SPP Regions website launched to showcase regional networks’ experience on sustainable public procurement of innovation

Freiburg, Germany 9 December 2015 – The SPP Regions project has launched its website, hosted at the URL www.sppregions.eu, to showcase the creation and the strengthening of networks of public authorities on sustainable public procurement (SPP) and public procurement of innovation (PPI) in seven European regions. 

The networks in Barcelona (Xarxa de Ciutats i Pobles cap a la Sostenibilitat), South West England (PIPEN), Bulgaria (Bulgarian SPPI Network), Copenhagen, Torino (APE), Metropolitan Region Rotterdam – The Hague, and West France (RGO) are co-operating directly on tendering for eco-innovative solutions and building capacities on the implementation of sustainable and innovative purchasing practices.

The seven regional SPP networks will publish a total of 42 eco-innovative tenders focused on energy use in public buildings, vehicles and transport, and food and catering services. The goal is to achieve 54.3 GWh/ year of primary energy savings and trigger 45 GWh/year of renewable energy.

By becoming early adopters of new eco-innovative solutions and technologies, local public bodies can bridge the gap between supply and demand of these products and services, and bring economic, social and environmental benefits to their cities. SPP and PPI can trigger employment creation, boost the establishment of SMEs, reduce water and energy consumption, decrease GHG emissions, encourage more efficient use of natural resources, and contribute to the improvement of air quality. Regional networks can help increase the capacity of public bodies for SPP and PPI, and send a stronger signal of demand for sustainability to suppliers.

In addition, the project aims at increasing the capacities and skills on energy issues of 460 market stakeholders. In-depth research will be conducted into European good practice relating to a series of key SPP and PPI topics such as market engagement, life cycle costing, output or performance-based specifications, and circular procurement. These resources will be made available from the project website.

Given the importance of replicating the SPP Regions initiative, the participating regions and the expert partners will identify another 10 regions that may be interested in developing their own network.

The SPP Regions project is coordinated by ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability, in partnership with the Agenzia Regionale per la Protezione Ambientale del Piemonte (Italy), Diputació de Barcelona, Réseau Grand Ouest commande publique et dévelopement durable (France), City of Rotterdam, Città Metropolitana di Torino, Bristol City Council, Gabrovo Municipality, EcoEnergy (Bulgaria), The Danish Environmental Protection Agency, University of West of England (Bristol), The Capital Region of Denmark, and Ecoinstitut SCCL (Barcelona). The project is funded by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme.

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Background:

ICLEI is a global association of over 1,000 cities, towns and metropolises in 86 countries with a mission to promote global sustainability through local action. ICLEI has around 300 urban development professionals working in 17 secretariats and offices, supporting cities and regions to become sustainable, low-carbon, resilient, biodiverse, resource-efficient and productive, ecomobile, smart and healthy and happy. More than 20% of the world’s urban population benefit from ICLEI‘s work which is global in scope and impact, and yet very local in implementation.

 

Media contact:

Meritxell Diaz
Communications Officer
ICLEI - Local Governments for Sustainability Email: meritxell.diaz@iclei.org

 

SOURCE: http://www.iclei-europe.org/