GUIDE TO THE EC GPP TOOLKIT,THE LCA APPROACH AND THE GPP

COMMON CRITERIA

Green Public Procurement (GPP) - Lead the changeNational Conference

Maria Teresa Pisani, 8 April 2010Vilnius, Lithuania

The EC GPP ToolkitOverview

What it is?

Why was developed

and for whom?

How to use it?

Where to find it?

What it is?

Developed by the EC DG ENV in 2008

Involved a wide consultation process

Will be proposed for endorsement in GPP NAPs/ Guidelines

It is a set of power point presentations, reference documents,

background reports and environmental criteria

Introduction: Buy Green for a Better Environment

Module 1: An Action Plan for GPP

Module 2: Legal Framework for GPP

Module 3: GPP Criteria

Why was developed and for whom?

It is intended for… Policy & Strategy makers

Purchasing officers

Trainers of :managers, financial & legal officers, procurers

Designed to promote increased uptake of GPP through: Raising political support

Promoting awareness on the benefits of GPP

Clarifying how GPP can be executed in accordance with the EU legal framework

Establishing environmental criteria for 10 product/service groups

Promoting life-cycle-thinking

Facilitating sharing of best practices

What is GPP? It involved considering environmental factors when deciding what to buy!

Why GPP?PP is huge buying power with an impact on the environment!

“Buy Green! Making a difference through GPP” The introduction

“Buy Green! Making a difference through GPP”

Explains the benefits of GPP

Reduces the ecological footprint

Creates markets for geen products & jobs

Drives eco-innovation and competitiveness

Meets citizens’ expectations

Saves money throughout the life-cycle of

products/services

Gives examples of GPP success stories!

Maidston UK – non-toxic cleaning products through suppliers’ engagement

Amaroussion/Kathilea Greece – joint purchasing of recycled paper

German and Austrian Fed Gov – purchase of green electricity (100%)

“Buy Green! Making a difference through GPP”

“An Action Plan for GPP”

…a simple yet effective management

methodology to gradually introduce GPP

within your organization

Module 1..provides

“Developing the Action Plan”

Its content

Political foundations

Tendering/management actions

Roles & responsibilities

Targets

Timeframe

Capacity building/training actions

Communication actions

Monitoring actions

“Developing the Action Plan”

Module 1..also explains

How…. eco-labels

environmental management systems (EMS)

life-cycle-costing (LCC)

joint purchasing

…. can help for GPP

Using eco-labels

Advantages?

Ecolabel = a seal/logo indicating that a product has met a set of environmental standards

Sufficient to verify that labelled product/service is among the best 10 environmentally sound products/services on the market

Words of caution!

Eco-label = voluntary for producers CAs must accept other forms of proof

“Developing the Action Plan”

Environmental Management Systems

EMS are organisation-related tools aimed at improving their overall environmental performance

The two EU main EMS are:

The Eco-management and Audit Scheme (EMAS) The European/International Standard on EMS (EN/ISO 14001)

CAs can ask bidders evidence of capacity to put in place certain EMSs for works or service contracts

“Developing the Action Plan”

Life Cycle Costing (LCC)

A methodology for the systematic economic evaluation of life cycle

costs over a period of analysis, as defined in the agreed scope’ (BS

ISO 15686-5, 3.1.1.8)

It means comparing not just the initial purchase price of a product, but all future costs as well:

Usage costs (energy/water consumption, consumables such as ink or paper)

Maintenance costs

Disposal costs/resale value

“Developing the Action Plan”

Means consolidating the procurement requirements of two or more contracting authorities

Only one tender published by a specialised contracting authority on behalf of all other allied authorities

Benefits: Lower prices (economies of scale) Standardisation of green demand Reduced administrative cost Best use of available skills and expertise

Joint Purchasing

“Developing the Action Plan”

Module 2..provides

Legal guidance with clear examples of “how to” implement GPP

….whilst fully respecting the EU legislation for PP

EU Treaty Directives 2004/17/EC & 2004/18/EC http://simap.eu.int ECJ Case Law

Supplements the EC GPP “Buying Green” Handbook (2004)

“Legal Framework for GPP”

GPP parameters introduced at various stages of the procurement cycle:

Subject Matter

Technical Specifications

Selection Criteria

Contract Performance Clauses

Requirements onproducts/services/works purchased

Requirements on bidders

Award criteria

Key principles:

Relevance to the subject matter

Proportionality

Transparency, equal treatment

and non discrimination

Advanced disclosure

“Legal Framework for GPP”

Some examples!

Subject matter – cleaning services with low environmental impact

Technical specifications – energy efficient PCs: energy consumption must comply with standards set in the Energy Star Label

Qualification criteria – past experience in the construction of bio-climatic buildings

Award criteria – computer leasing: 80 points for price , 20 points for energy efficiency higher than the specified level

Contract clauses – office furniture: products shall be delivered in bulk and using reusable containers

“Legal Framework for GPP”

Concrete examples of GPP criteria established for a first set of 10 priority products & services identified by the

European Commission…

….to be introduced in tender documents/technical specifications

“GPP Common Criteria”

Module 3...includes

Product sheets (Mar 09) & Product sheets templates (Jun 09) Core criteria: most significant environmental impacts

Comprehensive criteria: to purchase the best green products on the market

Background reports Key environmental impacts

(production, transportation, use, disposal)

Relevant EU policy and legislation

Eco-labels and other sources for

technical specifications

Presentations for training purposes

Verification issues

Life-cycle-costing Recommended criteria Information sources

“GPP Common Criteria” Module 3…consists of:

The 10 priority product/service groups

• Cleaning products and services

• Construction

• Copying and Graphic paper

• Electricity

• Food and catering services

• Furniture

• Gardening products and services

• Office IT equipment

• Textiles

• Transport

“GPP Common Criteria”

How are the GPP priority product groups selected?

