Mark HidsonSustainable ProcurementICLEIEuropean Secretariat

ICLEI - Local Governments for Sustainability

• An international association of local authorities dedicated to a sustainable urban environment

• Organised in 1990 under the sponsorship of the UN Environment Program and the United Cities and Local Governments

• Coordinates regional campaigns and thematic networks

• Originally proposed Local Agenda 21 to the UNCED in Rio 1992

• 465 members worldwide

World SecretariatToronto, Canada+ Canada Office

US OfficeBerkeley, Calif.

Internat. Training CentreFreiburg, Germany

Australia / New Zealand OfficeMelbourne, Australia

Latin Americaand the CaribbeanSecretariatRio de Janeiro,Brazil

Korea OfficeSeoul, Korea

CCP South-East Asia OfficeManila, Philippines

Africa SecretariatJohannesburg,South Africa

European SecretariatFreiburg, Germany

China Project OfficeBeijing, China

Japan OfficeTokyo, Japan

CCP Indonesiaproject officeJakarta

CCP Indiaproject officeDelhi

ICLEI Offices: total staff 120

Potential of sustainable public procurement

RELIEF Results (funded by the EC)

If all European public authorities bought green electricity 18% of the Kyoto commitments could be met

If the European market could be shifted by public procurement to producing slightly more efficient PCs then over 8 million tonnes CO2could be saved - equivalent to the emissions of almost 1 million people

Public authorities buying organic food could offset the eutrophication impacts of over 3.5 million people

Tapping the potential

Individual action

Collective market power- Critical number of authorities joining

forces to send a clear signal to the market

Overcoming barriers

Barriers to implementation

Procura+ Solutions

Lack of knowledge on how to apply

SP

Need for political backing

Concern about

financial implications

Need for systematic

implementation

Simple to apply criteria for 6 high priority

product groups

Milestone Process to

ensure continuous

improvement

Criteria set to ensure cost-

neutrality

Participation based on political

commitment to meet targets

The aim of Procura+

Bring together a critical mass of public authorities implementing sustainable

procurement to achieve real progress in greening the market in Europe

The campaign

• Launched in 2004. • The campaign provides standardised key criteria to

distinguish “green” products, which can be applied directly in the procurement process throughout Europe

• In simple and practical framework for implementation -the Milestone Process

• Modest campaign fee• 12 national partners: Austria, France, Germany, Greece,

Hungary, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, United Kingdom, Spain and Switzerland.

Product Groups

There are currently six product groups:

• Buildings• Buses• Cleaning and maintenance products

and services• Electricity • Food

• IT equipment

Procura+ Milestones

12

34

5Monitorprogress &

reportresults

ImplementAction Plan

DevelopAction Plan

Set product-specific targets

BaselineInventory

3-6 months

1-6 months

3-6 months12-24 months

4-8 months

Campaign Benefits

• Demonstrate commitment through label

• Campaign manual and electronic copy which is continuously updated

• A support team with expertise offering advice on implementation

• Access for employees to BIG-Net• Opportunities to participate in and

learn from European projects dealing with sustainable procurement

Campaign Benefits

• Website, procurement newsletter and examples of best practice

• Assistance in sourcing and securing project financing

• Publicity and Promotion

• Access to a European network of local governments

• Providing a collective local government voice

26 particpants:Almada, Barcelona City and Province,Badalona, Cremona, Province, Culleredo,Emilia Romagna, Ferrara, Guildford Borough, Kolding, La Mandira Nature Park, Lille, London, Islington, NebrodiPark, Torino, Province, Ravenna,RavensburgRegional Environmental Protection Agency (Toscana), Regional Environmental Protection Agency (Piemonte), Sesto San Giovanni, Suffolk County Council, Surrey County Council, Torino, ProvinceUtrecht, Province, Vigo, Zürich

9 countries: Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Spain, UK, Portugal & Switzerland

Procura+ Participants

The Future

• Securing future resources for the campaign• Promote the campaign and increase the number of

participants• Identify further criteria and update current criteria• BIG-Net Expert Seminar enf of 2005• Eco-procura conference, Autumn 2006 Barcelona• The inclusion of social aspects e.g. fair trade and

labour standards• Develop the campaign in Central and Eastern Europe• Roll out the campaign to other regions of the world

ERNIE Proposal

• Proposal for a pilot project to test appropriate approaches to sustainable procurement in developing countries

• Crucial first step to encourage more widespread uptake - to demonstrate that it is effective, and also how it can be done

• Partners in place in 4 continents: Sao Paolo, Durban, Puerto Princesa & Naga City (both Philippines), Bourgas (Bulgaria)

• Majority of funding in place from GEF and city contributions - still around $400,000 required

Pilot Training - Accra 2004

• Commissioned by World Bank, in collaboration with UNEP and IAPSO

• 2.5 day training course delivered to over 30 national government employees in Accra

• Given mixed participant group, focused both on awareness raising and technical advice

• Future improvement:– More targeted towards certain participant

groups– Must be built on practical experiences– Permanent support structures in place

Further Information

Website: www.procuraplus.org

E-mail:mark.hidson@iclei-europe.org