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Europe's public authorities are major consumers. By using their purchasing power to choose environmentally friendly goods, services and works, they can make an important contribution to sustainable consumption and production - what we call Green Public Procurement (GPP) or green purchasing.

Although GPP is a voluntary instrument, it has a key role to play in the EU's efforts to become a more resource-efficient economy. It can help stimulate a critical mass of demand for more sustainable goods and services which otherwise would be difficult to get onto the market. GPP is therefore a strong stimulus for eco-innovation.

To be effective, GPP requires the inclusion of clear and verifiable environmental criteria for products and services in the public procurement process. The European Commission and a number of European countries have developed guidance in this area, in the form of national GPP criteria. The challenge of furthering take- up by more public sector bodies so that GPP becomes common practice still remains. As does the challenge of ensuring that green purchasing requirements are somewhat compatible between Member States - thus helping create a level playing field that will accelerate and help drive the single market for environmentally sound goods and services.

Latest News

8 December 2020

EU GPP criteria for data centres and EU GPP criteria for imaging equipment translated

The EU GPP criteria for data centres, server rooms and cloud services and the EU GPP criteria for imaging equipment, consumables and print services are now available in 23 EU languages on the EU GPP criteria webpage.

29 July 2020

GPP criteria for imaging equipment, consumables, and print services

The European Commission has just published new voluntary EU GPP criteria for imaging equipment, consumables, and print services.

The new criteria include both core and comprehensive environmental criteria, which are verifiable and encompass the whole life cycle (design, use and end-of-life). Typical routes for procuring imaging equipment products and services are covered, including the equipment, consumables such as cartridges, and services related to imaging equipment.

The new criteria are available in English; the other EU official languages will soon follow.

11 June 2020

Technical background report on GPP criteria for data centres, server rooms and cloud services

The European Commission has published the technical background report for its GPP criteria for data centres, server rooms and cloud services.

This criteria set aims to help public authorities ensure that data centres’ equipment and services are procured in such a way that they deliver environmental improvements that contribute to European policy objectives for energy, climate change and resource efficiency, as well as reducing life cycle costs. This report provides the background technical rationale and a summary of the stakeholder contributions that support each criterion in the final GPP criteria.

The report, as well as the GPP Criteria, can be found on the EU GPP Criteria page.

11 May 2020

New guidance on green procurement of textiles

The European Commission’s Joint Research Centre has published a new guidance document on applying the GPP Criteria for Textile Products and Services. It offers advice across the different phases of procurement, from pre-procurement to post-procurement, and outlines different scenarios which can practically guide public procurers through textile-related purchases.

The guidance can be found here.

19 March 2020

GPP criteria for data centres, server rooms and cloud services

The European Commission has just published new voluntary EU GPP criteria for data centres, server rooms and cloud services.

The new criteria include both core and comprehensive environmental criteria, which are verifiable and encompass the whole life cycle (design, use and end-of-life). Typical routes for procuring data centre products and services are covered, including building and/or equipping a data centre, expanding or consolidating the infrastructure of a new ICT product, outsourcing (i.e. procuring services), operating and/or maintaining facilities.

The new criteria are available in English; the other EU official languages will soon follow.

2 January 2020

New Life Cycle Costing tools now available

The European Commission has developed a series of five new Life Cycle Costing (LCC) tools, to help public procurers make more cost-effective and environmentally-friendly decisions. Tools are now available for Computers and Monitors, Indoor Lighting, Outdoor Lighting, Vending Machines and Imaging Equipment.

A webinar on how to use the new tools was also held on December 16 2019.  The slides and a recording can be found here.

13 November 2019

GPP criteria for public space maintenance

The European Commission has just published new voluntary EU GPP criteria for public space maintenance. The use of these criteria has the potential to considerably reduce environmental impacts from public space maintenance, for instance by setting requirements on:

• the cleaning products formulation and raw material use, manufacturing and end-of-life of cleaning products and disposable cleaning accessorie;
• the purchase of native ornamental plants;
• the organic constituents of growing media and mulches and strict limitations on heavy metals in soil improvers;
• water saving in irrigation systems and watering practices;
• gardening practices to enhance biodiversity;
• the use of low-emissions vehicles and machineries;

The new criteria are available in English; the other EU official languages will soon follow.

2 October 2019

New GPP criteria for food, catering services and vending machines

The European Commission has just published new voluntary EU GPP criteria for food, catering services and vending machines. The use of these criteria has the potential to considerably reduce environmental impacts from this purchase area. Some of the key objectives of this EU GPP criteria-set are the following:

• Increasing the share of organic products;
• Avoiding the consumption of fish and marine products from depleted stocks;
• Promoting an increased offer in plant-based menus;
• Avoiding food waste and improving the overall management of waste;
• Avoiding the use of single-use items;

• Reducing energy consumption in kitchens and vending machines;
• Reducing water consumption in kitchens.