Scope for environmental improvement

Public expenditure

Potential impact on suppliers

Potential for setting an example to private or corporate consumers

Political sensitivity

Existence of relevant and easy-to-use criteria

Market availability

Economic efficiency

“GPP Common Criteria”

How are the common GPP criteria developed?

Existing European and national eco-label criteria, where appropriate

Based on solid scientific evidence

Information collected from stakeholders in industry and civil society

Expert group on GPP

Strict consultation standards

Introducing Life-Cycle Assessment (LCA)

LCA provides ‘a systematic set of procedures for compiling and

examining the inputs and outputs of materials and energy and

the associated environmental impacts directly attributable to the

functioning of a product or service system throughout its life

cycle

(adapted from BS EN ISO 14040, 3.2)

LCA methodology

Shows the complex interaction between a product and the environment

Underpins the development of eco-label criteria

Often carried out by specialised firms or by consultants

Systematically describes and assesses all flows to and from nature, from a “cradle to grave” perspective

Raw materials &

Energy

LCA methodologyCradle to Grave Perspective

Production Use

Energy

Obsolete

End of Life

Treatment

Waste emission

Chemical &

Energy

Waste emission Waste emission

Life Cycle Assessment

Life-Cycle Assessment of a Detergent

Includes impacts of:

Raw materials Manufacturing Use End-of-life

Stages of LCA

An LCA study consist of 4 steps:

Defining the Goal and Scope of the study

(ISO 14041)

Making a model of the product life cycle with

all the environmental inflows and outflows,

referred as Inventory analysis (ISO 14041)

Understanding the environmental relevance

of all the inflows and outflows referred as

Life Cycle Impact Assessment (ISO 14042)

Interpretation of the study (ISO 14043)

Importance of LCA

Offers a better decision-making for product/production

systems

Identifies key impacts and life-cycle stages of system

Provides a basis for environmental improvements of system

Identifies trade-offs

Identifies information gaps

Applications of LCA

Internal to Producers Product or process design/redesign Materials selection Life-cycle management Strategic planning

External to Producers Environmental labelling Environmental procurement Public policy

“GPP Common Criteria”For each product/service group two sets of

criteria are presented

Core criteria:

can be used by any European

contracting authority

Address most significant environmental impacts

Involve minimum additional verification effort or cost increase

Involve additional administrative effort or imply a slight cost increase

Comprehensive criteria:

are intended for authorities who

wish to purchase the best

environmental products available

on the market

“GPP Common Criteria”

Importance of engaging the market and ensuring its readiness to meet your environmental requirements

!

Impact GPP approach Energy consumption and resulting Carbon Dioxide (CO2) emissions.

Purchase energy efficient models.

Purchase products with a restricted amount of hazardous constituents and promote take back options.

Air, soil and water pollution, ozone formation (smog), bioaccumulation or food chain exposure and effects on aquatic organisms due to hazardous constituents e.g. mercury content of LCD displays and flame retardants. Purchase products with a restricted noise level.

Design for recycling, longer life and promote take back options.

Negative impact on the health of employees due to noise, causing stress for those sensitive to such sounds. Decrease the quantity of packaging used.

Use of energy, finite resources and harmful emissions related to the production of IT products.

Ensure the recyclability of the packaging used.

Generation of waste material including packaging and final disposal.

Increase the use of recycled packaging.

Office IT Equipment

Key environmental impacts

Core criteriaSubject matter: Purchase of energy efficient Notebooks

Technical Specifications:1. Energy efficiency (Energy star)2. Durability (replacement of memory,

hard disk, CD/DVD drive)

Contract Clauses:1. Availability of compatible batteries,

power supplies, keyboard and its parts

Office IT EquipmentNotebooks

Comprehensive criteria

Subject matter:

Purchase of Notebooks with low env impact throughout the life-cycle

Technical Specifications:

1. Energy efficiency (Energy star)

2. Durability (replacement of memory, hard disk, CD/DVD drive)

3. Mercury in LCD monitors

4. Noise level

Award criteria: additional points

1. Ease of disassembly

2. Hazardous substances in plastic parts

Contract Clauses:

1. Availability of compatible batteries, power supplies, keyboard and its parts

Where to find it? Download it from the website of the EC DG Environment GPP!

It is available in all languages of the EU

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

On the EC GPP you will also find info on:

A GPP Help-desk

International, EU and National GPP strategies and Guidelines

Useful links to GPP related policies and web-sites (Eco-labels, EMAS, ..)

GPP training, conferences and dissemination events

In summary…

The EC GPP Toolkit helps you to:

understand how GPP can contribute to your environmental targets while saving money!

put GPP in place in your organization

do GPP in a legal way

prepare your green tenders!

Thank you for your attention!

http://ec.europa.eu/environment/gpp http://www.itcilo.org/gpp

Please visit:

Maria Teresa Pisani

Sustainable Development & Governance

ITCILO

m.pisani@itcilo.org