The CIVITAS Initiative has released new guidance on public procurement that provides local and regional policymakers and transport practitioners with policy reflections and practical insight from European procurement experts. The report outlines how public authorities should rethink how they meet their mobility needs, and how their procurement strategies can have broader positive (or negative) impacts on sustainable urban mobility patterns.

It describes what cities need to do before procuring vehicles, such as assessing needs and priorities, provides a methodological approach to greening public fleets and sets out how public authorities can go further and be bolder – for example, by procuring together with other cities or beyond local markets. The guidance builds upon existing initiatives and projects and offers some of the most inspiring good practice examples on sustainable mobility procurement in Europe.

Sustainable public procurement is a topic that touches upon many, if not all, of the 10 CIVITAS themes. Examples include purchasing new vehicles or infrastructure that is more sustainable than traditional alternatives, and procuring public transport vehicles that clean or maintain roads and paths. Concepts such as more efficient distribution systems for urban freight and Total Cost of Ownership (TCO), which takes a holistic view of the environmental impact of a product, can also be invaluable tools to cities seeking to reduce their carbon footprint.

To download the guidance, visit civitas.eu.