The new criteria are available in English; the other EU official languages will soon follow.

August 2019

New Life Cycle Costing tools now available

The European Commission has developed a series of new Life Cycle Costing (LCC) tools, to help public procurers make more cost-effective and environmentally-friendly decisions. Specific tools already exist for Computers and Monitors, Indoor Lighting and Outdoor Lighting. Vending Machines and Imaging Equipment tools will soon follow.

23 May 2019

New GPP training toolkit now available

The European Commission has just published a completely revised version of the GPP Training Toolkit. The Toolkit consists of training material aimed at supporting contracting authorities (public procurers) in how they do green procurement. It contains six independent modules addressing the most important aspects on how to assess needs and engage the market (prior to tendering), circular procurement, strategic and legal aspects of GPP. Ten operational modules cover the environmental issues of several product/service groups. Training activities supported by the European Commission and based on the GPP training toolkit are being organised in 11 EU Members States.

12 April 2019

Webinar on GPP of road transport

A webinar to discuss the latest changes in the European Commission's newly revised Green Public Procurement (GPP) criteria for road transport will take place on 12 April (10.30-12.00 Brussels time (CET)). As well as introducing the new criteria, the webinar will also present case studies, and will provide an opportunity for questions and discussion. For more information and to register, please visit the registration page.

1 February 2019

GPP criteria for indoor cleaning services translated

The EU GPP criteria for indoor cleaning services, published in October 2018, are now available in 23 languages.

15 January 2019

New GPP criteria for road transport

The European Commission has just published new voluntary EU GPP criteria for Road Transport. The use of these criteria has the potential to considerably reduce environmental impacts from road transport, for instance by requiring:

• criteria on type-approval CO2 emissions for cars and light commercial vehicles, and specific technologies for heavy duty vehicles and L-category vehicles;
• criteria based on air pollutant emissions performance for cars and light commercial vehicles, and specific technologies for heavy duty vehicles and L-category vehicles;
• criteria on rolling resistance of tyres;
• criteria on energy efficiency for electric cars and light commercial vehicles;
• criteria on battery warranties;
• criteria on vehicle and tyres noise emissions;
• key competences and the application of key environmental management measures and practices from service providers;
• adequate and frequent training for the staff of service providers;
• criteria on tyres and lubricants for maintenance activities.

The new criteria are available in English; the other EU official languages will soon follow.

19 December 2018

New GPP criteria for road lighting and traffic signals

The European Commission has published new guidance for GPP for road lighting and traffic signals. The guidance, in the form of EU GPP criteria, covers the following types of procurement:

• road lighting in new lighting installations
• retrofitting of different luminaires to existing lighting installations
• retrofitting of different light sources or controls to existing luminaires
• simple replacement of light sources, lamps or luminaires on a like-for-like basis in existing lighting installations

The new criteria are available in English; the other EU official languages will follow soon.

14 December 2018

A webinar to discuss the latest changes in the newly revised EU GPP criteria for cleaning services will take place on Tuesday 18 December 2018 14.00 - 15.30 CET (Brussels time). Speakers will provide insights about the revision process and their experiences implementing environmental criteria in the purchase of indoor cleaning services.
The agenda for the webinar is as follows:

• Introduction to the new EU GPP Criteria for Indoor Cleaning Services - Enrico Degiorgis, DG Environment, European Commission
• Socially responsible cleaning framework using green cleaning products - experiences from Catalonia - Anna Esteve Traveset, Government of Catalonia

Prior registration is essential. To do so, please visit the registration page.

25 October 2018

New criteria for indoor cleaning services

The Commission has just published new voluntary EU GPP criteria for indoor cleaning services. The use of the criteria has the potential to considerably reduce environmental impacts from indoor cleaning services and products, for instance by requiring:

• key competences and the application of key environmental management measures and practices from the service provider;
• adequate and frequent training for the staff of the service provider;
• the use of cleaning products with reduced environmental impact;
• the use of cleaning accessories with reduced environmental impact;
• the use of energy efficient cleaning power equipment;
• the supply of consumable goods with reduced environmental impact.

The new criteria are available in English; the other official languages will follow soon.

27 July 2018

GPP criteria for paints and varnishes translated

The EU GPP criteria for paints, varnishes and road marking, published in January 2018, are now available in 23 languages.

