SPP Regions

SPP Regions is promoting the creation and expansion of 7 European regional networks of municipalities working together on sustainable public procurement (SPP) and public procurement of innovation (PPI). 

The regional networks are collaborating directly on tendering for eco-innovative solutions, whilst building capacities and transferring skills and knowledge through their SPP and PPI activities. The tenders within the project will achieve 54.3 GWH/year primary energy savings and trigger 45 GWh/year renewable energy. The focus of these tenders will be on:

• Energy use in public buildings
• Vehicles and transport
•  Food and catering services

Outcomes of the project 

The project also pursues to strengthen networking and exchange at the European level by redeveloping the PROCURA+ European Sustainable Procurement Network. 

Throughout the project, several reports, guidance and other tools for public authorities interested in SPP and PPI will be produced: 

• Six reports on existing SPP and PPI networks
•  Updated Procura+ Manual, as part of the European Sustainable Procurement Network
•  Reports from regional networks on their experiences
•  State-of-the-art reports on market engagement, life cycle costing, performance-based specifications and circular procurement
• Three tools for calculating CO2 and energy savings
•  42 eco-innovative case studies
•  How to videos

The SPP Regions project will expand its scope to 10 new regions willing to improve their SPP and PPI activities by networking with other regional peers. 

SPP Regions is financially supported by the EU’s Horizon 2020 Programme, and co-ordinated by ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability. 

Why form a regional SPP Network?

Regional networks are vital to a successful sustainable procurement strategy as they give you the ability to:

• Demonstrate your commitment to sustainability
• Learn from the experiences of other regional networks
•  Develop your regional supply base
•  Increase your influence though joint market engagement activities
•  Use joint procurement to benefit from economies of scale

What does SPP Regions offer?

• Support with developing your network
•  Assistance with sustainable tendering
•  Access to specialist workshops and webinars
•  Mentoring from existing SPP Networks

The Consortium partners
ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability: ICLEI is the co-ordinator of the SPP Regions project. It is the world's leading association of cities and local governments dedicated to sustainable development. ICLEI Europe provides technical consulting, training, events and communication services to build capacity, share knowledge and support local governments in the implementation of sustainable development. 

ARPA: ARPA Piemonte (The Agenzia Regionale per la Protezione Ambientale) is a public body with independent status for administrative, technical-juridical, asset management and accounting purposes. It is a member of a network of agencies that includes the Higher Institute for Environmental Protection and Research, 19 regional agencies, and the 2 agencies of the independent provinces. 

Bristol Council: Bristol is a city with a large focus on sustainability and in 2015 won the European Green Capital Award. Bristol uses its Council procurement strategy to help drive sustainability by encouraging suppliers and contractors to improve their environmental performance, and by controlling the on-site activities of contractors.  

University of West of England: With around 30,000 students and 3,500 staff, UWE Bristol is the largest provider of Higher Education in the South West of England. UWE is the lead partner for the Environmental iNet funded by the European Regional Development Fund, the UK government and a range of regional partners. Its Procurement Innovation team has a track record of developing practitioner based research and support materials. 

Réseau Grand Ouest: This network unites communities willing to introduce social and environmental requirements in their procurement policy. It includes public authorities and public legal entities from Low-Normandy, Brittany, Pays de la Loire, Poitou-Charentes, Limousin, and Indre-et-Loire. Members share their expertise on the implementation of a policy of sustainable procurement and the integration of sustainable development in public procurement. 

Gabrovo municipality: This local authority is one of the 264 municipal public bodies in Bulgaria. Its strategic goals are focused on 3 priority areas: economic growth and enhancement of competitiveness of local businesses; social development; and sustainable and balanced development with a focus on reduction of CO2 emissions, development of ecological infrastructure and energy efficiency. 

Diputació de Barcelona: Barcelona Provincial Council is a supralocal government that gives support to the 311 municipalities of its territory, to ensure the provision of quality local services to all citizens. Since 2004 the Provincial Council has been developing and implementing a Greening Corporation Programme which includes environmental criteria in its tendering and procurement processes. Barcelona Provincial Council promotes and enhances the inclusion of environmental criteria and green procurement among all Local Authorities of the province of Barcelona.

Città Metropolitana di Torino: The Metropolitan City of Turin represents an intermediate level of government between municipalities and Region. It is promoting sustainable development, renewable energy sources, energy efficiency and GHG emissions reduction in different ways, with increasing commitment during the last years. It is also engaged in coordinating the “APE Project” to promote practical application of GPP in Turin. 

City of Rotterdam: As a city with Europe’s largest international port, Rotterdam takes its responsibility seriously in creating a sustainable city, region and Europe. Procurement procedures and initiatives used by Rotterdam to promote sustainability include sustainable construction, energy performance contracting and sustainable zero carbon transport systems. They commit themselves to 100% sustainable purchases from 2015, using the national core sustainability criteria in all its tendering and procurement processes. 

EcoEnergy: EcoEnergy is an association of Bulgarian municipalities for mutual help and joint actions in formation of local policies for effective usage of traditional and alternative energy resources. The EcoEnergy Municipal Energy Efficiency Network also works together on insurance of energy security and possibilities for sustainable development of the municipalities. 

Ecoinstitut: Ecoinstitut provides international, national and local clients with specific support and strategic vision for SPP. In the field of SPP, this encompasses developing policies, improving internal processes, drafting tender clauses, providing support in its inclusion and contract awarding, conducting training activities, communicating successes both internally and externally, and early supplier engagement. 

The Capital Region of Denmark: The Capital Region of Denmark has prepared and adopted an ambitious Climate Strategy for the capital region, together with the 29 municipalities in the region. The strategy covers 5 areas of action: a climate-change ready region, a climate-friendly transport system, transition to a fossil-free energy system, energy-efficient buildings, and climate-friendly consumption and procurement. 

Danish Environmental Protection Agency: The Danish EPA has been implementing and supporting others on GPP for more than 15 years. Among other things, it has developed a web-based portal called The responsible purchaser that features advice and guidance on how to incorporate responsibility in public procurement. The Danish EPA is developed in co-operation with a number of public partners, and it works with two main platforms for disseminating GPP.