Local Councils are to be incentivised to source goods and services in line with green public procurement criteria as part of the second National Action Plan tied to green public procurement covering the period 2019-2025. 

This was announced during a consultation session organised by MEUSAC and the Ministry for the Environment, Sustainable Development and Climate Change (MESDC) on Monday, January 14, 2018 , which was well attended by representatives of various economic operators and government entities. 

The objectives of the Action Plan are to help provide clear and realistic targets to encourage public procurement that take into account environmental impacts, increase the share of government’s procurement in greener products by some 90% and last but not least to increase awareness among economic operators and Contracting Authorities. 

The products targeted nationally and which fall under the mandatory product group include copying and graphic paper, gardening products and services, textiles, imaging equipment, cleaning products and services, street lighting and traffic signals, transport, office building design, construction and management, hospitality and catering services to mention but a few. There are some non-mandatory product groups such as vending machines. 

The proposal of procurement of furniture refurbishment services is also on the cards and is expected to be pushed on a national level. 

It was also explained to those present that EU funds will also include green criteria and that this action plan was not only about greening tenders but the awarding and procurement process too. 

Contracting Authorities are being asked to ensure that when awarding a contract, the products or services being provided should be in line with green public procurement regulations. 

There’s also a difference in rules between purchasing and leasing a product. 

To cite an example, if a truck is purchased, that truck should fall under the Euro 5 category but if the truck is being leased, that truck can be a Euro 4 one. However, it is not being ruled out that things can change in future in terms of criteria and become more stringent. 

Some of the national mandatory targets are quite ambitious. For instance, transport-related targets are 80% till 2020. 

Have your say by replying to the online consultation on this subject, by clicking here.