Circular procurement
Circular procurement is an approach that recognises the role that private and public authorities can play in supporting the transition towards a circular economy. Circular procurement can be defined as the process by which private or public authorities purchase works, goods or services that seek to contribute to closed energy and material loops within supply chains whilst minimising, and in the best case avoiding, negative environmental impacts and waste creation across their whole life-cycle. As a concept, it builds on Sustainable Procurement, adding elements such as closed-loop material use. Policy context The EU Action Plan for the Circular Economy has established an ambitious programme of action which will help to ‘close the loop’ of product lifecycles. This plan recognises public procurement as a key driver in the transition towards the circular economy, and it sets out several actions that the European Commission will take to facilitate the integration of circular economy principles in GPP. These include highlighting circular aspects in new or updated sets of EU GPP Criteria. Circular public procurement also has a role in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, defined by the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Especially, SDG 12 - Responsible Consumption and Production –