In a newly adopted report, the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) calls for mandatory circular public procurement across Europe to break governments' unsustainable consumption patterns. Such a measure should enable public buyers to move beyond the idea that lowest price should be the only (or main) allocation criterion for public contracts.

The European Commission has already tried to encourage public authorities to embrace more sustainable consumption patterns, through the Green Public Procurement (GPP) criteria it has been issuing since 2017. These criteria give guidance to public buyers on how to phase in circular economy elements to close energy and material loops in supply chains, while minimising negative environmental impacts and waste creation. While these criteria have had some effect, compliance is voluntary. Mandatory minimum Green Public Procurement criteria could heighten their impact.

"The idea that the lowest price should be the only allocation criterion should be abandoned in favour of 'value for money', which encompasses innovation, quality of products and services, sustainability, greening and social impact, notes rapporteur Ferre Wyckmans. 

More information can be found here. The full report can be downloaded here.