1. GPP Training toolkit 1. Green Public Procurement (GPP) – An Introduction
Module aims: To present the strategic role of GPP for public authorities – demonstrating the power of procurement as a tool for addressing different policy objectives, and the benefits this can bring. It also provides several case studies to demonstrate that GPP is already being successfully implemented across the EU.
Trainers’ notes have been included under certain slides to highlight points to be emphasised, or provide further background information.
This document forms part of the EU GPP Training Toolkit. The full toolkit can be found on the European Commission GPP website:

2. GPP Training Toolkit Module 1: Introduction Module 4: Needs Assessment
Module 2: Strategic Aspects of GPP
Module 5: Circular Procurement
Module 3: Legal Aspects of GPP
Module 6: Market Engagement
Module 7: Operational (Key sectors for GPP)
Module 1: Introduction

3. Public procurement is a powerful market force
Why procurement?
Public procurement is a powerful market force
€1.8 trillion is spent by EU public authorities each year (14% of EU GDP)
GPP aims to use this power to drive the market for more sustainable goods and services
Module 1: Introduction

4. Public transport services
Why procurement?
Public authorities buy a huge range of goods and services
Building renovation
Computers
Catering services
Road construction
Office stationery
Vehicles
Electricity
Public transport services
Cleaning services
Furniture
Public sector market share typically 5-15%
- sometimes much higher
Module 1: Introduction

5. The impacts of procurement
Every product we buy has a huge range of environmental impacts, across the product life-cycle
Supply chain
Consumption of raw materials
Energy/water use, emissions and (toxic) waste from industrial processing and transportation
Usage
Energy/water consumption
Generation of waste and emissions
Use of consumables (e.g. paper, ink)
Disposal
Generation of waste
Toxic emissions
Potential new raw material
Module 1: Introduction

6. Impacts: Climate change/CO2 emissions
Impacts of our purchases:
Electricity used to power our buildings and equipment
Fuel consumed by our vehicles or to heat our buildings
Emissions from industrial processes and transportation throughout supply chains
How can GPP help?
Require high energy efficiency standards for buildings and products
Purchase green electricity
Shift to zero emission vehicles (and encourage suppliers to do the same)
The next three slides indicate how GPP can help tackle three specific sustainability goals – climate change, air/water quality, and waste and resource use. Procurement is a flexible tool which can be used to tackle a wide variety of policy goals, therefore additional slides may be prepared depending on the priorities of interest to the intended audience.
Module 1: Introduction

7. Impacts: Air and water quality
Impacts of our purchases:
Pollution from vehicles owned by the public sector, running our services or delivering our products
Use of chemical products (e.g. for cleaning) containing toxic substances
Use of chemical based pesticides and fertiliser in food production
How can GPP help?
Shift to zero emission vehicles (and encourage suppliers to do the same)
Require cleaning services to be carried out with ecolabel compliant products
Specifying organic in food and catering contracts
Module 1: Introduction

8. Impacts: Waste and resource use
Impacts of our purchases:
Disposal of electrical products at end of life
Waste materials from construction and demolition work
Packaging used in delivery of goods
How can GPP help?
Promote circular economy solutions
Require extended product lifetimes, and guarantee of spare parts
Demand reduced or reusable packaging
Encourage the use of recycled materials in construction
Module 1: Introduction

9. Impacts
Procurement can be a powerful tool in meeting environmental policy objectives …. ….OR…. ….It can be part of the problem
Module 1: Introduction

10. Green Public Procurement
GPP is … “a process whereby 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”
GPP can affect environmental impact:
Directly – through improved environmental performance of goods, services and works bought
Indirectly – through using this market leverage to encourage companies to invest in cleaner products and services
Module 1: Introduction

11. EU GPP Policy & Regulatory Framework
EC Communication (2017): Making Public Procurement work in and for Europe – key priorities include:
Ensuring wider uptake of innovative, green, and social procurement
Boosting the professionalism of public buyers
Revised Public Procurement Directives (2014) – key aim to facilitate and ensure the greater inclusion of common societal goals in the procurement process.
This presents two of the essential components of the European Commission’s policy and regulatory support framework for GPP. The underlying message is that procurement is considered by the EC a key tool for promoting environmental and other societal goals. Further information on the historical background of EC GPP policy:
References:
Making Public Procurement work in and for Europe (COM(2017) 572) -
Public Procurement Directives: Directive 2014/24/EU on public procurement & Directive 2015/25/EU on procurement by entities operating in the water, energy, transport and postal services sectors -
Module 1: Introduction

12. GPP in practice: Munich (2017)
Organic and nutritionally-balanced food for schools
Catering contract for 300 facilities (490,000 students)
At least 50% organic produce (90-100% for meat products, and 100% for eggs)
Fish from certified sustainable sources
Contract awarded 40% on price, 50% on variety and taste, 10% on other social and environmental factors
Case study
Link for case study: ec.europa.eu/environment/gpp/pdf/newsalert/Issue78_Case_Study_154_Munich.pdf
Module 1: Introduction

13. GPP in practice: Wageningen (2016)
Circular procurement of furniture
Circular procurement approach for City Hall refurbishment
Furniture products to indicate the composition and origin of all materials and how they will be reutilised after the product lifetime (part of Dutch ReNtry programme)
No toxic materials, and no temporary packaging
Prices achieved no higher than normal
Case study
Link for case study: ec.europa.eu/environment/gpp/pdf/news_alert/Issue69_Case_Study_138_Wageningen.pdf
Module 1: Introduction

14. GPP in practice: Vaasa (2014)
Recovering biogas to power public transport
City of Vaasa aims to be climate neutral by 2035
12 new biogas powered buses purchased, together with maintenance services
Biogas generated by local waste management company from sewage sludge
15% higher cost than diesel buses – but fuel costs staying in regional economy
Case study
Link for case study: ec.europa.eu/environment/gpp/pdf/news_alert/Issue76_Case_Study_151_Vaasa.pdf
Image: City of Vaasa
Module 1: Introduction

15. Further guidance and support
Buying Green (3rd edition, 2016)
EU GPP criteria
Good Practice Examples
GPP Helpdesk For further support on GPP, contact the EU’s free Helpdesk
Full links:
Buying Green:
EU GPP criteria:
Good practice examples: (further links presented in Module 2)
Helpdesk:
Toolkit developed for the European Commission by ICLEI - Local Governments for Sustainability
Module Author: ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability
Owner, Editor: European Commission, DG Environment, 2019
Photos: courtesy of Pixabay.com under Creative Commons CCO
Disclaimer: This toolkit is an indicative document of the Commission services and cannot be considered binding to this institution in any way. Neither the European Commission nor any person acting on behalf of the Commission is responsible for the use that might be made of the information in this document.
Module 1: Introduction