Public procurement has a unique and transformative role in driving sustainability within the Information & Communication Technology (ICT) sector. The environmental footprint of ICT is broad and includes energy consumption, plastic waste, raw material extraction, and the growing volumes of e-waste. Moreover, the extraction of materials such as rare earth metals for ICT products, combined with the short lifespan of devices, leads to a growing burden on the planet’s resources. Cities, regions, and national authorities have a key role in limiting such environmental impacts by integrating more sustainable practices into their procurement processes. Through strategic purchasing and Green Public Procurement (GPP) criteria, public buyers can drive the demand for sustainable ICT solutions, reducing the environmental footprint across the full lifecycle of ICT products, from manufacturing to usage and end-of-life management. 

This report summarises findings collected in the context of Big Buyers Working Together, specifically within the Community of Practice (CoP) on Sustainability in ICT. Public buyers across the European Union have joined forces to raise awareness on the role of public procurement in the ICT sector, identifying issues and potential solutions to drive more sustainable public procurement in ICT.
The scope of this report is limited to the online and in-person events held by the Big Buyers Working Together Consortium, together with the CoP members and several other experts and stakeholders who have contributed to its work.