Publication
Green Public Procurement
From Office of Government Procurement
Published on
Last updated on
From Office of Government Procurement
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, compared to other goods, services, or works with the same function.
Green Public Procurement Strategy and Action Plan 2024 - 2027
The new Green Public Procurement Strategy and Action Plan ‘Buying Greener: Green Public Procurement Strategy and Action Plan 2024-2027’ has been published. Further information on the new strategy and action plan can be found here.
Climate Action Plan 2024
There are a number of commitments relevant to procurement in the revised Public Sector Climate Action Mandate in Climate Action Plan 2024, the third annual update to Ireland’s Climate Action Plan. The Plan was approved by Government on 20 December 2023, subject to Strategic Environmental Assessment and Appropriate Assessment.
Green Public Procurement and the Office of Government Procurement
Circular 20/2019
Circular 20/2019: Promoting the use of Environmental and Social Considerations in Public Procurement was developed by the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications (DECC) and the Office of Government Procurement (OGP) in response to Climate Action Plan 2019.
Green Public Procurement Guidance for the Public Sector
To assist in the provision of green criteria that can be incorporated into public procurement in line with Circular 20/2019, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published updated Green Public Procurement Guidance for the Public Sector in July 2024. This update included Furniture as a new sector. The sectors are as follows:
• Energy-related products
• Food and catering services
• Heating equipment
• ICT products and services
• Cleaning products and services
• Indoor and outdoor lighting
• Design, construction and management of office buildings
• Paper products and printing services
• Textile products and services
• Road transport vehicles and services
• Furniture
Criteria can be copied and pasted directly into tender documents (although sometimes some minor adjustment may be necessary). Methods of verification are provided for each criterion. Technical specifications, selection criteria, award criteria, and contract performance clauses are included, as appropriate for a particular category.
In 2022, the OGP led development of GPP Criteria Search, an online search tool that allows the user to rapidly find, select, and download the Irish GPP criteria relevant to a specific procurement project. Available at https://gppcriteria.gov.ie/, the site was designed to facilitate use of green procurement. It was developed in collaboration with the EPA and the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications.
Please also see our Sustainable Public Procurement Case Studies and Sustainable Public Procurement News pages.