New EU Ecolabel manuals for authorities awarding public contracts

The EU Ecolabel is a key policy instrument that can be used in synergy with Green Public Procurement to promote greener products, by matching supply and demand. To help public buyers, the European Commission developed two new practical guides for the use of the EU Ecolabel in the procurement of tissue paper and tissue products and graphic paper. These practical guides help procurers to draw up technical specifications and award criteria based on EU Ecolabel criteria in calls for green public procurement. Public procurers who want to buy green are often, reluctant to require specific green criteria in their tenders as they are often unsure which are the most sustainable products available on the market.

The EU Ecolabel is the EU voluntary label for environmental excellence that can help public buyers identify products and services with a reduced environmental impact throughout their lifecycle. There are currently almost 19 000 EU Ecolabel tissue paper and tissue products and 4 000 graphic paper products on the EU market, a wide choice to select from!

By purchasing such products, procurers can drive the market towards environmentally friendly practices. The EU Public Procurement Directives enable the use of labels at different stages of the procurement process (e.g. preparation of documents, market engagement, evaluation of bids and assessment of contract compliance for the winning bid). During the bid evaluation and contract compliance assessment phases, ecolabels offer a method of third-party verification. This can significantly assist contracting authorities in saving time and effort, while also ensuring the implementation of high environmental standards in government contracts. At the same time, Ecolabels can help suppliers be aware of the sustainability requirements of contracting authorities and invest in developing compliant products. A win-win synergy between green offer and demand.