S-Tiles - settore pubblico

PUBLIC SECTOR UNDER SPOTLIGHT

Market prices only partially provide accurate information about the ecological and social impacts of products and services. This makes it difficult to generate purchasing decisions consistent with a conservation economy. Through more responsible purchasing choices, consumers, citizens, enterprises and public bodies can guide the market towards products and services with a reduced impact on the environment (and, subsequently, on the economy and society).

The public sector has a determining role in setting the trend towards sustainable development for at least two reasons. First the value and legitimacy of accountable public bodies are, in the eyes of citizens, strengthened by examples of ‘good practices’ through which the public body carries out its activities. Second, public procurement generally provides suppliers with a solid economic basis that can help reduce business risks linked to innovation.

Ecoprocurement means environmentally and economically responsible purchasing (green purchasing). It aims at helping governments/organisations to achieve their environmental policy goals while meeting their set budget. The prefix ‘eco’ combines the principles of both economy and ecology.

Ecoprocurement requires a company or organization to carry out an assessment of the environmental and social consequences of a product at all the various stages of its life cycle. This means considering the costs of securing raw materials, and the subsequent manufacturing, transporting, storing, handling, using and disposing of the product.