http://www.igpn.org/news/ en Copyright 2026 Tue, 02 Jun 2026 08:01:00 +0000 http://www.sixapart.com/movabletype/ http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Why This Course Matters? The built environment is at the heart of the climate crisis, accounting for 37% of global greenhouse gas emissions and 40% of global resource use. With half of the buildings expected to exist in 2050 not yet built, there is an urgent need to rethink how we design and manage our infrastructure. Governments spend roughly 13% of global GDP on procurement, providing a massive lever to shift markets toward near-zero-emission, circular, and resilient solutions. This course empowers you to turn high-level sustainability goals into concrete procurement decisions. What You Will Learn? By the end of this course, you will be able to: -Navigate the Global Context: Understand the environmental and socio-economic impacts of the built environment. -Master the Global Framework for Action: Harnessing sustainable and circular public procurement to drive demand for a near-zero and resilient built environment: Apply the high-level principles and priority actions for implementing circularity across the buildings and construction value chain. -Apply Practical Tools: Learn to use Whole Life Costing (WLC), ecolabels, and performance-based specifications. -Identify Enabling Conditions: Explore the policies, financing, and capacity-building needed for procurement success. -Monitor Impact: Implement frameworks to track progress against SDG 12.7.1 and other national commitments. Course Features Duration: Approximately 10 hours of self-paced learning. -Interactive Content: Includes videos, case studies, and open-ended reflection tasks. -Expert Backed: Developed by UNEP with IISD as technical partner, peer-reviewed by global experts from UNOPS, ICLEI, OECD, CEC China (IGPN Secretariat), C40, Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management, ITC ILO, Impacti, SKAO and Western Cape Government. And pilot-tested by users in Argentina, Colombia, Ghana, Kenya, Philippines, Somalia, South Africa, and USA. -Certification: Earn a Certificate of Completion by passing module quizzes with a score of 70% or higher. Who Should Join? While designed for public procurement officers and policymakers, this course is also highly relevant for: -Technical officials and oversight bodies. -Private sector suppliers and industry associations. -Civil society actors and training providers. -Prerequisites: Introductory level knowledge of procurement is recommended Join the Course by register at weLearn platform. More details at UNEP One Planet Network website. ]]> http://www.igpn.org/news/2026/06/building_awareness_and_compete.html http://www.igpn.org/news/2026/06/building_awareness_and_compete.html Topics Tue, 02 Jun 2026 08:01:00 +0000 A new technical brief developed jointly by the Secretariat for the 10-Year Framework of Programmes on Sustainable Consumption and Production (10YFP) and the Secretariat of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm (BRS) Conventions is out now! Entitled 'Synergies between circularity, life-cycle approaches and the objectives of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions' provides insights on co-benefits on synergies between circularity, life-cycle approaches and the objectives of the Conventions. Discover: - Why transition to a circular economy in the context of chemical and waste pollution - Circular economy and life-cycle approaches as recognized in international decisions - Co-benefits of circular economy approaches and issues to be managed - How implementing the objectives of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions contributes to achieving a circular economy - Policy interventions that can advance both the objectives of the Conventions and circularity - Relevant work of the 10YFP Secretariat and the One Planet Network in advancing these objectives. More details at: One Planet Network News Center. ]]> http://www.igpn.org/news/2026/06/new_technical_brief_launched_t.html http://www.igpn.org/news/2026/06/new_technical_brief_launched_t.html Topics Mon, 01 Jun 2026 00:52:11 +0000 here (Japanese).]]> http://www.igpn.org/news/2026/05/gpn_japan_held_30th_anniversar.html http://www.igpn.org/news/2026/05/gpn_japan_held_30th_anniversar.html Topics Mon, 18 May 2026 01:47:41 +0000 The textile industry is one of the sectors with the greatest environmental and social impacts globally, with China accounting for a significant share in both the production and consumption stages of the value chain. This case study report is an outcome of the project “Sustainability in the textile value chain, promoting Ecolabel and Sustainable Public procurement”, implemented by China Environmental United Certification Center (CEC), which is affiliated with the Environmental Development Center (EDC) under the Ministry of Ecology and Environment of China. The project adopted a value chain analysis approach and a life cycle assessment (LCA) concept to develop the Ecological Textile Technical Specifications, systematically integrating criteria on climate change, biodiversity, pollution control, and social impacts. The project organized multiple promotion activities for standard interpretation and the adoption of sustainable procurement, and conducted pilot assessments in three well-known Chinese textile enterprises. These efforts have effectively advanced the green and low-carbon transformation of China’s textile enterprises. The activities were supported by the EcoAdvance project, a collaborative effort between the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), GIZ, and Öko-Institut, receiving financial support from the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Climate Action, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMUKN) through