Iceland handles budget cuts through sustainable procurement

Article taken from the ICLEI in Europe newsletter.  To view article, click here

Building on the outcomes of the EcoProcura 2009 conference, ICLEI member Reykjavik (Iceland), has become the newest participant of ICLEI's Procura+ Sustainable Procurement Campaign. As the host of EcoProcura 2009, Reykjavik set green public procurement (GPP) as a city priority and has followed through with various practical steps and money-saving initiatives.

Reykjavik collaborates closely with the national government and is now using GPP to handle severe budget cuts, having been hit hard by the financial crisis. During the process of centralising procurement a checklist for procurers was developed. Furthermore, the reference to the Nordic Svan ecolabel in the technical specifications increased by 100% in the last six months.

An assessment of products and services currently purchased by the city revealed the huge saving potential of buying recycled paper for its offices, reorganising and downsizing its vehicle fleet and using environmentally-friendly cleaning products.

The latest edition of ICLEI's Sustainable Procurement Update reports on Reykjavik's advances and much more. Key recent developments include the launch of the Sustainable Construction and Innovation Network, co-ordinated by ICLEI.

To download the latest Sustainable Procurement Update from ICLEI, click here

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