Every purchasing decision we make has an impact on the environment and on society – from the energy which our new computer consumes, to the conditions of the workers who made our clothes. Sustainable procurement means carefully considering these impacts when choosing what you buy. 

Making the most out of public money

European public authorities spend over €2,000 billion (19 percent of GDP) every year on goods and services.

An increasing number of European ICLEI members recognise the power of procurement for sustainability and not only are they leading the way internationally, they are also reaping the benefits.

From the early pioneers - Kolding (Denmark) Gothenburg (Sweden) and Zurich (Switzerland) - followed by Barcelona (Spain) - to the more recent achievers - Helsinki (Finland) and London (United Kingdom) – a public procurement policy which incorporates sustainability can:

• Reduce environmental impacts

• Drive social improvements, including support of fair trade

• Achieve financial efficiency
  
  

Information, exchange and action! Cities working together to move the market

ICLEI has been involved in the topic of sustainable public procurement since 1996.

Activities include:

• Procura⁺ Sustainable Procurement Campaign, a framework supporting local government and public authority action.
  
  
• Sustainable Procurement Resource Centre – website bringing together all the latest news and resources on sustainable procurement , together with opportunities to get involved.

• EcoProcura series of conferences, providing procurers, sustainability experts and suppliers with a European meeting place.

• Mobilisation, information and advocacy – LG Action, EU GPP Helpdesk        

• Training and consultancy services.

• Guidance for sustainable public procurement:
• European Green Public Procurement Toolkit with advice for 18 different products and services.
• Guidelines for procurement to foster Sustainability in the United Nations
• Anchoring GPP principles in German training programmes
• The LANDMARK project - moving towards socially responsible procurement.
• Sustainable Timber Action – purchasing sustainable and fair timber
• SMART SPP – using procurement to trigger innovation.
• Sustainable Construction and Innovation through procurement: SCI-Network.
• Advice for procurers for energy intensive appliances – Euro-Topten.
• Organising green events.
• RESPIRO – promoting socially responsible public procurement.
• Purchasing Fair Trade products.
• Biofuels for transport – Biofuel Cities European Partnership.
• RELIEF - Results from European research on the environmental savings of green procurement.

ICLEI is also a member of the European Commission’s GPP EU-27Advisory Group chaired by The European Commission's DG Environment, the United Nations Marrakech Task Force on Sustainable Public Procurement and is a co-founder and Vice-Chair of the Internal Green Purchasing Network (IGPN). 

More information

Go to our search or contact mark.hidson@iclei.org.