4 April 2018

European Commission Circular Procurement brochure translated

The European Commission brochure on Public Procurement for a Circular Economy, published in October 2017, is now available also in French, German, Italian, Polish and Spanish.

Visit the publications page to download the brochure.

16 January 2018

New Criteria for paints, varnishes and road markings

The Commission has just published new voluntary EU GPP criteria for paints, varnishes and road markings. They cover both the purchase of products and of works in this area. The use of the draft criteria has the potential to considerably reduce environmental impacts from these products and their costs. Some of the most likely impacts of the application of the GPP criteria are expected to foster circular economy aspects and are the following: minimise the impact of production by addressing specific ingredients and dosage; reduce the hazardous properties of the overall formulation; promote durable paints and road markings; incentivise minimisation of product wastage, including reuse and recycling.

The new criteria are available in English; the other official languages will follow soon.

16 October 2017

European Commission publishes new Circular Procurement brochure

A new brochure on Public Procurement for a Circular Economy has been published by the European Commission.
The brochure provides introductory guidance and good practice on the points where public procurement can be used to support the transition to a circular economy. As well as considering the policy framework and strategies such as strategic thinking and engaging the market, the brochure provides guidance on identifying where and how to make a purchase more circular according to the principles of reduce, reuse, recycle and recover. Alongside each of these sections, good practice examples are also provided, demonstrating how circular economy principles are already being implemented across Europe.
The brochure builds on the direction set in the EU Action Plan for the Circular Economy by providing a range of practical steps for using green public procurement (GPP) to drive forward the transition to a circular economy.
Visit the publications page to download the brochure.

22 August 2017

New Criteria for green furniture procurement

The Commission has just published new voluntary EU GPP criteria for furniture, an area with a high annual spend by public authorities. A major change from the existing GPP criteria for furniture (published in 2008) is the introduction, in addition to classic furniture purchasing, of sections on the procurement of furniture refurbishment and of end-of-life services. Those new areas aim at prolonging the life span of furniture items, thus reflecting a reinforcement of circular economy aspects in EU GPP criteria.

The use of the criteria has the potential to considerably reduce environmental impacts from furniture and their costs. Some of the most likely impacts of the application of GPP criteria in furniture procurement activities are expected to foster circular economy aspects and are the following:
• Increasing awareness of procurers of the potential for furniture refurbishment services;
• Encouraging innovation in furniture companies in terms of design for disassembly, and partial replacement of components;
• Fostering skills development in furniture repair, renovation and responsible End-of-Life (EoL) disposal;
• Reduction of the quantities of furniture waste sent to landfill as products become easier to separate.
The new criteria are available in English; the other official languages will follow soon.

28 June 2017

A webinar to discuss the latest changes in the newly revised EU GPP criteria for textiles took place last Wednesday 28 June 2017. Three speakers provided their insights about the revision process and their experiences implementing environmental criteria in the purchase of textile products and services.
More specifically, the webinar included presentations on:
·         EU Green Public Procurement (GPP) Support Tools – Robert Kaukewitsch, European Commission, Directorate General for Environment.
·         What's new in the EU GPP criteria for textiles - Nicholas Dodd, European Commission, Joint Research Centre.
·         Practical experiences from the European Clothing Action Plan (ECAP) - Barbara van Offenbeek, Ministry for Infrastructure and Environment (the Netherlands).
The presentations and a recording of the webinar are available here.

7 June 2017

New Criteria for green textile products and services
The Commission has just published new voluntary EU GPP criteria for textiles products and services, an area with a high annual spend by public authorities in the area of military, police and fire fighter uniforms as well as for hospital staff. A major change from the existing GPP criteria for textiles (dating back to 2012) is the introduction of textile services, an emerging market with a high potential to reduce environmental impacts.
The draft criteria have the potential to help considerably reduce environmental impacts of textiles and their costs. Some of the most likely impacts are the following:
• Purchase textiles that contain recycled materials or are made from fibres which are produced using less fertilisers, hazardous pesticides and production chemicals
• Purchase fabrics that do not shrink during use, that are constructed to be more durable in use and which have longer lasting functional coatings
• Purchase textiles or textile services which minimise the energy used to wash, dry and iron textiles
• Contract services which maintain textiles in order to extend their lifetime
• Contract services which maximise the potential for re-use and recycling of textiles at the end of their service life.
The new criteria are available in English; the other official languages will follow soon.

24 February 2017

GPP criteria for Computers and Monitors translated

The EU GPP criteria for Computers and Monitors, published in October 2016, are now available in 23 languages.

9 January 2017

GPP criteria for Roads translated

The EU GPP criteria for Road Design, Construction and Maintenance, published in June 2016, are now available in 23 languages.

 

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