When thinking of sustainable consumption, private consumers and their shopping choices are usually what come to mind. But there’s another powerful driver to consider: green public procurement.
Every year, public authorities across the EU spend on average 14% of GDP on goods and services. This massive budget, ranging from 4% of GDP in Portugal to 18% in Finland, wields immense power and has the potential to foster sustainable markets.
However, its potential is still largely untapped, with only a fraction of public procurement going toward eco-friendly products and major differences in spending between countries. From the limited data available about Green Public Procurement (GPP) across the EU, it is estimated that most countries apply environmental considerations to less than 5% of their contracts. This is as low as 0.5% in Malta, but over 15% in Denmark and France.
Despite these low figures, greening public procurement is within reach. Authorities across the EU are already setting inspiring examples and sharing best practices, while many tools are available to help procurers buy more sustainably, as highlighted by a recent publication by the European Environmental Bureau (EEB).
The case for Green Public Procurement
GPP goes beyond simply buying eco-friendly products; it’s a powerful strategy to lower a country’s environmental impact and inspire businesses to go green. By adopting GPP, public authorities can reduce waste, save resources and slash emissions, aligning with Europe’s ambitious sustainability goals while saving money.
When factoring in the long-term costs of products – such as energy savings and durability – by including sustainability criteria in tenders, procurers can experience significant budgetary gains over time, and avoid the hidden costs of frequent replacements and inefficient energy use.
And GPP doesn’t only benefit public entities. By driving demand for sustainable products and services, it impacts the entire market, sending a clear message that greener choices are essential, accessible, and even advantageous, incentivising industry to develop more eco-friendly technologies and products.
Green Public Procurement made easy
One of the main barriers to sustainable purchasing has long been the challenge of integrating green requirements into procurement systems. To address this, the EU has developed a wide range of tools that simplify the process for public authorities across Europe. These include voluntary criteria, handbooks, training materials, and access to the EU GPP helpdesk and a good practice library. Another key tool to support with GPP is the EU Ecolabel, the EU’s official certification for environmentally excellent products and services. Covering products such as paper, detergents, textiles, paints, and even tourist accommodations, the EU Ecolabel helps procurers find the most sustainable options. Guides are also available to support the integration of its criteria into public tenders, making it straightforward to require green standards for products like paper, tiles, flooring and roofing materials, or absorbent hygiene products.
In addition to EU-wide resources, national ministries and specialised organisations such the Federal Institute for Sustainable Development (IFDD/FIDO) in Belgium, PIANOo in the Netherlands and naBe in Austria offer tailored support to regional and local governments.
Quick wins
GPP criteria can be easily added to tenders, without requiring extensive research. The EU GPP handbook offers guidance on procedures, while certifications like the EU Ecolabel can help with formulating technical specifications. Even if not directly included in the tenders, the EU GPP criteria and the EU Ecolabel provide a reliable foundation for drafting requirements or enhancing existing standards.
The EU Ecolabel further supports public buyers by identifying products that meet the highest environmental standards, with no need for lengthy verification since certified products have already undergone independent vetting. By combining the EU’s voluntary GPP standards with the EU Ecolabel, procurers can save significant time and effort while ensuring sustainable purchasing.
Not a pipe dream, but a current reality
Success stories from across the EU show that green procurement is well within reach, with some EU countries already anchoring requirements for more sustainable procurement in all public purchases.
Denmark, for instance, launched a Strategy for Green Public Procurement, setting a goal that by 2030 all public procurement must be, where possible, certified with a green label like the Nordic Swan or the EU Ecolabel. France established that, by 2025, all tenders must include at least one environmental consideration, and 30% of tenders must also include at least one social consideration.
In other countries, authorities are exploring different ways to drive GPP. In Belgium, the Federal Government uses the Guide to Sustainable Purchasing for Paper Products, developed by IFDD/FIDO, applying EU GPP criteria and the EU Ecolabel to streamline the procurement of sustainable paper and ensure environmental compliance.
In the Netherlands, public procurers can use the Sustainable Public Procurement (SPP) Criteria Tool, a digital platform offering over 900 sustainability criteria that can be integrated in public tenders. Launched in 2017, this user-friendly tool has driven widespread adoption and attracted international attention: the Flemish government has been using it in their procurement since May 2024, and other EU and non-EU countries are looking into developing similar platforms. In 2023, the SPP Criteria Tool was used in public tenders which had a total value of over € 3 billion.
Since 2013, Statistics Poland has mandated the use of certified paper for all procurement contracts, requiring either the EU Ecolabel or the The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification. While initially suppliers were unprepared for these requirements, it has since become routine, reshaping supply chains and raising sustainability standards in the process.
These experiences show that green public procurement is achievable, and that many tools are already available to make it happen. As more institutions across Europe adopt GPP practices, they are not only saving resources, but also laying the foundation for more resilient and sustainable markets.
While individuals and companies play a key role in driving more sustainable consumption, public authorities can and must lead the way, by setting good examples and make sure that public money is spent in a way that protects people and the environment they depend upon. By effectively incorporating green and social criteria in their tenders and ensuring sustainability is at the core of public procurement, public authorities can create positive change, one purchase at a time.