The public sector aims to reduce environmental and carbon impacts through creating demand for more sustainable goods and services. The EPA's Circular Economy Progrmme supports the public sector in its’ leadership and transition to the circular economy by collaborating on a cross-government level to build capacity, providing guidance and funding. The Circular Economy Programme supports include Green Public Procurement and facilitating local authorities to implement circularity actions through grant-aid funding.
Green Public Procurement (GPP) is a process where public authorities seek to source goods, services or works with a reduced environmental impact. The NWPP leads on progressing the rollout and use of GPP in the public sector under the Climate Action Plan by providing up-to-date guidance on implementing GPP and through developing and delivering training for the public sector. GPP has a key role to play in delivering on ambitious national targets on climate and waste prevention. There are obligations on every public body to play its part. Under the Programme for Government, all procurement using public funds will have to include green criteria by 2023.
The EPA has successfully progressed Green Public Procurement activities required under the Climate Action Plan through: