Environmental public procurement
Environmental Public Procurement Guide
The introduction of environmental criteria in municipal public procurement is one of the key tools for promoting ongoing improvement processes for increasing efficiency in the consumption of natural and economic resources and reducing the environmental impact associated with municipal activity.
Environmental public procurement likewise needs to be used for promoting a better offer of products and services that use resources more efficiently and for boosting the eco-innovation and environmental management of enterprises.
Barcelona City Council is working hard within the framework of the 2012-2022 Citizen Commitment to Sustainability to introduce sustainability criteria into its activity and management. In this regard it has developed the More Sustainable City Council Programme (+SCC Programme).
Environmental criteria in contracts provided for in greening instructions
Greening all municipal procurement is one of the main goals of the More Sustainable City Council Programme (+SCC Programme). This area of work has been developed since 2001 through successive government measures, municipal decrees and other regulations that have reinforced the inclusion of environmental criteria in the procurement of public works, products and services.
Environmental criteria in other municipal procurement
The guide also establishes how to tackle other municipal procurements beyond the scope of the instructions and sets out guidelines for the various procurement stages.
It accordingly defines the key environmental criteria that refer to the main environmental impact generated throughout the life cycle of a product or service, such as consumption and associated emissions, composition and materials used, and also incorporates the circular-economy paradigm as a key issue when it comes to promoting reduced and efficient use of materials.