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Interpretative Communication on public procurement and the environment frequently asked questions (see also IP/01/959)
According to the interpretative communication, is it possible to adequately take into account environmental considerations under the public procurement Directives?
The Communication makes it clear that there are numerous possibilities for the 'greening' of public procurement under the directives. This is particularly so if three guiding principles are followed non-discrimination, transparency, and thought about where in the tender process environmental elements should be taken into account. Generally speaking, the earlier in the tender process (definition of the subject of the contract, technical specifications) you place environmental considerations, the more is possible.
Is it possible to ask for process and production methods under the Directives?
In the technical specifications of the tender, process and production methods can be requested where these help to specify the performance characteristics of the performance or service. This includes both process and production methods that physically affect the end product (e.g. absence of chemicals) and those that do not but nevertheless affect the nature of the end product for example organic food, or furniture produced from sustainable timber. It is not possible to require that the factory producing the goods use recycled paper in its office, as this does not relate to the production of the goods.