Buying Green! - Making a difference through GPP

IntroductionIntroduction

European CommissionEuropean Commission GPP Training ToolkitGPP Training Toolkit

European Commission GPP Training Toolkit • Introduction 2

► Average temperatures set to rise by 2 - 4°C by 2100, leading to: – Rising sea levels, threatening coastal regions worldwide– Reduced agricultural productivity, especially in the developing

world

The power of GPPThe power of GPP

Climate changeClimate change

– Spread of diseases, such as malaria and yellow fever– Loss of biodiversity, with 20-50% of land species

threatened with extinction– Increased extreme weather events

European Commission GPP Training Toolkit • Introduction 3

► Main cause: burning of fossil fuels for energy - electricity generation, transportation, heating, industrial operations = 80% of total CO2 emissions

The power of GPPThe power of GPP

Climate change (cont.)Climate change (cont.)

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How can GPP help?:► Energy efficiency:

– Improve the energy performance of new and renovated public buildings

– Buy energy efficient office equipment (PCs, printers, copiers etc.)– Buy more efficient cars for public fleets

The power of GPPThe power of GPP

Climate change (cont.)Climate change (cont.)

► Promoting renewable energy sources:– Buy green electricity– Use alternative fuels for public transport and public car fleets

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► Between 1997 and 2004 up to 60% of the urban EU population was exposed to excessive levels of Particulate Matter, Nitrogen Dioxide or Ozone - causing a variety of health problems

The power of GPPThe power of GPP

Air and water pollutionAir and water pollution

► Nearly 90% of the EU area is affected by eutrophication (excessive nutrients in water systems), leading to reductions in biodiversity and affecting human consumption

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► Main cause of urban air pollution: vehicle emissions► Main cause of eutrophication: agricultural practices

The power of GPPThe power of GPP

Air and water pollution (cont.)Air and water pollution (cont.)

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How can GPP help?:► Reducing air pollution in cities:

– Buy buses and fleet cars with low emissions of particulates and Nitrogen Oxides

► Reducing eutrophication:– Buy organic food

The power of GPPThe power of GPP

Air and water pollution (cont.)Air and water pollution (cont.)

European Commission GPP Training Toolkit • Introduction 8

► Each year 13 million hectares of forests are lost around the world - an area 3 times the size of Denmark - much of it logged illegally

The power of GPPThe power of GPP

DeforestationDeforestation

– Reducing the ability of the world to

absorb CO2

– Loss of habitat threatening the extinction of huge numbers of plants and animal species

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How can GPP help?► Only purchase wood/wood products from legally

harvested sources► Increase the proportion of wood coming from

sustainably managed forests

The power of GPPThe power of GPP

Deforestation (cont.)Deforestation (cont.)

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Other areas where GPP can help - some examples► Saving natural resources:

– buying products made using recycled material– reducing the use of paper through buying printers able to print on both sides; promoting the use of multi-functional devices

► Healthy working conditions for staff, students, hospital patients etc.:– using non-toxic cleaning products– serving organic food in canteens– excluding harmful substances from building construction and renovation works

The power of GPPThe power of GPP

European Commission GPP Training Toolkit • Introduction 11

► Green public procurement = procedure where environmental considerations are taken into account within the procurement process

► GPP is smart procurement – it means improving the efficiency of public procurement and at the same time using public market power to bring about major environmental benefits locally and globally.

GPP - a definitionGPP - a definition

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GPP …

……is powerful

……is smart

……tackles local policy goals

……drives innovation

……is popular

……is forward-thinking

……is possible!

Why implement GPP?Why implement GPP?

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► European public authorities spend each year over €1,800 billion on goods & services (14% -16 % of the GDP)

► Directing this spending power towards the purchase of greener products and services can:– Achieve huge direct environmental benefits– Help drive the market for greener products and services– Set an example for corporate and private consumers

GPP … is powerfulGPP … is powerful

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► Electricity produced from renewable sources– If all European public authorities bought green electricity 18% of the

Kyoto commitments could be met.

► Energy intensity & CO2 reduction

– EU Public authorities buy 2.8 million computers annually - 12% of market

GPP … is powerfulGPP … is powerful

– If the European market could be moved to producing slightly more efficient PCs then over 8 million tonnes CO2 could be saved - equivalent to the emissions of almost 1 million people

Source: RELIEF project - www.iclei-europe.org/relief (see notes page)

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► Organic farming– Public authorities buying organic food could offset the eutrophication

impacts of over 3.5 million people– Buying organic provides huge greenhouse gas reductions equivalent

to the emissions of 600,000 people, just for public sector food alone.

GPP … is powerfulGPP … is powerful

Source: RELIEF project - www.iclei-europe.org/relief

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► GPP doesn’t mean spending more money:– Life-cycle costing (LCC): Critical to consider the costs of a product/service throughout

its useful life - purchase price, usage and maintenance costs, disposal costs– Efficient procurement: GPP involves meeting your needs with the most efficient use

of resources - consider the real need to buy– Example: The City of Tübingen in Germany saved €30,000 per year by centralising

cleaning product and service procurement and by using innovative products.

