The Alsace Regional Council is carrying out a major energy-efficiency renovation of 14 schools in the region. The project began in 2008 and will be completed in 2011. Renovation work is being targeted at making major energy-efficiency improvements, and installing on-site renewable energy capacity.

The Public Procurement Agency in Slovenia was established in 2010 and went into operation in January 2011. It is responsible for carrying out joint procurements for Slovenian public authorities for a number of product and service groups. As part of its mandate, the Agency implements GPP criteria in its procurement of electricity, paper, office IT equipment and vehicles.

Public procurement for all of Wiesbaden’s public authorities is organised by the city’s Central Procurement Office within the Office for Economy and Property. Many products and services are provided through a digital catalogue – thus enabling each authority or even individuals to procure independently.

As a major purchaser in the clothing sector, the Ministry of Defence saw the opportunity to promote its objectives in the field of sustainable development by introducing procurement criteria targeting environmental and social impacts along the clothing production line.

The Public Procurement and Supply Directorate General conducts centralised public procurement procedures at national level for specific products and contracting authorities (e.g. national ministries). The Directorate has been able to generate savings by establishing framework agreements which are relatively large in volume and value, covering periods ranging from one to four years.

The tender procedure introduced a number of requirements to enhance the quality and sustainability of street cleaning and rubbish collection in Barcelona. More frequent rubbish collection, environmentally-friendly vehicles, separate collection of organic waste and recycling containers which are accessible to all users were implemented under the contract.

The objective behind Rome’s approach is to support organic agriculture and organic food chains, ensure food safety and nutritional balance, and encourage good environmental performance of current and potential suppliers, through its school meal service.

The objectives of Waterford County Council’s GPP activities are to reduce the carbon footprint of the Council, stimulate the green market, and illustrate the merits of green procurement to other public sector organisations. In 2009, a tender for the supply of electricity offered the opportunity to pilot the Council’s GPP approach.

Liberty Bridge is one of the key crossing points over the Danube, and an iconic site within central Budapest. The city’s master lighting plan included the illumination of a number of bridges, in order to allow safe transit while creating visually attractive landmarks at night.