions and government to the role that contracts for services could play in terms of economic and occupational development if they were managed with criteria of quality and business accreditation.

Simone Ricotta (member of the interministerial committee GPP) highlighted the positive experience of ARPA Toscana since 2007 in the management of a cleaning contract worth more then 2,200,000 euros, with environmental criteria defined in the assignment phase of the tender and in the subsequent management of the service.

A tender, as Ricotta said, which received important recognition and mentions at European level and particular attention for the constant improvement of performance on the part of the service cooperatives appointed.

Gianni de Togni of the National School for Services presented a number of figures compiled regarding public buildings and healthcare, recording the growing attention of contracting bodies to environmental requirements during the phase of selecting companies as well as  evaluation of the performance in carrying out the services. 

De Togni  also outlined the work in progress by trade associations, the National School of Services and ANMDO (National Association of Doctors from Hospital Management), which are working on the preparation of standard specifications and on the definition of specific environmental criteria for the cleaning sector in health and hospital environments.

To conclude Riccardo Rifici from the Ministry of Environment, whose offices were key players in the establishing of environmental criteria in tenders for office cleaning, referred to the positive dialogue with ANIP and its member companies that facilitated the formulation of this standard, which effectively understands the needs of all the market’s operators in public administration as well as of service and production firms.

The debate that followed brought up the concerns of a sector in which the cost and effort made by companies to achieve accreditation is not adequately recognised by customers in the tender bids.

The round table ended with a commitment from the trade bodies present to continue supporting growth and accreditation in the sector, which employs 500,000 people in Italy.

 

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