GLCN Cities Oslo, Helsinki and Rotterdam are ready to take their public procurement to the next level: zero-emission and circular.
At an event in Oslo last week, the frontrunner cities from across Europe, got together to make their procurement power count in the fields of circular construction, heavy-duty electric vehicles and zero-emission construction sites. Amongst 37 other cities such as Zurich, Paris and Brussels, procurers build their capacity for innovation procurement, to share market engagement experiences, and to develop criteria for pilot procurements in the sectors mentioned above.

A zero-emission construction site, for example, entails that all construction machinery is powered by renewable-sourced electricity or any building renovation is delivered through reused construction materials.

Oslo’s environmental criteria for zero-emission transport and construction sites have been received well by the market, which it crucial to fulfilling their target that by 2025 all publicly procured construction in the city must have a zero-emission site.

Rotterdam’s procurement of electric vehicles stretches across the public fleets from cars to scooters to garbage trucks, transport vans or sweeping machines.

Procurers from Helsinki shared their success story of procuring sustainable housing using LCA criteria. In their experience, this approach affirms the available levers and procedures available to them to incentivise innovation, build trusting relationships with suppliers, and accelerate progress towards their environmental goals.

The cities are part of the Big Buyers Initiative, a European Commission Initiative run by ICLEI and EUROCITIES, for promoting collaboration between big public buyers in implementing strategic public procurement to improve their cities’ sustainability and quality of life. They are united by their common ambitions to reduce CO2 emissions and minimise resource consumption. For more information about the Big Buyers Initiative go here.