Sustainable and circular procurement in businesses

• Reduce the ecological footprint of products and services by reducing the consumption of resources such as water and energy throughout the production and usage of products.
• Promoting renewable energy in manufacturing processes.
• Prioritise ecological, renewable, non-toxic and low-emission materials.
• Support short supply chains to limit transport-related emissions.

• Evaluate real needs to acquire only what is necessary (sufficiency).
• Maximise profitability by assessing the total costs of ownership (including maintenance and end-of-life), rather than focusing solely on the acquisition price.
• Strengthen the local economy by choosing products made in the region.

• Promote companies and business practices that respect human rights, equity, equality and inclusion.
• Promote transparent supply chains
• Give preference to suppliers who integrate minority groups and promote diversity within businesses, as well as choosing fair trade products.

• Choose certified fair trade products (e.g., Fairtrade), energy-efficient products (e.g., Energy Star), organic products (e.g., EU Organic), sustainable products (e.g., European Ecolabel, Blue Angel, Nordic Swan), or those that provide clear and transparent information (e.g., through product environmental declarations)
• Choose suppliers that are committed to sustainability, for example, those that are certified to meet strict social and environmental standards (e.g. ISO 14001, ISO 20400, B Corp, C2C).

Sustainable procurement examples:

• Buy fair trade coffee (e.g. Fairtrade certified).
• Prioritise energy-efficient computers and laptops (e.g. TCO or Energy Star certified).

• Identify real needs before each purchase and consider alternatives (e.g. alternative economic models).
• Use secondary (reused or recycled), renewable, healthy or compostable materials, thereby contributing to closing the resource loop.

• Promote modular products designed for easy repair, with individual components that can be replaced or updated without changing or replacing the entire product.
• Select materials and products based on their ability to be recovered, reused, or recycled at the end of their life cycle.
• Avoid material mixtures that are difficult to separate, thereby facilitating the recycling process

• Consider alternative business models to purchasing new products, such as leasing, sharing, or service (e.g. Product as a Service, PaaS), or buy second-hand products. 
• Select suppliers that offer repair services for essential products, extended warranties to encourage repair and take-back programmes for used products.
• Prioritise products made from recycled or renewable materials, designed to last, and backed up with information (e.g. PCDS) to help extend their life (e.g. through maintenance and repairability) or recovery (e.g. potential for disassembly, reuse or recycling)
• Collaborate with other companies to create synergies, by sharing resources or infrastructure, making joint procurements, or developing industrial symbiosis initiatives.

Circular procurement examples:

• Buy products in bulk rather than in individual packaging.
• Opt for recycled paper, refillable pens, recycled ink cartridges, and eco-labelled products (FSC, PEFC, etc.).
• Opt for long-term leasing (e.g. of electric vehicles) and shared usage (e.g. car sharing).