EPA highlights significant increase in Government Green Procurement, but ICT Sector lags behind

Date released: May 20, 2025

• Of €1.24 billion spend by government departments on contracts in 2023, 82 per cent included green criteria, up from 34 per cent in 2022.  There are, however, inconsistencies across sectors.  
• ICT Products & Services contracts included green criteria in only 29 per cent of cases, indicating the need for wider adoption.  
• In contrast, all reported procurement of Food & Catering Services and Heating Equipment, included green criteria, with a total value of €583,447. 
• Eight government departments lacked a formal system for tracking Green Public Procurement (GPP) implementation. 

20 May 2025: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has today published its fourth report on Green Public Procurement (GPP) adoption by government departments. GPP allows public authorities to source goods, services or works that have a reduced environmental impact throughout their life cycle while also achieving value for money. 

A total spend of €1.24 billion across 18 government departments was reported. Of this, 82 per cent of contracts, valued at €1.02 billion, included green criteria (compared to 34 per cent in 2022). 

GPP implementation varied widely across government departments, with the number of contracts incorporating GPP ranging from zero to 100%. There was an inconsistency in application of green criteria across product & services sectors, with high adoption reported for Food & Catering Services and Heating Equipment (100 per cent) but low adoption in contracts for ICT Products & Services (29 per cent). 

Launching the report Laura Burke, Director General, said: 

“This report shows a welcome increase in the use of green public procurement by central government. Full adoption across all government departments is a powerful lever to achieve better economic and environmental value as well as showing leadership in a transition to a greener, more circular economy. The EPA has developed practical guidance to support Government Departments and other public bodies to accelerate green purchasing.” 

Tracking of GPP remains an issue to be addressed with eight of the 18 Government Departments lacking a formal system for tracking GPP implementation. 

Mr David Flynn, Director, EPA Office of Environmental Sustainability added: 

“Government, local authorities and other public sector organisations collectively procure over €18 billion worth of goods, services and works. Whilst it is important that GPP is used by government departments, a broader adoption across the entire public sector will ensure that public funds are used effectively and responsibly while reducing the environmental impact of our public services.” 

The report ‘Green Public Procurement: Monitoring and Reporting by Government Departments, 2023 Reference Year’ is now available on the EPA website. 

Further information: Emily Williamson, EPA Media Relations Office 053-9170770 (24 hours) or [email protected] 

Notes to Editor

The EPA reports annually on the implementation of Green Public Procurement by government departments. This is the fourth report in the series and relates to reference year 2023. 

The EPA supports GPP implementation including providing national guidance and national criteria for priority sectors; monitoring and reporting on GPP implementation in government departments annually, publishing case studies and hosting ‘GPP in Practice’ events to showcase examples of GPP across the public sector. 

There are national GPP criteria published for eleven priority sectors: ICT Products & Services, Food & Catering Services, Indoor Cleaning Services, Indoor and Outdoor Lighting, Heating Equipment, Energy-related Products, Paper Products & Printing Services, Textile Products & Services, Furniture & Related Services, Office Building Design, Construction & Management, Road Transport Vehicles & Services. 

All 18 government departments provided returns for 2023 reference year, which requested data on GPP implementation at contract level (number and value of contracts), where the contract value was greater than €50,000 and the contract was signed in calendar year 2023. A summary of the data reported to the EPA is tabulated below. Note the reporting relates to Government Department contracts and does not include procurement by agencies affiliated to those Departments. 

Buying Greener: Green Public Procurement Strategy and Action Plan 2024-2027 is the government’s policy on green public procurement, which sets out actions and sectoral targets to support implementation of green and circular procurement practices across the public sector. 

GPP Summary Data by Government Departments 

 *Priority sectors relates to contracts for ten sectors for which national green criteria were available in 2023; Other sectors relate to contracts outside these sectors. 

**Contracts signed in 2023, where the value was greater than €50,000.