The United for Efficiency sustainable public procurement tools for lighting, appliances and equipment are designed to foster the integration of sustainable public procurement criteria and international regulatory, social and environmental best practices in the day-to-day purchasing activities of Government and public sector organisations.
What is sustainable public procurement?
Sustainable public procurement is a process whereby state and semi-state entities meet their needs for goods, services, works and utilities in a way that achieves value for money on a whole life basis in terms of generating benefits not only to the organisation, but also to society and the economy, whilst minimizing, and if possible, avoiding, damage to the environment.
It can help to transform markets by leveraging the power of public purchases to drive markets towards much more eco-efficient lighting, appliances and equipment, reducing governments’ environmental footprint and contributing significantly to reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. It also allows governments to serve as an exemplary model and send strong market signals, fostering private sector and consumer behaviour change, enabling the overall transition to a green, sustainable economy.
U4E’s activities
With an initial focus on lighting, refrigerators and air conditioners, U4E activities are aimed at enabling state and semi-state entities in developing and emerging economies to:
- Develop their technical requirements for tendering processes to procure only higher energy efficiency products.
- Instigate and accelerate the market penetration of high impact electrical products.
- Compare the economic cost and environmental impact of different bids during the life span of the appliances being procured.
U4E provides technical assistance to a wide range of countries and is also active in building in-country capacities through online workshops for government and regional organisation procurement practitioners.
