Publication: Innovation Potentials in Eco-friendly Public Procurement

The federal government, state- and local-authorities have a significant combined market-power. Consistent consideration for innovative products and services in public procurement can therefore provide extra support for innovation policies from the demand side. The aim of this study is to highlight the innovation potentials in eco-friendly public procurement in Germany. adelphi research and the Environmental Policy Research Centre (ffu) in Berlin carried out the study on behalf of the Federal Environment Agency (UBA).

The study “Innovation Potentials in Eco-friendly Public Procurement” (only available in German) finds its starting points in the reform in the public procurement law, and the high-tech strategy whereby several federal government ministries have agreed to use public procurement as an instrument to support innovation policies from the demand side.

The study makes it clear that the full scope of possibilities has not yet been exhausted. In-depth case studies from other countries (Denmark, Sweden, USA and China) show that the instrument of public procurement is used more systematically by other authorities to achieve the aims of innovation- and environmental-policies. As international competition grows in the area of innovative and eco-friendly technologies and products, it is important that increased efforts are made here in Germany to support development and distribution in these sectors, from both the supply and demand sides.

A number of conclusions can be drawn from the case studies and policy analysis. These make it clear that practices for improving public procurement can be implemented in three main areas: among the parties involved in procurement, in the interaction between these parties, and in instruments and political frameworks.

Further information:

Study: “Innovation Potentials in Eco-friendly Public Procurement” [Innovationspotentiale der umweltfreundlichen öffentlichen Beschaffung]
www.uba.de/uba-info-medi…
(in German only)

Further information on the project:
http://www.adelphi.de/en…