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News article11 February 2025

Simplify green public procurement with the EU Ecolabel!

Simplify green public procurement with the EU Ecolabel!

Navigating the procurement process can be complex, with intricate requirements, compliance obligations, and ambitious sustainability goals. The newly launched Green procurement webpage on the EU Ecolabel website provides procurers with practical tips to make green procurement simple, transparent, and cost-effective with the EU Ecolabel.

With nearly 100,000 goods and services carrying the EU Ecolabel across 25 product categories, the EU Ecolabel is today a well-established, trusted EU voluntary label for environmental excellence. EU Ecolabel goods and services lead in environmental performance and comply with scientifically established criteria. The EU Ecolabel offers solutions to procurers wishing to green their calls for competition and reduce administrative burden.

How? To procure green goods and services, procurers may either request goods and services to hold the EU Ecolabel or incorporate selected EU Ecolabel criteria in the technical specifications and/or award criteria in calls for competition, in line with national legislation implementing European Union legislation. Since EU Ecolabel goods and services are already third-party certified for compliance with the respective EU Ecolabel criteria, this reduces the verification burden during the evaluation process. The EU Ecolabel can also offer a cost-effective solution, as these goods and services are often competitively priced.

To further support public buyers in using selected EU Ecolabel criteria in their calls for competition, the European Commission has developed online Practical guides. The guides suggest the most relevant ready-to-use EU Ecolabel criteria for specific goods and services, which can be directly integrated into tenders. Existing guides cover absorbent hygiene products and hard-covering products. Upcoming guides, expected in 2025, will focus on graphic paper; tissue paper and tissue paper products; printed paper, stationery paper, and paper carrier bag products; and reusable menstrual cups.

Green public procurement can drive the green products market and enhance business competitiveness. Businesses that adopt the EU Ecolabel can unlock new opportunities in the public sector. They can enhance their competitiveness while showcasing their environmental commitment. This strengthens their market position, fosters trust among customers and stakeholders, and reinforces their reputation in sustainability.

Take the next step in sustainable procurement today!

Visit the Green procurement webpage to access practical resources, learn from success stories and brochures, explore the Practical guides, and share this information within your networks!

Learn more, get involved, and follow us on LinkedIn to stay updated on the latest EU Ecolabel developments.