Green Public Procurement Coming Down the Tracks [Video]

GPP is a major piece of the government’s sustainable strategy and firms should see it as an opportunity rather than a barrier to doing business, writes Ed Farrell

A key strategic imperative for any business is anticipating future market trends and direction.

For SMEs and companies across Ireland, the public policy signalling could not be clearer — Ireland Inc is going greener.

By now many SMEs should be at least broadly familiar with Green Public Procurement (GPP) — the process where public authorities seek to source goods, services or works with a reduced environmental impact.

Public sector bodies (excluding utilities) spend over €18.5bn on goods, services and works annually, with the government estimating that total annual public sector purchasing accounts for 10% to 12% of Ireland’s gross domestic product.

Given this backdrop, private sector suppliers can profit by reading the room and learning as much as possible about the mechanics of this very significant …