Establish public procurement as a climatpolitic tool

Purpose and goal

Emissions of green-house gases are increasing to a large extent as a result of our consumption patterns in Sweden with the largest part in other countries. Public procurement is a powerful tool in society´s work for sustainable production and consumption and the only legislation at hand to directly influence climate work in foreign countries. As no general climate goals have been set, the project aims to establish practical tools for climate-oriented public procurement based on measurable goals and digitalized information to reach our international climate commitments.

Expected results and effects

A new procurement concept based on a life cycle perspective with simple, measurable and comparable procurement criteria will facilitate the daily work by procurers to minimize the climate impact through consumption. Establishing climate-oriented public procurement will increase the possibility to reach Sweden´s international climate agreements, indicating that the public sector could be an important driver in the transfer to a circular economy. It will also make it possible to consolidate Sweden´s earlier international top position with regard to sustainable procurement.

Planned approach and implementation

The project is divided into 5 work packages including digitalization of environmental- and climate information, consistency with procurement legislation, setting climate goals for 2030, execution of practical case studies as well as information activities and marketing. It will be led and carried out by research expertise in the different scientific disciplines in close collaboration with SKL Kommentus and EPD International AB for securing that the project results will have a significant international influence to reduce climate impact from consumption through procurement.