GPP 2020 project - procurement for a low-carbon economy

The GPP2020 project aimed to: • build capacity amongst public authorities for the implementation of GPP for energy related products, services and works procurement • build capacity amongst procurement training providers, to enable the integration of GPP into regular procurement training programmes • achieve CO2 reductions through supporting the implementation of GPP tenders • promote knowledge transfer of GPP approaches, and innovative technologies and services between purchasing bodies and GPP support bodies across Europe • enhance permanent GPP support structures in the target countries Major outputs & expected results: 1. 64 GPP tenders for energy related products and services carried out by project partners (at least 6 per partner), leading to estimated GHG emissions of 558,738t CO2e during the project 2. A further 48 GPP tenders carried out by associate partners and other public authorities in the participating countries, leading to estimated GHG emissions of 419,053t CO2e during the project 3. 13 train the trainer seminars, resulting in 130-195 participants able to provide GPP training for procurers 4. 36 training seminars for procurers, resulting in 540-720 participants better able to implement GPP within their own procurement actions 5. Permanent GPP support functions to assist public authorities in implementation during and after the project The project had a total of 18 partners across eight countries - Austria, Croatia, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Portugal, Slovenia, and Spain. This large number of partners and wide coverage allowed the consortium to meet its aims of upscaling the implementation of GPP on a large scale and to substantially boost GPP skills and knowledge across the procurement community. Tools developed within the project to help calculate savings include: • GPP 2020 energy contracting calculator • GPP 2020 office ICT calculator • GPP 2020 vehicles calculator • GPP 2020 street lighting calculator Other useful resources produced by the GPP 2020 project include: 1. Replicable tender models detailing what procurement approaches were used and how savings were calculated. 2. A series of practical fact sheets giving hints and tips on implementing low carbon tenders within selected sectors. 3. Comprehensive tutorial videos providing step by step guidance on how to use the GPP 2020 calculators. GPP 2020 has demonstrated the huge energy and CO2 savings which public authorities in Europe can make by procuring innovative products and services. Over the course of three years, more than 100 low-carbon tenders were implemented by over 40 public authorities in 8 countries, resulting in calculated savings of over 700,000 tonnes CO2e and 90,000 toe (tonnes of oil equivalent). The GPP 2020 approach was to take energy and CO₂ reductions into account right from the start of the procurement process. An initial calculation showed decision makers and procurers the level of savings that could be achieved with a low carbon tender. Once awarded, all contracts were monitored and their impact assessed by calculating how much energy and CO₂ was saved compared to either the solution chosen in the previous tender or a standard solution available on the market. GPP 2020 also put in place structures to support public authorities looking to implement low-carbon tenders in future. These include dedicated national helpdesks, replicable case studies and an international training programme.