Lessons learned
Barriers to the take-up of GPP
- Green products are perceived to be pricier. Most of governmental bodies officials mare purchasing decision solely on the price of the goods, rather than the full life-cycle cost of the product or service, can affect the take-up of green products and services. Though, higher initial purchasing costs of green goods and services are often compensated for by lower operating, maintenance or disposal costs.
- Most of the governmental officials understands very little the benefits of GPP; awareness and information spreading is very needed.
- Lack of legal expertise in applying environmental criteria. Many purchasers within public authorities do not and should not be expected to know all the environmental and social impacts of purchasing particular products or services. In some cases purchasers still struggle to define what an “environmentally and/or socially preferable” product or service is, and how to include appropriate criteria to identify these in tendering.
- Lack of practical tools and information. Not many product are properly labelled and there are not enough institutions to carry out necessary research in order to confirm that the goods or services are “green”.
- Not enough knowledge. Staff responsible for carrying out specific tasks do not always has the skills, or is not provided with the appropriate training. Training is generally required for procurers on the legal and technical aspects of GPP implementation, on the concept of life-cycle costing and for end-users on the sustainable use of products.
On EU level:
- Limited established environmental criteria for products / services – and where these do exist there are often insufficient mechanisms, such as databases, to publicise them.
- Insufficient information on life cycle costing of products and the relative costs of environmentally friendly products / services.
- Low awareness of the benefits of environmentally friendly products and services.
- Uncertainty about legal possibilities to include environmental criteria in tender documents.
- The lack of political support and resulting limited resources for implementing / promoting GPP (improved training is particularly necessary).
- The lack of a coordinated exchange of best practice and information between regions and local authorities.