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The government has published its draft national action plan on green public procurement (GPP). Environment minister Phil Hogan said the plan, when finalised later this year, will apply to all personnel involved in procurement across the public sector. The plan aims to ensure the government purchases sustainable products and services in areas such as construction, energy, food and transport.

The plan states that public bodies should only purchase or lease buildings with, at worst, a B3 BER, with an aim to raise this to A3. By 2017, public bodies will be required to purchase only construction timber from sources independently verified as legal and sustainable.

All public bodies will be required to consult with the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland on capital projects. But the government has dropped plans to base the plan on The Natural Step, a series of science-based sustainability guidelines. The Office of Public Works Architectural Services is currently producing more detailed energy and environmental criteria for the construction and refurbishment of state buildings.

Public procurement in Ireland amounted to €15 billion in 2010. “This highlights the key role that government departments, state agencies and public authorities play in the procurement of infrastructure, goods and services. It clearly illustrates the leadership role that these bodies can play in promoting green procurement, as we put Ireland on the path to a low-carbon, competitive and successful economy," Minister Hogan said.

"Green public procurement (GPP) will be a key element in driving this change and this action plan, once finalised, will provide the framework for the development of GPP in a consistent, progressive and coherent fashion.” The draft action plan is now available for public consultation and may be downloaded here (PDF).

Encouraging all interested parties to submit their views, the minister commented: “Stakeholder buy-in will be critical to the successful implementation of the GPP action plan. It is important therefore that all of the relevant stakeholders study this draft action plan and submit their comments. I look forward to finalising the process and publishing Ireland’s first GPP action plan later this year”, the minister concluded. The consultation closes on Friday, 8 July.