GPP … is smartGPP … is smart

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► Achieve local environmental and health goals:– Most local environmental and health concerns are

influenced by the products we buy and the way services are carried out - GPP is an effective tool for tackling these at source.

GPP … tackles local policy goalsGPP … tackles local policy goals

– Example: In a central Frankfurt am Main street 54% of NOx emissions were generated by buses - only 4% of the total traffic volume. The local authority now tenders for buses with very low emissions and this has had a major impact on improving the local atmosphere

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► Driving innovation:– The market for green products is growing rapidly internationally.

– Providing a market for such products helps European suppliers to develop innovative approaches and improve the international competitiveness of European, national and local industry

– In both Japan and the US, the national governments have put laws in place to foster the creativity of industry and forge a competitive advantage internationally through compulsory public purchasing of eco-friendly products

GPP … drives innovationGPP … drives innovation

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► Driving innovation (cont.):– Example: In Maidstone (UK), following intensive, open

dialogue with the market, an offer for low environmental impact cleaning services, excluding a large number of hazardous chemicals was provided at no extra cost.

GPP … drives innovationGPP … drives innovation

– The winning company has now rebranded itself as an environmentally friendly cleaning company. Now most of their other contracts also use this approach.

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► Improving the public image:– 85% of EU Citizens feel that policymakers should consider the

environment to be as important as economic and social policies

– implementing a policy of GPP is a very effective way to demonstrate your authority’s commitment to sustainability as a whole.

GPP … is popularGPP … is popular

– through leading by example, public authorities can also encourage private sector companies and the general public to change their consumption habits

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► Preparing for future legislation:– Environmental legislation across Europe is becoming increasingly strict:

• Compulsory emission standards for vehicles

• Energy efficiency standards for buildings and energy-consuming products

• Restricted use of harmful substances

– GPP can help provide a testing ground for suppliers to improve the environmental performance of their products, before standards become mandatory for all

GPP … is forward-thinkingGPP … is forward-thinking

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► GPP is straightforward to implement :

– Helpful guidance available - this Toolkit presents clear guidance on implementing GPP

– No legal barriers - legal framework for GPP now clarified (see Module 2 of the EC GPP Training Toolkit)

– Many success stories - good practical examples from around Europe

GPP … is possible!GPP … is possible!

European Commission GPP Training Toolkit • Introduction 23

GPP in practiceGPP in practice

Amaroussion/Kalithea, GreeceAmaroussion/Kalithea, Greece– Purchased recycled paper jointly with several

other authorities. The cost of recycled paper decreased to less than that for conventional paper

Zurich,Zurich, SwitzerlandSwitzerland– purchased 2,166 energy efficient computersenergy efficient computers =

127,114kg CO2 saved during its use

– used energy efficiency & sustainable building sustainable building materials criteriamaterials criteria for 45,081 m2, covering contracts worth €175.1 Million

– purchased organic foodorganic food worth €390,000 = 5.6% of its total budget

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Freiburg,Freiburg, GermanyGermany– The Department for Schools and Education

implemented a 4-year leasing of A-class copy machines. No maintenance costs. copy machines. No maintenance costs. 75 schools pay for the number of copies only. The cost of the service has been reduced by 50%

Good PracticeGood Practice

German & Austrian Federal governmentsGerman & Austrian Federal governments– Both the German Ministry of the Environment, and the Austrian

Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Environment and Water now purchase 100% green electricity

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Kolding,Kolding, DenmarkDenmark– has changed nearly 100% of its purchasing

policies to include environmental considerations. The overall procurement budget has been reduced by 10%

Barcelona,Barcelona, SpainSpain– All Barcelona’s cleaning services (worth €16.2

Million) use non toxic products

Good PracticeGood Practice

European Commission GPP Training Toolkit • Introduction 26

GPP ………is powerful……is smart……tackles local policy goals……drives innovation……is popular……is forward-thinking……is possible!

So start now!So start now!

Why start GPP NOW?Why start GPP NOW?

European Commission GPP Training Toolkit • Introduction 27

Further information

►For the full GPP Training Toolkit please visit:

► http://ec.europa.eu/environment/gpp/toolkit_en.htm

Toolkit developed for the European Commission by ICLEI - Local Governments for Sustainability, 2008

Owner, Editor: European Commission, DG Environment-G2, B-1049, Bruxelles

Disclaimer: The European Commission accepts no responsibility or liability whatsoever with regard to the information presented in this document

Pictures courtesy of Renee Brautigam (slide 7), Peter Defranceschi (s. 12, 19), Mark Hidson (s. 15), Kolding Kommune (s. 25), and StockXchng: BSK (s. 2), Claudia Meyer (s. 3), Jim Frech (s. 4), Ramzi Hashisho (s. 5), Terence O'Brien (s. 6), Peter Hellebrand (s. 8), Kimberlee Kessler Design (s. 9), Stefanie L. (s. 14), Sarah T. (s. 17), Sanja Gjenero (s. 20), Daniel Furger (s. 23), Vangelis Thomaidis (s. 23), Taylor Hart (s. 24), Nina Briski (s. 25)