GUIDE TO THE EC GPP TOOLKIT THE LCA

GUIDE TO THE EC GPP TOOLKIT, THE LCA APPROACH AND THE GPP COMMON CRITERIA Green Public Procurement (GPP) - Lead the change National Conference Maria Teresa Pisani, 8 April 2010 Vilnius, Lithuania

The EC GPP Toolkit Overview What it is? Why was developed and for whom? How to use it? Where to find it?

What it is? Developed by the EC DG ENV in 2008 Involved a wide consultation process Will be proposed for endorsement in GPP NAPs/ Guidelines It is a set of power point presentations, reference documents, background reports and environmental criteria Introduction: Buy Green for a Better Environment Module 1: An Action Plan for GPP Module 2: Legal Framework for GPP Module 3: GPP Criteria

Why was developed and for whom? It is intended for… Policy & Strategy makers Purchasing officers Trainers of : managers, financial & legal officers, procurers Designed to promote increased uptake of GPP through: Raising political support Promoting awareness on the benefits of GPP Clarifying how GPP can be executed in accordance with the EU legal framework Establishing environmental criteria for 10 product/service groups Promoting life-cycle-thinking Facilitating sharing of best practices

“Buy Green! Making a difference through GPP” The introduction What is GPP? It involved considering environmental factors when deciding what to buy! Why GPP? PP is huge buying power with an impact on the environment!

“Buy Green! Making a difference through GPP” Explains the benefits of GPP Reduces the ecological footprint Creates markets for geen products & jobs Drives eco-innovation and competitiveness Meets citizens’ expectations Saves money throughout the life-cycle of products/services

“Buy Green! Making a difference through GPP” Gives examples of GPP success stories! Maidston UK – non-toxic cleaning products through suppliers’ engagement Amaroussion/Kathilea Greece – joint purchasing of recycled paper German and Austrian Fed Gov – purchase of green electricity (100%)

“An Action Plan for GPP” Module 1. . provides …a simple yet effective management methodology to gradually introduce GPP within your organization

“Developing the Action Plan” Its content Political foundations Tendering/management actions Roles & responsibilities Targets Timeframe Capacity building/training actions Communication actions Monitoring actions

“Developing the Action Plan” Module 1. . also explains How…. eco-labels environmental management systems (EMS) life-cycle-costing (LCC) joint purchasing …. can help for GPP

“Developing the Action Plan” Using eco-labels Advantages? Ecolabel = a seal/logo indicating that a product has met a set of environmental standards Sufficient to verify that labelled product/service is among the best 10 environmentally sound products/services on the market Words of caution! Eco-label = voluntary for producers CAs must accept other forms of proof

“Developing the Action Plan” Environmental Management Systems EMS are organisation-related tools aimed at improving their overall environmental performance The two EU main EMS are: The Eco-management and Audit Scheme (EMAS) The European/International Standard on EMS (EN/ISO 14001) CAs can ask bidders evidence of capacity to put in place certain EMSs for works or service contracts

“Developing the Action Plan” Life Cycle Costing (LCC) A methodology for the systematic economic evaluation of life cycle costs over a period of analysis, as defined in the agreed scope’ (BS ISO 15686 -5, 3. 1. 1. 8) It means comparing not just the initial purchase price of a product, but all future costs as well: Usage costs (energy/water consumption, consumables such as ink or paper) Maintenance costs Disposal costs/resale value

“Developing the Action Plan” Joint Purchasing Means consolidating the procurement requirements of two or more contracting authorities Only one tender published by a specialised contracting authority on behalf of all other allied authorities Benefits: Lower prices (economies of scale) Standardisation of green demand Reduced administrative cost Best use of available skills and expertise

“Legal Framework for GPP” Module 2. . provides Legal guidance with clear examples of “how to” implement GPP …. whilst fully respecting the EU legislation for PP EU Treaty Directives 2004/17/EC & 2004/18/EC http: //simap. eu. int ECJ Case Law Supplements the EC GPP “Buying Green” Handbook (2004)

“Legal Framework for GPP” GPP parameters introduced at various stages of the procurement cycle: Key principles: Relevance to the subject matter Proportionality Transparency, equal treatment and non discrimination Advanced disclosure

“Legal Framework for GPP” Some examples! Subject matter – cleaning services with low environmental impact Technical specifications – energy efficient PCs: energy consumption must comply with standards set in the Energy Star Label Qualification criteria – past experience in the construction of bio-climatic buildings Award criteria – computer leasing: 80 points for price , 20 points for energy efficiency higher than the specified level Contract clauses – office furniture: products shall be delivered in bulk and using reusable containers

“GPP Common Criteria” Module 3. . . includes Concrete examples of GPP criteria established for a first set of 10 priority products & services identified by the European Commission… …. to be introduced in tender documents/technical specifications

