Investing in nature via Circular Green Public Procurement (CGPP)

Circular Green Public Procurement (CGPP) leverages government purchasing power (15 per cent of EU GDP) to drive demand for low-carbon and circular goods, services and works, helping protect ecosystems while reducing pollution.

By setting environmental criteria in public tenders, authorities can shift market demand towards sustainable solutions. This includes using low-carbon and circular materials in infrastructure and prioritising reuse and repair to extend product lifecycles and reduce pressure on natural resources. However, CGPP uptake remains uneven across EU Member States. Establishing common minimum environmental criteria could support wider adoption, reduce administrative burden for public buyers and provide market certainty, helping create economies of scale. Moreover, strengthening skills through training and capacity building is essential for both contracting authorities and market actors.

The Interreg Central Europe project CE-PRINCE supports the transition to a circular economy in Central Europe by leveraging CGPP as a means to improve companies’ circularity while reinforcing the public sector’s capacity to design circular tenders. The project pilots innovative tender design across seven Central European regions, developing transnational common environmental criteria in key sectors, agrifood, manufacturing, construction and tourism. It also delivers capacity-building activities, peer learning and practical toolkits to support implementation.

This event showcases project practices, including the definition and integration of environmental criteria in tenders, the use of preliminary market consultations and capacity-building activities, highlighting both contracting authorities’ and market actors’ perspectives. It addresses key challenges such as balancing higher upfront costs with long-term savings and overcoming market scepticism.

Finally, it demonstrates how public procurement can move beyond compliance to actively restore natural capital and drive the transition to a more sustainable circular economy.