Public Consultation on the Draft Green Public Procurement Strategy and Action Plan

Due to a disruption in services, submissions in relation to the consultation on the draft Green Public Procurement Strategy and Action Plan that were sent to gpp@decc.gov.ie were not delivered during a time period between 27 October 2023 and 3 November 2023. Please resubmit any submissions that were sent between 27 October 2023 and 3 November 2023 to gpp@decc.gov.ie.The closing date for receipt of submissions has been extended to 5.30pm Friday, 17 November 2023.

We need to move to a more sustainable production and consumption model across society by changing how we consume materials and resources; how we design the products that we use; and how we extend the productive life of all goods and products in our society and economy. The Circular Economy offers an alternative to today’s linear ('take-make-waste') model of production and consumption that helps us to move towards a more sustainable future.

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.

Green Public Procurement, or GPP, is a process where public authorities seek to source goods, services or works with a reduced environmental impact. 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 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 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.

The draft Green Public Procurement Strategy and Action Plan sets out information, and proposed actions, on:

• Policy and Legislative Context
• A proposed mandate to accelerate Green Public Procurement Implementation
• A focus on key sectors with associated proposed Green Public Procurement related targets
• Green Public Procurement Monitoring and Reporting
• Green Public Procurement Training and Awareness
• EU and International Partnership
• Market Engagement, Networks and Knowledge Sharing
• Research and Innovation
• Green Public Procurement Strategy and Action Plan Monitoring, Evaluation and Review

We are inviting submissions from interested persons and organisations on the draft Green Public Procurement Strategy and Action Plan.

We have provided a template below which contains questions you may find useful when making your submission. You don’t have to answer all questions, and you are free to comment on any part of the draft Green Public Procurement Strategy and Action Plan.

The closing date for receipt of submissions has been extended to 5.30pm on Friday, 17 November 2023

Submissions should be sent by email to gpp@decc.gov.ie or by post to:

Public Consultation on the Draft Green Public Procurement Strategy and Action Plan

Circular Economy – Strategic Policy Division

Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications

Newtown Road

Wexford

Y35 AP90

We are committed to engaging with stakeholders in a clear, open and transparent manner. Any person or organisation can make a submission in relation to this consultation. All submissions and feedback will be considered before the Green Public Procurement Strategy and Action Plan is finalised and published.

Please note that responses to this consultation are subject to the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act 2014 (FOI), Access to Information on the Environment Regulations 2007-2014 (AIE) and the Data Protection Act 2018.

Please also note that we intend to publish the contents of all submissions received to this consultation on its website. We will redact personal data prior to publication. In responding to this consultation, parties should clearly indicate where their responses contain personal information, commercially sensitive information or confidential information which they would not wish to be released under FOI, AIE or otherwise published.

We would like to draw your attention to our Data Privacy Noticewhich is available on our website and explains how and when we collect personal data, why we do so and how we treat this information. It also explains your rights in relation to the collection of personal information and how you can exercise those rights.

Industry Submissions

Group/Organisation Submissions