“GPP Common Criteria” Module 3…consists of: Product sheets (Mar 09) & Product sheets templates (Jun 09) Core criteria: most significant environmental impacts Comprehensive criteria: to purchase the best green products on the market Background reports Key environmental impacts (production, transportation, use, disposal) Verification issues Relevant EU policy and legislation Life-cycle-costing Eco-labels and other sources for Recommended criteria technical specifications Presentations for training purposes Information sources

The 10 priority product/service groups • • • Cleaning products and services Construction Copying and Graphic paper Electricity Food and catering services Furniture Gardening products and services Office IT equipment Textiles Transport

“GPP Common Criteria” How are the GPP priority product groups selected? Scope for environmental improvement Public expenditure Potential impact on suppliers Potential for setting an example to private or corporate consumers Political sensitivity Existence of relevant and easy-to-use criteria Market availability Economic efficiency

“GPP Common Criteria” How are the common GPP criteria developed? Existing European and national eco-label criteria, where appropriate Based on solid scientific evidence Information collected from stakeholders in industry and civil society Expert group on GPP Strict consultation standards

Introducing Life-Cycle Assessment (LCA) LCA provides ‘a systematic set of procedures for compiling and examining the inputs and outputs of materials and energy and the associated environmental impacts directly attributable to the functioning of a product or service system throughout its life cycle (adapted from BS EN ISO 14040, 3. 2)

LCA methodology Shows the complex interaction between a product and the environment Underpins the development of eco-label criteria Often carried out by specialised firms or by consultants Systematically describes and assesses all flows to and from nature, from a “cradle to grave” perspective

LCA methodology Cradle to Grave Perspective Waste emission Obsolete Production Use Treatment End of Life Raw materials & Energy Chemical & Energy

Life Cycle Assessment

Life-Cycle Assessment of a Detergent Includes impacts of: Raw materials Manufacturing Use End-of-life

Stages of LCA An LCA study consist of 4 steps: Defining the Goal and Scope of the study (ISO 14041) Making a model of the product life cycle with all the environmental inflows and outflows, referred as Inventory analysis (ISO 14041) Understanding the environmental relevance of all the inflows and outflows referred as Life Cycle Impact Assessment (ISO 14042) Interpretation of the study (ISO 14043)

Importance of LCA Offers a better decision-making for product/production systems Identifies key impacts and life-cycle stages of system Provides a basis for environmental improvements of system Identifies trade-offs Identifies information gaps

Applications of LCA Internal to Producers Product or process design/redesign Materials selection Life-cycle management Strategic planning External to Producers Environmental labelling Environmental procurement Public policy

“GPP Common Criteria” For each product/service group two sets of criteria are presented Core criteria: can be used by any European contracting authority Comprehensive criteria: are intended for authorities who wish to purchase the best environmental products available on the market Address most significant environmental impacts Involve minimum additional verification effort or cost increase Involve additional administrative effort or imply a slight cost increase

“GPP Common Criteria” Importance of engaging the market and ensuring its readiness to meet your environmental requirements !

Office IT Equipment Key environmental impacts

Office IT Equipment Notebooks Core criteria Subject matter: Purchase of energy efficient Notebooks Technical Specifications: 1. Energy efficiency (Energy star) 2. Durability (replacement of memory, hard disk, CD/DVD drive) Contract Clauses: 1. Availability of compatible batteries, power supplies, keyboard and its parts Comprehensive criteria Subject matter: Purchase of Notebooks with low env impact throughout the life-cycle Technical Specifications: 1. Energy efficiency (Energy star) 2. Durability (replacement of memory, hard disk, CD/DVD drive) 3. Mercury in LCD monitors 4. Noise level Award criteria: additional points 1. Ease of disassembly 2. Hazardous substances in plastic parts Contract Clauses: 1. Availability of compatible batteries, power supplies, keyboard and its parts

Where to find it? Download it from the website of the EC DG Environment GPP! It is available in all languages of the EU http: //ec. europa. eu/environment/gpp/toolkit_en. htm On the EC GPP you will also find info on: A GPP Help-desk International, EU and National GPP strategies and Guidelines Useful links to GPP related policies and web-sites (Eco-labels, EMAS, . . ) GPP training, conferences and dissemination events

In summary… The EC GPP Toolkit helps you to: understand how GPP can contribute to your environmental targets while saving money! put GPP in place in your organization do GPP in a legal way prepare your green tenders!

Please visit: http: //ec. europa. eu/environment/gpp http: //www. itcilo. org/gpp Thank you for your attention! Maria Teresa Pisani Sustainable Development & Governance ITCILO m. pisani@itcilo. org