GREEN PUBLIC PROCUREMENTS

The European Commission, taking into account the fact that Public Procurement accounts for around 14% of GDP, ie around € 1.8 trillion per year, in the Member States and in the context of the action plan to strengthen a more efficient in the use of resources and a more environmentally friendly, economic model of the Circular Economy, has established criteria which it proposes to the Member States to adopt, in order for the Public Procurement to become “green” (Green Public Procurement and the EU action plan for the Circular Economy- Study for the ENVI Committee – upd. 2017), and which are also now reflected and analyzed in JM 14900 (8/2/2021), Approval of the Action Plan for the Green Public Procurement. These criteria aim at directing Public Organizations towards the supply of environmentally friendly products and consequently at the support of recycling works, the production of products with a small environmental footprint and the more efficient use of resources and energy. In complete contrast to the above in Greece there are still cases in which there is an exclusion from tenders for the supply of publicly recycled materials, regardless of whether or not they meet the technical specifications required on a case-by-case basis.

General principles that should govern the GPP. As general principles in the adoption by the Single Independent Public Procurement Authority (EADISY), of the institution of Green Public Procurement, we believe that the following should be: 1. Apply the principles of free competition and equal treatment of raw and recycled materials. This is implemented with: Mandatory inclusion of a minimum percentage of recycled materials in Public Procurement based on specific specifications. Mandatory supply of recycled materials must not result in a deliberate increase in their acquisition costs. 2. It becomes imperative to include technical specifications that are met, regardless of whether the materials are raw or recycled, so as not to degrade the quality of the materials to be supplied.

Government agencies involved:

1. YPEN / EOAN – services which are involved in the process of production of recycled materials.

2. Committee of Green Public Procurement which has been established with ΥΑ 63955/239 / 13-6-2017 and which has as purpose the elaboration of a National Action Plan for the promotion of the Green Public Procurement, based on the regulations of the EU legislation.

3. Unified Independent Public Procurement Authority (EADISY), which is also the regulatory authority regarding the inclusion of the criteria proposed by the European Commission for Green Public Procurement.

National Action Plan

The general objectives of the Approved National Action Plan for the promotion of GPA are:

1) The establishment and implementation of an elementary level of adoption of green criteria in public procurement of products, services, and projects.

2) The gradual increase of the supply of green products and the provision of green services during the next three years in certain sectors of goods, services, and projects. 3) The wider integration of product life cycle cost estimation in public procurement. 4) The dissemination of the environmental and economic benefits brought by the PDS.

5) The active participation of stakeholders, such as contracting authorities and economic operators, in the GPA process.

6) Monitoring the achievement of the objectives and updating them for the optimal implementation of the Action Plan and its adaptation to the national, European and international data in this field.

As the adoption of the GPA generally requires a step-by-step approach and the selection of a small number of product and service groups, on which the GPA will initially focus, is the method proposed by the EU, fifteen product categories have been selected for this National Action Plan / services / public works, eight of which are binding and an additional 7 are optional (non-binding): Specifically, the following categories were selected with a binding application:

1. Photocopy and writing paper

2. Computers and monitors

3. Imaging equipment

4. Interior lighting – LED lamps

5. Air conditioners

6. Lubricants (regenerated and biodegradable)

7. Means of transport, i.e., vehicles and transport services

8. Street lights and traffic lights

The “lubricants” category includes the supply of lubricants derived from regenerated essential oils, as well as from biodegradable lubricants.

Regenerated lubricants according to EU criteria have a supply of at least 25%.

Lubricants derived from regenerated essential oils must meet the same specifications as the primary oils, as they are intended for the same uses. According to the new National Plan Waste Management (PYS 39 / 31.8.2020- Government Gazette 185 A ‘) and the Approval of the Action Plan for GPA (JM 14900, Government Gazette 466B 08.02.2021) regarding waste (lubricating) oils (SA) it appears that the goal of their rebirth set by the national legislation (PD 82/2004) has been achieved since 2015, while in practice the goal set by the previous ECHR has been achieved. The new ECHR sets as the goal of managing the flows of SAs the removal of all restrictions in order to further develop the market of regenerated oils. In this context, it proposes measures and actions such as: a) the encouragement of their use by public bodies (eg through tenders / supply contracts based on specific specifications, b) the legislation for the promotion of regenerated basic mineral oils and c) the establishment of financial incentives for their supply / use. The exclusion of the regenerated lubricants from the Public Procurement is in contradiction with the recently voted by the parliament K.Y.A. 62952/5384 / 30.12.16 (Approval of the National Hazardous Waste Management Plan) which states: at the market.” NOTE.: JM 62952 for the ESDEA was valid until 2020. Since then, the new ECHR was issued, PYS 39 / 31.8.2020 – Government Gazette 185 A ‘, which includes the promotion of regenerated lubricants and states: “Encouragement of the use of regenerated mineral oils by public bodies (e.g., through tenders / supply contracts based on specific specifications)” and also “Legislation for the promotion of regenerated mineral oils in the market” which were implemented with the issuance of JM 14900. With regard to biodegradable lubricants, for reasons of environmental protection, service of the public interest, health and safety of the local population and for the application of the principles of sustainable development, the companies that carry out projects (eg road projects, port, mining, etc.), underground and aboveground excavations and other works in areas where they are under protection (such as forest environment, biodiversity, wetlands, streams, coastal zones, etc.), to supply lubricants / greases with special biodegradation characteristics for machinery and equipment, so as not to cause environmental damage in case of failure and leakage of these lubricants to the ground, aquifer or other environmentally sensitive recipient, such as sea, river and lake.

The size of the market of lubricating oils, that are consumed by public organizations in Greece, is estimated in 10.000 tons annually.

If we replace 25% of the quantity above (2.500 tons), with regenerated lubricating oils the benefits that αrise, are:

  • Reduction of Greenhouse effect gases by 12,6%

  • Mineral resources saving by 22%

 

Source: Study IFEU Life Cycle Analysis, June 2017