Public procurement going green for 2012

Finance Minister Tonio Fenech today announced a green procurement action plan, in a bid by government to influence the private sector to work towards a greener environment by implementing Green Public Procurement (GPP) strategies employed by the government.

“The government can use its purchasing power as an instrument to improve the environment but purchasing environmentally friendly products according to EU generated principles and specifications laid out in the action plan,” Fenech said.

The minister said it was part of a bigger plan to create a green economy which would in turn contribute to the creation of green jobs and improve the environment. “This is a strategy which has already been included in a number of reforms by the government such as the drainage treatment system and schemes to remove polluting cars from the roads,” Fenech said.

Even the smallest things can have an impact on the environment and the government wants to create incentives to companies to buy environmentally friendly products as the government will be doing from January 2012, according to Fenech.

“We have a list of 18 products and services which we have set three year targets to achieve for some. This list is according to EU criteria. Copying and graphic paper, gardening products and services, textiles and office IT equipment will be the first four to be fully changed according to GPP standards,” Fenech said.

The rest of the listed products and services will transition to more environmentally friendly products according to targets set over a three year period.

Fenech admitted that some may find the new specifications for tenders bothersome but appealed to government entities and the private sector to understand the importance of implementing such strategies.

Parliamentary Secretary for tourism, environment and culture Mario de Marco said that an ecological economy could be created by implementing measures to reduce the impact on the environment while increasing a sustainable economy. “The government has to lead by example to the public as an entire entity because the government is one of the biggest consumers. The government is also trying to procure less negatively impacting buildings apart from purchasing greener products,” de Marco said.

De Marco also explained that government bodies will need to follow certain criteria before purchasing any products which include ensuring the product is environmentally friendly, is produced in an environmentally friendly way and generates less waste. “The transition cannot happen overnight because the market is not yet equipped with sufficient product to provide for the entire government. When the government chooses products, these will need to be cost effective according subject to the terms laid out in the tenders issued. Specifications need to be adhered to otherwise it will be not be purchased by the government,” Fenech said.

Fenech also said that although product costs will vary, the government is not expecting great differences but want to ensure that there is competition in the market so as not to exclude the private sector from applying to provide the products required. “The government as a whole needs to send the message that only certain products will be used so various sectors will start providing the products in the amounts required,” Fenech.