The Commission has just published new voluntary EU GPP criteria for paints, varnishes and road markings. They cover both the purchase of products and of works in this area. The use of the draft criteria has the potential to considerably reduce environmental impacts from these products and their costs. Some of the most likely impacts of the application of the GPP criteria are expected to foster circular economy aspects and are the following: minimise the impact of production by addressing specific ingredients and dosage; reduce the hazardous properties of the overall formulation; promote durable paints and road markings; incentivise minimisation of product wastage, including reuse and recycling.

The new criteria are available in English; the other official languages will follow soon.

16 October 2017

European Commission publishes new Circular Procurement brochure

A new brochure on Public Procurement for a Circular Economy has been published by the European Commission.
The brochure provides introductory guidance and good practice on the points where public procurement can be used to support the transition to a circular economy. As well as considering the policy framework and strategies such as strategic thinking and engaging the market, the brochure provides guidance on identifying where and how to make a purchase more circular according to the principles of reduce, reuse, recycle and recover. Alongside each of these sections, good practice examples are also provided, demonstrating how circular economy principles are already being implemented across Europe.
The brochure builds on the direction set in the EU Action Plan for the Circular Economy by providing a range of practical steps for using green public procurement (GPP) to drive forward the transition to a circular economy.
Visit the publications page to download the brochure.

22 August 2017

New Criteria for green furniture procurement

The Commission has just published new voluntary EU GPP criteria for furniture, an area with a high annual spend by public authorities. A major change from the existing GPP criteria for furniture (published in 2008) is the introduction, in addition to classic furniture purchasing, of sections on the procurement of furniture refurbishment and of end-of-life services. Those new areas aim at prolonging the life span of furniture items, thus reflecting a reinforcement of circular economy aspects in EU GPP criteria.

The use of the criteria has the potential to considerably reduce environmental impacts from furniture and their costs. Some of the most likely impacts of the application of GPP criteria in furniture procurement activities are expected to foster circular economy aspects and are the following:
? Increasing awareness of procurers of the potential for furniture refurbishment services;
? Encouraging innovation in furniture companies in terms of design for disassembly, and partial replacement of components;
? Fostering skills development in furniture repair, renovation and responsible End-of-Life (EoL) disposal;
? Reduction of the quantities of furniture waste sent to landfill as products become easier to separate.
The new criteria are available in English; the other official languages will follow soon.

28 June 2017

A webinar to discuss the latest changes in the newly revised EU GPP criteria for textiles took place last Wednesday 28 June 2017. Three speakers provided their insights about the revision process and their experiences implementing environmental criteria in the purchase of textile products and services.
More specifically, the webinar included presentations on:
·         ? Robert Kaukewitsch, European Commission, Directorate General for Environment.
·         What's new in the EU GPP criteria for textiles - Nicholas Dodd, European Commission, Joint Research Centre.
·         - Barbara van Offenbeek, Ministry for Infrastructure and Environment (the Netherlands).
The presentations and a recording of the webinar are available here.

7 June 2017

New Criteria for green textile products and services
The Commission has just published new voluntary EU GPP criteria for textiles products and services, an area with a high annual spend by public authorities in the area of military, police and fire fighter uniforms as well as for hospital staff. A major change from the existing GPP criteria for textiles (dating back to 2012) is the introduction of textile services, an emerging market with a high potential to reduce environmental impacts.
The draft criteria have the potential to help considerably reduce environmental impacts of textiles and their costs. Some of the most likely impacts are the following:
? Purchase textiles that contain recycled materials or are made from fibres which are produced using less fertilisers, hazardous pesticides and production chemicals
? Purchase fabrics that do not shrink during use, that are constructed to be more durable in use and which have longer lasting functional coatings
? Purchase textiles or textile services which minimise the energy used to wash, dry and iron textiles
? Contract services which maintain textiles in order to extend their lifetime
? Contract services which maximise the potential for re-use and recycling of textiles at the end of their service life.
The new criteria are available in English; the other official languages will follow soon.

24 February 2017

GPP criteria for Computers and Monitors translated

The EU GPP criteria for Computers and Monitors, published in October 2016, are now in 23 languages. 9 January 2017

GPP criteria for Roads translated

The EU GPP criteria for Road Design, Construction and Maintenance, published in June 2016, are now in 23 languages.

» Publication Date: 16/01/2018

» Source: European Commission (Environment)

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