UNEP Launches International Sustainable Public Procurement Initiative and Associated Resources

Tuesday, 3 July 2012, 4:42 PM

On 20 June the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) launched a new Sustainable Public Procurement Initiative (SPPI) which seeks to back the worldwide implementation of sustainable public procurement through promotion of a better understanding of its potential benefits and impacts, and facilitating increased cooperation between key stakeholders. UNEP has also published a range of sustainable public procurement resources to accompany the launch.

The SPPI has already gained the support of 30 governments and institutions, including Switzerland, Denmark, the Netherlands and New Zealand.

With public procurement representing close to 20% of GDP across the OECD group of countries, UNEP argues that an increase in sustainable public procurement could accelerate the transition to a green economy through boosting the competitiveness of eco industries, saving money, conserving natural resources and fostering job creation.

Successful examples of sustainable public procurement include Japan’s Green Purchasing Policy, which has contributed to the growth of the country’s ecoindustries (estimated to be worth about €430 billion in 2010), and the city of Vienna, which saved €44.4 million and over 100,000 tonnes of CO2 between 2001 and 2007 through its EcoBuy programme.

UNEP has published the following resources related to the SPPI:

• Updated SPP Guidelines: incorporating the lessons-learnt from 7 pilot projects.
• SPP Training toolkit for decision-makers, suppliers and procurers (coming soon).
• Study on the Impacts of SPP.
• Sustainable Public Procurement Knowledge Management Centre: an online tool that provide access to projects, experts, best practices and capacity building tools.