In practical terms, when using sustainable public procurement public bodies seek to achieve an appropriate balance of the three pillars of sustainable development – economic, social, and environmental – at all stages of the procurement process.

Green Public Procurement (GPP) is the process whereby public bodies seek to procure goods, services and works with a reduced environmental impact throughout their life cycle when compared to goods, services and works with the same primary function that would otherwise be procured.

The Government of Ireland’s annual public sector purchasing accounts for 10% to 12% of Ireland’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), a large part of economic activity and demand. This provides Ireland’s public sector with significant influence to stimulate the provision of more resource-efficient, less polluting goods, services and works within the marketplace.

Green Public Procurement is recognised internationally as an effective means for public administrations to manage the balance between cost effectiveness and sustainable development. The Department of Climate Energy and the Environment (DCEE) has published Green Public Procurement Strategy and Action Plan 2024-2027.

GPP is also about influencing the supplier market. By promoting and using GPP more systematically, public bodies can provide industry with real incentives for developing green technologies, and more sustainable products. In some sectors, public bodies command a significant share of the market (for example, public transport and construction, health services and education) and so their spending decisions potentially have considerable impact and leverage in terms of setting GPP standards.

‘Green’ tendering criteria can be included in suitability questionnaires and in the works requirements.

Circular 17/2025 issued by the Department of Public Expenditure sets out these obligations under the most recent plan issued by the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment, Buying Greener: Green Public Procurement Instructions for the Public Sector.

Other useful links when considering GPP are the GPPCriteriaSearch and the EPA resources Resources | Environmental Protection Agency.