Responsible for $13 trillion (USD) of global spending and representing 15% of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, public procurement has become an essential factor in the transition to better environmental outcomes, including net zero. Yet, procurement teams often struggle with how to embed environmental criteria into tech purchases effectively. 

This challenge is why PUBLIC, in partnership with Crown Commercial Service (CCS) and funded by the Open Contracting Partnership’s LIFT programme, has launched a new Buying Greener Technology in the UK guide. Our goal? To help public sector buyers make greener purchasing decisions.

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Why focus on technology?

Technology has a significant environmental impact, and small changes in how we purchase and use it can lead to big differences. For example, a single laptop has a carbon footprint of around 331 kg of CO2. Considering that a local authority in the UK typically owns around 2,000 laptops, switching to refurbished devices instead of new ones could save enough CO2 to power 80 homes for an entire year!

Software applications, too, have growing environmental consequences. Recent studies have shown that training a single AI model can produce nearly five times the lifetime emissions of an average car. Currently, the technology sector accounts for an estimated 2% to 4% of global greenhouse gas emissions. It is estimated that by 2040, that number could reach 14%  - almost as much carbon as that emitted by air, land, and sea transport combined.

Making greener purchasing choices in tech can have a profound impact on reducing these emissions

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The current landscape 

Existing policies like PPN 06/21 and the Social Value Act offer useful frameworks for green procurement, but applying them effectively to tech procurement remains a challenge.

In a recent survey conducted as part of this project, 70% of public sector tech procurement staff indicated that they do not currently consider specific environmental factors in their purchasing decisions. Additionally, over 80% of respondents felt that there is insufficient guidance on how to embed green criteria into tech tenders. This highlights a significant gap in knowledge when it comes to making greener tech procurement choices.

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What is in the guide?

We’ve created an easy-to-use guide to help commercial teams integrate environmental factors into hardware and software procurements. The guide simplifies existing green criteria - based on the EU’s Green Procurement Criteria and Requirements - and adapts them for the UK context. Key features include:

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• Tailored guidance for 4 tender types: (1) refurbished hardware, (2) new hardware, (3) end-of-life management, and (4) software applications
• Customisable tender language and criteria, ready-to-use language to include as specifications or award criteria in hardware and software procurements
• Step-by-step instructions for embedding environmental standards in line with existing policies - including social value - and CCS technology frameworks
• Clear guidance on what suppliers need to demonstrate to meet the environmental criteria included in the guide 

If you'd like to learn more about the guide or PUBLIC's work in this area more generally, reach out to Leyre Villaizan (leyre@public.io).