What are the newest green public procurement trends for environmental services?

Green public procurement (GPP) is the practice of buying goods and services that have a lower environmental impact than the conventional alternatives. GPP can help public authorities reduce their carbon footprint, save costs, and contribute to sustainable development goals. In this article, we will explore some of the newest trends in GPP for environmental services, such as waste management, water treatment, and energy efficiency.

1 Waste management

Public authorities are facing a growing challenge in managing the increasing amount of waste generated by urbanization, consumption, and production. Green Public Procurement (GPP) can help reduce this waste, promote recycling and reuse, and minimize the environmental impacts of disposal. Some of the newest trends in GPP for waste management include circular procurement, pay-as-you-throw, and extended producer responsibility. Circular procurement involves buying products or services designed to last longer and be recycled or composted; it can also reduce the demand for raw materials and lower waste disposal costs. Pay-as-you-throw is a pricing system that charges waste generators based on the amount and type of waste produced; it incentivizes waste prevention, separation, and recycling. And extended producer responsibility is a policy tool that makes producers responsible for the end-of-life management of their products, encouraging them to design more durable, recyclable, eco-friendly products.

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Udit M.

Attaché | Connecting France to India!
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Drowning in trash? Ditch the old game, play green! Buy durable, charge polluters, make creators clean up their mess. Green Public Procurement: revolution or landfill? Choose wisely.

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2 Water treatment

Public authorities face the challenge of providing safe and sufficient water for human and ecological needs. GPP can help improve the quality and efficiency of water treatment, reduce water consumption and pollution, and protect water resources. The newest trends in GPP for water treatment include nature-based solutions that use natural processes or ecosystems to provide water services; smart water meters that measure and transmit real-time data on water consumption and leakage; and water reuse, the practice of using treated wastewater for non-potable purposes. Nature-based solutions can enhance the resilience of water systems, reduce the need for chemicals and energy, and create co-benefits for biodiversity and climate adaptation. Smart water meters can optimize water distribution, detect and prevent losses, and raise awareness among users. Water reuse can reduce pressure on freshwater sources, lower costs of supply, and mitigate droughts and floods.

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3 Energy efficiency

Public authorities face a major challenge in reducing their energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions while meeting the increasing demand for energy services. GPP can help improve the performance and sustainability of energy systems, lower energy bills and carbon footprints, and support the transition to a low-carbon economy. Some of the latest trends in GPP for energy efficiency include energy performance contracting, green electricity, and energy management systems. Energy performance contracting provides public authorities with an arrangement that guarantees energy savings and cost reductions through the implementation of energy efficiency measures. Green electricity reduces dependence on fossil fuels, lowers air pollutant and greenhouse gas emissions, and encourages the development of clean energy technologies. Energy management systems monitor, control, and optimize building or equipment energy use to identify and implement energy saving opportunities, enhance user comfort and safety, and comply with environmental standards.

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Ricardo Aponte-Parsi

Lifelong learner seeking new challenges. In House Counsel/Corporate Generalist/Regulatory Law/Commercial Contracts/#LeadershipthroughTeamwork
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Public authorities are indeed challenged to balance increasing energy demands with the need to reduce emissions and energy consumption. Green Public Procurement (GPP) emerges as a strategic tool in this context, aiding in enhancing energy system performance and sustainability, reducing costs, and promoting a shift to a low-carbon economy. Key trends in GPP, like energy performance contracting, offer guaranteed savings and cost reductions by implementing energy-efficient measures. Meanwhile, the adoption of green electricity supports the shift away from fossil fuels by reducing emissions and fostering clean energy technologies.

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4 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

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What are the newest green public procurement trends for environmental services?

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1 Waste management

2 Water treatment

3 Energy efficiency

4 Here’s what else to consider

Public Administration

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