Contributing to the achievement of climate targets while also saving on costs: that is what the Dutch government hopes to achieve with its policy on socially responsible public procurement (SRPP). In 2021 and 2022, this policy resulted in reduced emissions of greenhouse gases. The government also reduced its water consumption and use of raw materials. According to RIVM, this is not yet sufficient to achieve the climate targets through SRPP. This will require less polluting procurement and a greater focus on measures that extend the service life of products.
Each year, the Dutch government spends 85 billion euros on public procurement. Examples are the procurement of energy and catering services and the renovation of office buildings. The government aims to reduce the burden of its procurement on the climate and on the environment as much as possible. To this end, RIVM has studied the impact of SRPP biennially since 2015. Several SRPP targets have been established, including reduced emissions of greenhouse gases, nitrogen oxides and particulate matter. Since calls for tenders cover more than a single year, 2022 is the most recent year that could be studied.
SRPP could have a far greater impact
In 2021 and 2022, SRPP led to reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and the use of raw materials and water. However, the improvements observed from 2015 until 2020 appear to be plateauing. At the same time, several contracting parties have shown that it is possible to meet the targets while also spending less money.
SRPP remains a suitable tool for boosting sustainable procurement. However, many opportunities are not yet being utilised. RIVM expects that SRPP could have the greatest impact in the fields of automation, energy, civil and hydraulic engineering, office buildings, office facilities and transport.
Good examples
Thanks to the procurement of green power, the emission of CO2 equivalents per kilowatt-hour in 2021 and 2022 was 127 grams. This is much lower than the market standard of 372 grams per kilowatt-hour. However, it is much higher than the target of 65 grams by 2030.
Other good examples are the reuse of construction materials in renovations and saving on gas with better insulation.
As a result of SRPP, the government is estimated to have emitted at least 900 million kilos of CO2 equivalents in greenhouse gases less in 2021 and 2022 than it would have done without SRPP procurement.
Impact always depends on other developments as well
These gains made by the government in 2021 and 2022 were not exclusively due to SRPP. Other factors, such as the war in Ukraine and gas procurement, also played a role in this period.
Figure 1: Carbon intensity in grams of CO2 equivalents per kilowatt-hour of generated electricity.
