This strategic report is an update to the 2012 Bioeconomy Strategy published by the EU Commission. It not only makes the case for a bio-based economy but also gives 14 concrete steps for implementation.

Public procurement can embrace the principles of the circular economy, in particular: contribute to the closure of cycles (both energy and materials), maximize the value of materials, reduce or eliminate waste production. This guide aims to support the transition towards circular procurement.

The report offers a vision for a healthy food system fit for the 21st century and beyond, underpinned by the circular economy principles of designing out waste and pollution, keeping products and materials in use, and regenerating natural systems.

Public Health Wales adopted a new mindset when moving office in 2016, and instead sought suppliers who could reuse and remanufacture as much already owned furniture as possible. The winning tender provided an attractive, functional office design, in which 94% of furniture was reused or remanufactured.

Pļaviņu Municipality (Latvia) wanted to sustain good quality catering in their school for a reasonable price. They also wanted to include circular aspects in the procurement in order to be more sustainable.

This guidance is intended to help those responsible for the commissioning, specifying and procurement of products, equipment and services, embed the benefits of a relevant and proportionate focus on repair, re-use and remanufacturing.

In 2012 the Council wished to put in place a new contract to deal with redundant computer equipment. The principal GPP objective was to ensure that redundant computer equipment was re-used or recycled to the greatest extent possible, not only meeting the Council’s obligations under the EU’s WEEE regulations, but also minimising environmental impact by diverting waste from landfill. In addition, it was hoped that further social value would be delivered by making refurbished computer equipment available for community projects.

The Venlo Region, located in the southeast of the Netherlands, has expressed its ambition to become pioneers in the transition to a circular economy by developing several initiatives supporting the implementation of circular economy principles in the manufacturing and construction sectors.

Ghent has spent the last 10 years progressively greening its municipal cleaning services to achieve the use of 100% environmentally sound products. Ghent purchases products meeting the European Ecolabel criteria, as a minimum, and was the first city to use Cradle-to-Cradle Certified products through their contracted cleaning services for all of its buildings and facilities. There are 340 locations in the city (ranging from office buildings, schools, nurseries, museums, etc.) which benefit from the City’s cleaning services and/or products (such as those used for providing public catering services), which involve 350 external collaborators. The City’s annual spend on cleaning products and services is 14.4 million euro.