the International Climate Initiative (IKI). Download the report at here. More details at One Planet Network knowledge center. ]]> http://www.igpn.org/news/2026/05/china_case_study_report_on_cer.html http://www.igpn.org/news/2026/05/china_case_study_report_on_cer.html Topics Wed, 06 May 2026 01:03:24 +0000 Public buyers outside the European Union seeking cutting-edge solutions can now connect directly with over 6,000 innovative start-ups, covering key sectors such as the green transition, health and advanced digital technologies. The European Innovation Council (EIC) is backing Europe’s most innovative and disruptive deep tech startups and SMEs, through the SPIN4EIC project. Supported by ICLEI Europe, the initiative is dedicated to enhancing innovators’ability to access procurement markets both in Europe and worldwide through training, matchmaking, and free hands-on assistance. As part of its work in SPIN4EIC, ICLEI is supporting EIC-backed innovators to access global procurement opportunities. Collaboration with the global network allows the identification of possible tender opportunities to procure innovative solutions worldwide. The initiative has already demonstrated impact through collaborations with global partners, including: EIC-backed AquaB Nanobubble Innovations Ltd, a deep-tech company that delivers electrostriction-based nanobubble solutions for oil and water treatment, recently signed a landmark commercial agreement with Saudi Aramco, one of the world’s largest energy companies. Read the full Success Story! Public buyers interested in sharing tender notices and/or information on relevant platforms where tender opportunities are published, and in connecting directly with innovative start-ups to address their needs, are invited to contact the ICLEI Europe procurement team (procurement@iclei.org) for an introductory meeting. More details at ICLEI newsbit. ]]> http://www.igpn.org/news/2026/04/connectig_public_buyers_with_e.html http://www.igpn.org/news/2026/04/connectig_public_buyers_with_e.html Topics Mon, 20 Apr 2026 00:34:28 +0000 the CFIT website. ]]> http://www.igpn.org/news/2026/04/cfit_launches_first_recommenda.html http://www.igpn.org/news/2026/04/cfit_launches_first_recommenda.html Topics Mon, 13 Apr 2026 01:09:41 +0000 CEC news center.]]> http://www.igpn.org/news/2026/04/cec_assists_in_the_release_of.html http://www.igpn.org/news/2026/04/cec_assists_in_the_release_of.html Topics Tue, 07 Apr 2026 00:21:36 +0000 Download file ]]> http://www.igpn.org/news/2026/04/11_5.html http://www.igpn.org/news/2026/04/11_5.html Newsletter Fri, 03 Apr 2026 02:45:15 +0000 Green Supply Chain Improvement Study for the Printing Consumables Industry” in June 2025, with support from the “Green Printing Compaign for Zero-Waste Cities” initiated by Taotian Group’s 3C Digital Sector, Alibaba Philanthropy, and the Beijing Entrepreneurs’ Foundation for Environmental Protection. The project aims to steer the industry toward eco-friendly procurement, pushing upstream suppliers to adopt greener practices and strengthening the supply chain against global trade and national environmental issues. <Green and low-carbon procurement guide for the printing consumables industry>, a key project outcome, was formally released by the project team, in collaboration with Zhuhai Printing Consumables Industry Association, at a training workshop focused on boosting green supply chain capabilities lately. Tailored to the specific needs and capabilities of printing consumables manufacturers and their supply chain partners including producers of toner cartridges, ink cartridges, ribbons, raw materials, and components, the Guide built on the core principles of “proactive accountability and continuous improvement”, emphasizes on practical, company-specific solutions, steers businesses toward building sustainable partnerships with suppliers and positioning green procurement as a vital pillar of regulatory compliance and competitive advantage. The Guide provides clear benchmarks for key areas like eco-friendly materials, product design, and supplier environmental management, offering a roadmap to embed sustainability into procurement. It advises companies to set green standards, assess suppliers’ environmental performance, prioritize renewable materials and recyclable designs, and reduce packaging—ensuring low-carbon goals are woven into every stage of procurement. More details at CEC website. ]]> http://www.igpn.org/news/2026/03/green_and_lowcarbon_procuremen.html http://www.igpn.org/news/2026/03/green_and_lowcarbon_procuremen.html Topics Mon, 30 Mar 2026 00:28:32 +0000 ICLEI sustainable procurement platform. ]]> http://www.igpn.org/news/2026/03/las_rozas_de_madrid_changes_it.html http://www.igpn.org/news/2026/03/las_rozas_de_madrid_changes_it.html Topics Mon, 23 Mar 2026 00:27:28 +0000 From compliance tool to policy instrument In 2014 the EC developed Public Procurement Directives to simplify procedures, provide more flexibility for contracting authorities, and to promote fair access to all economic operators, including Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs). Their objective was to enable public authorities to use their buying power to secure the best value for money while improving environmental sustainability, social inclusion and innovation. Nonetheless, a recent evaluation highlights the limits of the current framework where between 2011 and 2021 the share of awards based solely on lowest price increased, with 55 percent of procurement procedures in the EU using the lowest price as the only award criterion in their contracts. Strengthening EU competitiveness Equating ‘value for money’ with the lowest price is a short-sighted practice that hampers innovation, weakens strategic investment, and limits long-term value creation. As Dominique Sandy, Head