Green Public Procurement Strategy and Action Plan 2024-2027

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 is the process whereby public bodies seek to procure goods, services and works with a reduced environmental impact throughout their life cycle when compared to goods, services and works with the same primary function that would otherwise 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.

A new Green Public Procurement Strategy and Action Plan has been published. The Strategy has been 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 aims to play a key role in driving the implementation of green and circular procurement practices across the public sector.

Delivery of a new Green Public Procurement Strategy and Action Plan is an important commitment in the Government’s Climate Action Plan 2023.

The Green Public Procurement Strategy and Action Plan 2024-2027 includes information, and actions, on:

Policy and Legislative context at national and EU level

• A mandate to accelerate Green Public Procurement implementation
• A focus on key sectors with associated Green Public Procurement related targets
• Monitoring and reporting
• 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