Procuring Green in the Public Sector: A checklist for getting started

The IISD provides a 21-element checklist to guide public sector procurers in implementing sustainable public procurement (SPP). The guide emphasizes the need for legislative support—either through formal laws or 'soft laws'—and the adoption of life-cycle costing to move beyond short-term budget constraints. It highlights the role of e-procurement in screening for environmental and social criteria and stresses the importance of integrating these dimensions into supplier qualification, contract enforcement, and the support of small- and medium-sized enterprises.

• The guide identifies a 21-element checklist to facilitate the transition in public procurement from a focus on immediate 'value for money' to a 'value for money across the life cycle' culture.
• Sustainable public procurement (SPP) can be supported by formal legislation or, as a cheaper and easier alternative, through 'soft laws' and policies that provide legitimization.
• The implementation of SPP is aided by e-procurement methods that allow for environmental and social screening, as well as the integration of these dimensions into supplier qualification and appraisal.

APA

Perera,, O. (2011). Procuring Green in the Public Sector: A checklist for getting started. International Institute for Sustainable Development. https://www.iisd.org/publications/report/procuring-green-public-sector-checklist-getting-started

Chicago

Perera,, Oshani. Procuring Green in the Public Sector: A checklist for getting started. International Institute for Sustainable Development, 2011. https://www.iisd.org/publications/report/procuring-green-public-sector-checklist-getting-started.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Perera, |first1=Oshani |title=Procuring Green in the Public Sector: A checklist for getting started |publisher=International Institute for Sustainable Development |date=9 April 2011 |url=https://www.iisd.org/publications/report/procuring-green-public-sector-checklist-getting-started |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{perera2011procuring, author = {Perera,, Oshani}, title = {{Procuring Green in the Public Sector: A checklist for getting started}}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, year = {2011}, month = apr, url = {https://www.iisd.org/publications/report/procuring-green-public-sector-checklist-getting-started}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }