Sustainable and Green Public Procurement

Sustainable Public Procurement (SPP)

Sustainable Public Procurement is “the process whereby organizations meet their needs for goods, services, works and utilities in a way that achieves “value for money on a whole life basis” in terms of generating benefits not only to the organization, but also to society and the economy, whilst limiting damage to the environment.

Impacts & Opportunities

 
Green Public Procurement (GPP)

GPP is defined as the process where public authorities seek to procure goods, services and works with a reduced environmental impact throughout their life cycle when compared to goods, services and works with the same primary function that would otherwise be procured.

Public authorities are the major consumers in Europe. It is estimated that 1.8 trillion euro annually is spent, which roughly represents 14 % of the EU’s gross domestic product. Purchasing practices to lower the impact on the environment, are making an important contribution to sustainable consumption and production.

Green purchasing is also about influencing the market. By promoting and using GPP, public authorities can provide industry with real incentives for developing green technologies and products. In some sectors, public purchasers command a significant share of the market (e.g. public transport and construction, health services and education) and so their decisions have considerable impact.

Green public procurement - Lead the change! (1/2)

Green public procurement - Lead the change (2/2)