§ Mr. SheermanTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport in what ways environmentally sustainable procurement strategies within the Department have driven innovation in the design and supply of products. [159099]
§ Estelle MorrisCopies of the Department's recently published sustainable development strategy are available in the Libraries of both Houses. Objective 2 of the strategy (sustainable estate management) highlights the fact that DCMS is the first Government Department to commission and purchase significant quantities of wood furniture from fully certified and accredited sources. We intend to encourage suppliers and contractors to develop environmentally preferable goods and services at competitive prices. Furthermore, the Department has supported innovation in this area via the National Endowment for Science Technology and the Arts, (NESTA), a Non Departmental Public Body. Last year NESTA made an award of £90,500 to a firm in Surrey which has developed a technology which produces a high quality paper pulp from straw. The technique uses only half the energy and fewer chemicals than traditional systems, with no harmful environmental effects.