of ICLEI Europe’s Sustainable and Innovation Procurement Team, argues: “at a moment when EU budgets are constrained and global competition is intensifying, we cannot let public procurement underperform as a policy instrument. A revised procurement framework that makes sustainable procurement the norm would help translate the Union’s industrial, climate and resilience ambitions into concrete outcomes on the ground.” Cities as key actors in the EU procurement ecosystem To work towards these goals effectively cities need to develop capacity, specialised skills, and know-how. Consequently the new framework should support and promote the creation of city-level spend analytics and foresight capabilities that can map where municipal money flows and identify opportunities for more sustainable, innovative and/or resilient options. Public procurement needs to become a core pillar of EU missions and city-focused initiatives such as the Climate Neutral and Smart Cities Mission and the New European Bauhaus. Within the Big Buyers Working Together project, aiming to support collaboration between public buyers with strong purchasing power and to promote the wider use of public procurement for innovative and sustainable solutions, ICLEI Europe is leading a Community of Practice seeking to integrate the NEB principles within sustainable public procurement. These initiatives help translate political commitments into concrete locally-replicable actions on the ground and support dialogue between cities and industry to ensure that value-based criteria are realistic, innovation-friendly and scalable. As hubs of economic activity and innovation, cities play a central role in implementing strategic public procurement for the transition to succeed. Their investment potential in sectors such as energy, transport, circular economy and buildings is key to create sustainable, lead markets. Better leveraging EU funding through procurement ICLEI Europe proposes that the revised Directives strengthen public procurement as a core delivery mechanism for EU priorities through a number of legislative reforms. These should support cities to fulfil their potential as promoters and implementers of strategic public procurement. They include the introduction of mandatory green criteria in high-impact categories, strengthening of Socially Responsible Public Procurement (SRPP) through reserved contracts for social enterprises, due diligence and mandatory social criteria, and the operationalisation of Life Cycle Costing through standardised EU methodologies. Reframing “value for money” to include lifecycle performance, resilience, social and environmental value, and ensuring that quality-based criteria are the default in tenders in strategic sectors, would enable procurement to translate EU funding into measurable impact, aligned with the Union’s objectives. Turning dialogue into delivery The forthcoming revision of the Public Procurement Directive - expected in June 2026 - represents a key opportunity to strengthen the framework and better align it with the EU’s policy ambitions. In its contribution to the European Commission’s public consultation on the new directives, ICLEI Europe underlines the important role of cities and regions as launch customers, recognising their combined expertise in climate, social policy and innovation, and emphasises how public procurement should be used a tool to translate EU ambitions into locally workable practice. Through initiatives such as its City-Industry Dialogue series and its Procura+ Network, ICLEI Europe continues to demonstrate how policy reform, market engagement and local delivery can reinforce each other. These activities show that supporting cities in their implementation of strategic procurement practices can help Europe remain competitive while staying transparent, fair and legally secure. Read ICLEI Europe’s contribution to the EU procurement directive consultation at the ICLEI Europe website here. ]]> http://www.igpn.org/news/2026/03/5public_procurement_needs_to_b.html http://www.igpn.org/news/2026/03/5public_procurement_needs_to_b.html Topics Thu, 19 Mar 2026 07:11:33 +0000 Frontiers in Nutrition The paper reflects on the growing interest in“planet-friendly”and“sustainable” school meal programmes and explores the often underexamined procurement-related bottlenecks that countries face when attempting to operationalize environmental sustainability objectives through school feeding. In particular, it discusses challenges related to: -defining environmental sustainability for food, -translating sustainability objectives into procurement criteria and verification mechanisms, and -managing trade-offs and synergies with existing social, economic, nutrition and health objectives—especially in LMIC contexts. While the focus is on school food procurement, many of the reflections are relevant to broader public food procurement debates. ]]> http://www.igpn.org/news/2026/03/new_publication_environmental.html http://www.igpn.org/news/2026/03/new_publication_environmental.html Topics Mon, 16 Mar 2026 00:46:25 +0000 ICLEI sustainable procurement platform webpage. ]]> http://www.igpn.org/news/2026/03/connecting_public_buyers_with.html http://www.igpn.org/news/2026/03/connecting_public_buyers_with.html Topics Mon, 09 Mar 2026 00:10:32 +0000 One Planet Network knowledge webpage. ]]> http://www.igpn.org/news/2026/03/good_practice_on_ecolabels_and_3.html http://www.igpn.org/news/2026/03/good_practice_on_ecolabels_and_3.html Topics Mon, 02 Mar 2026 00:41:59 +0000 in-depth case study featured in the GPP Helpdesk. Learn more at ICLEI sustainable procurement platform webpage.]]> http://www.igpn.org/news/2026/02/ireland_creates_national_frame.html http://www.igpn.org/news/2026/02/ireland_creates_national_frame.html Topics Tue, 24 Feb 2026 00:32:40 +0000