EPA calls for urgent focus on green public procurement

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has published its second report on Green Public Procurement (GPP) activity in Government Departments. GPP is a process where public authorities seek to source goods, services or works that have 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.

The report, which is for 2021 and relates to procurement by 18 Government Departments, shows that - of the reported spend of over €528 million on contracts over €25,000 signed in 2021 - only 10 per cent included green criteria.

‘MISSED OPPORTUNITY’

Launching the report Laura Burke, EPA Director General, said that it was “disappointing” that there has been a low level of implementation in Government Departments.

“This is a missed opportunity for Government Departments to purchase more resource efficient and less polluting goods, services and works. The public sector must play a leadership role. Green Public Procurement sends a powerful signal to the marketplace that Ireland’s government sector is committed to reducing emissions and protecting our environment while saving money over the full lifecycle of goods and services,” she said.

KEY RECOMMENDATIONS

Government Departments are therefore being called on by the EPA to place an urgent focus on Green Public Procurement, with five key recommendations in their report:

to assign senior level resources with responsibility to ensure GPP is incorporated into procurement processes;

to update the Corporate Procurement Plan to include GPP;

to ensure relevant staff receive GPP training and are aware of the available guidance and resources;

to ensure there are tracking systems to monitor and report on GPP and;

to ensure that GPP data is published in Government Department Annual Reports.

STRATEGY

The EPA has supported GPP implementation through the provision of national guidance and green criteria for priority sectors, training for public sector procurers, monitoring & reporting on GPP implementation in Government Departments and inputs to the Office of Government Procurement’s online GPP Search Tool. A National GPP Strategy and Action Plan led by Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications is currently under development and plans to set targets for GPP implementation, and roles and responsibilities regarding GPP training, guidance, monitoring and reporting.

The report ‘Green Public Procurement: Monitoring and Reporting by Government Departments, 2021 Reference Year’ is now available on the EPA website (www.epa.ie)