From Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications
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Minister of State with special responsibility for Public Procurement, eGovernment, Communications and the Circular Economy Ossian Smyth today launched a public consultation on a draft Green Public Procurement Strategy and Action Plan.
One of the important areas of the economy that can play a key role in helping Ireland to become a more resource-efficient and circular economy is Green Public Procurement and interested persons and organisations are now being asked to have their say.
Green Public Procurement, or GPP, is widely recognised as a vital policy lever to achieving environmental objectives. Large purchasing power gives the public sector significant influence to stimulate the creation and provision of more resource-efficient, less polluting goods, services and works within the marketplace.
The public sector has a responsibility to promote green public procurement, in order to support Ireland’s environmental and wider sustainable development objectives. Citizens need to be sure that what is purchased on their behalf has minimal harmful effects on the environment and society. At the same time, these goods, services and works must represent both short-term and long-term value for money.
The current national Green Public Procurement policy 'Green Tenders', is now more than a decade old. Over this time, we have seen green public procurement commitments become embedded in key areas of government policy including Ireland’s first the Whole of Government Circular Economy Strategy, the Programme for Government, the Climate Action Plan, and the Waste Action Plan for a Circular Economy.
A new draft Green Public Procurement Strategy and Action Plan has been developed which, when finalised, will replace ‘Green Tenders’. The Strategy is being prepared against the background of significant changes in climate, energy, sustainability, and procurement policies over the last number of years. The new Green Public Procurement Strategy and Action Plan will look to significantly increase Green Public Procurement implementation across the public sector.
Commenting on the opening of the consultation, Minister Smyth said:
"Ireland’s public sector has a huge amount of spending power when it comes to public procurement. By investing in greener goods, services and works, the public sector can make a substantial contribution to Ireland’s efforts in achieving environmental sustainability and transitioning to a low carbon and circular economy.
"A new Green Public Procurement Strategy and Action Plan for Ireland will help steer greater efforts in implementing Green Public Procurement across the public sector. I encourage stakeholders, particularly procurers and suppliers, to engage in this important consultation."
Key areas of focus in the draft Green Public Procurement Strategy and Action Plan include measures to progress Green Public Procurement implementation in the Public Sector; Green Public Procurement Monitoring and Reporting; Green Public Procurement Training and Awareness; and further development of national Green Public Procurement guidance and criteria. In addition the draft Strategy sets out how we will undertake market engagement, avail of research and innovation, and EU and international initiatives on Green Public Procurement. The draft strategy also has a key sectoral focus with related Green Public Procurement targets being proposed.
Submissions on the draft Green Public Procurement Strategy and Action Plan are now invited. The closing time and date for receipt of submissions is 5.30pm, 10 November 2023.
For information on how to make a submission please visit: Public Consultation on the Draft Green Public Procurement Strategy and Action Plan.
ENDS
The draft Green Public Procurement Strategy and Action Plan sets out information, and proposed actions, on:
1. Policy and Legislative Context
2. A proposed mandate to accelerate Green Public Procurement implementation
3. A focus on key sectors with associated proposed Green Public Procurement related targets
4. Green Public Procurement Monitoring and Reporting
5. Green Public Procurement Training and Awareness
6. EU and International Partnership
7. Market Engagement, Networks and Knowledge Sharing
8. Research and Innovation
9. Green Public Procurement Strategy and Action Plan Monitoring, Evaluation and Review
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published updated Green Public Procurement Guidance for the Public Sector in September 2021. The general guidance is accompanied by Green Public Procurement criteria for ten sectors. The EPA has published reports on Green Public Procurement Monitoring and Reporting by Government Departments for the reference years 2020 and 2021.
In 2022, the Office of Government Procurement led the development of GPP Criteria Search, an online search tool that allows the user to rapidly find, select, and download the Irish Green Public Procurement criteria relevant to a specific procurement project.