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The Dutch government procures around € 73 billion worth of work, services and supplies every year. Much of this is for the primary process: roads, bridges, home care, school books, school transport, and so on. Procurement is therefore a key tool for ensuring quality in government services.

Green public procurement covers six distinct topics. For each product group cited in the environmental criteria documents, there are specific criteria and suggestions to help you make a more environmentally friendly choice.

Before awarding a contract, conduct your own analysis of the market, of the players involved, and of the sustainable products or services available. You should also determine the position of your procurement organisation in relation to the major market actors. Once your analysis is completed, you can involve the market in an appropriate manner.

The potential of biobased products is beginning to be recognised in various sectors. It is still something of a challenge to identify this potential but procurement of biobased products offers many potential benefits, so it is worthwhile to invest in this.

This report seeks to contribute to the discussion on innovation and sustainable public procurement (SPP) through the investigation of the use of performance-based specifications (PBSs) in public procurement in the European Union and the United States. The report examines the benefits and limitations of the use of PBSs at different points in the procurement cycle in different sectors, particularly around their ability to support sustainable development goals and deliver environmental benefits. (September 2014)

In the Netherlands, contracting authorities in the public and private sector that wish to incorporate climate impact, circularity and social goals into their procurements can join a buyer group. In a buyer group, they work together to develop a shared market vision and strategy for a specific product category. This gives a clear signal to the market and allows members to share costs and risks.

On Thursday 2 December 2021, PIANOo organized the Science Afternoon Innovation-Oriented Procurement. In a dynamic program the participants were introduced in recent scientific research into innovation-oriented procurement. Professors and researchers, students from Utrecht University, Maastricht University and Twente University shared their insights and ideas with participants and each other. Due to its international character, this science afternoon was in English. This gave the opportunity to connect the Dutch knowledge to the European network of PIANOo and to involve foreign-language participants and speakers.

This research, done at the request of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management and the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy, offers a foundation to further enhance government policy with regard to bioplastics. Independent research and consultancy organisation CE Delft has investigated the sustainability of biobased plastics and has drawn conclusions about the greenhouse gas balance, the use of natural resources, its relation to litter and the plastic soup, and the options for processing bioplastics at at the end of its life span. (September 2017)

The government can use procurement as a way of encouraging the market to come up with innovative solutions. This can be done either by actively seeking an innovative solution or by offering market players the scope to provide innovative solutions. Innovation is vital for economic growth and progress. While innovative solutions are often more sustainable, they may also be driven by other considerations.

PIANOo, the Dutch Public Procurement Expertise Centre, was set up to professionalise procurement and tendering in all government departments, with a view to improving efficiency and compliance with the rules. Professional procurement can contribute to successful policy and offers value for taxpayers' money.