Publication
Green Public Procurement (GPP)
From Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications
Published on
Last updated on
From Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications
Published on
Last updated on
Green Public Procurement (GPP) is a process where public authorities seek to source goods, services or works with a reduced environmental impact throughout their life cycle when compared to goods, services and works with the same primary function that would ordinarily be procured.
The Government of Ireland’s annual public sector purchasing accounts for 10% to 12% of Ireland’s GDP, a large part of economic activity and demand. This provides Ireland’s public sector with significant influence to stimulate the provision of more resource-efficient, less polluting goods, services and works within the marketplace. Green Public Procurement is recognised internationally as an effective means for public administrations to manage the balance between cost effectiveness and sustainable development.
The public sector has a responsibility to promote green 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 Government has approved the Green Public Procurement Strategy and Action Plan, Buying Greener: Green Public Procurement Strategy and Action Plan 2024-2027, which will play a key role in driving the implementation of green and circular procurement practices across the public sector.
The Green Public Procurement Strategy and Action Plan 2024-2027 includes information, and actions, on:
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published guidance on green procurement in September 2021.
The main EPA GPP Guidance is currently accompanied by detailed Criteria for the following ten priority product/sectors:
To facilitate use of these criteria, the Office of Government Procurement (OGP) launched GPP Criteria Search. This online search tool allows the user to rapidly find, select, and download the GPP criteria relevant to a specific procurement. This tool was developed in collaboration with the EPA and the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications, with support from the Public Service Innovation Fund.
GPP has a key role to play in the European Union's efforts to become a more resource-efficient and circular economy.
More information about the EU’s work in this area can be found on the European Commission website.