Cēsis Municipality strengthens CCC principles in education, food supply and cleaning services

Within the CCC-2 framework, Cēsis Municipality is using public procurement as a practical tool to embed circular economy, climate and chemical-smart (CCC) principles into everyday municipal services. The selected pilot cases cover school furniture and equipment, food supply for school catering, and cleaning services in public buildings—areas where sustainability requirements can directly improve health, resource efficiency and long-term value.

Across all cases, Cēsis places strong emphasis on verifiable criteria, life-cycle thinking and early involvement of technical and sustainability expertise in procurement planning.

Case 1: Furniture and equipment for secondary schools – durability, repairability and low emissions

The first pilot concerns the delivery and installation of furniture and equipment for Vecpiebalga and Jaunpiebalga secondary schools. The open procedure has an estimated value of around 50,000 euros (excluding VAT) and a short contract period of three months.

The procurement integrates CCC objectives in a comprehensive manner. Chemical considerations focus on a toxic-free approach, including low-VOC materials and safe coatings suitable for indoor use. Circular economy principles are addressed through requirements for furniture that can be disassembled without damage, has replaceable parts, and is designed for a longer service life supported by warranties and spare-part availability. Climate objectives are reflected in energy-efficient electrical equipment and delivery distance criteria, with preference given to suppliers located within 100 km of the delivery site to reduce transport-related CO₂ emissions.

Schools define functional and ergonomic needs, while procurement specialists ensure legal clarity and transparency. Technical experts verify feasibility and acceptance criteria. Market research and targeted supplier questions are used to ensure that chemical safety, repairability and logistics requirements are realistic and verifiable.

Case 2: Food supply for school catering – certified quality, local sourcing and reduced packaging

The second case focuses on the procurement of a wide range of food products for school catering, including organic (BL), national quality scheme (NPKS) and integrated farming (LPIA) certified products. The open procedure covers meat, dairy, vegetables, fruit, bakery items and other staples, supplied in original packaging or reusable exchange containers. The contract period is 18 months, with the final contract value determined following market research.

The strategic objectives center on providing safe, high-quality food for children while reducing chemical risks, supporting sustainable agriculture and lowering environmental impacts. Chemical considerations are addressed through certified organic and quality-scheme products, limiting pesticide residues and additives. Climate objectives include promoting seasonal and local products, optimizing delivery routes and reducing delivery frequency. Circularity is reflected in requirements for reusable packaging, reduced packaging volumes and measures to limit food waste.

Schools and catering organisers define menu needs and delivery schedules, while procurement and sustainability experts ensure alignment with national green public procurement guidelines and EU food standards. Verification relies on organic certificates, traceability documents, packaging specifications and quality acceptance reports.

Case 3: Cleaning services in public buildings – safer chemicals and refillable systems

The third procurement case addresses cleaning services in a public building, procured through an open procedure with an estimated value of around 60,000 (excluding VAT) euros and a contract period of 12 months.

This case builds on existing green public procurement practices and raises ambition particularly in chemical safety and circularity. Cleaning products for hard surfaces, dishwashing and hygiene must meet EU Ecolabel criteria or equivalent standards, ensuring reduced environmental impact and improved indoor air quality. Precise dosing instructions and refillable packaging systems are required to minimize chemical use and waste. At least half of hand soap volumes must comply with ecolabel requirements, and all hygiene paper products must meet ecological and safety standards.

Facility managers define hygiene needs and critical areas, while procurement specialists and legal experts ensure that requirements are verifiable and enforceable through contract terms. Market dialogue and pre-purchase consultations help assess available technologies, refill systems and logistics solutions. Verification includes ecolabel certificates, safety data sheets, supplier reports on resource consumption and on-site inspections during contract execution.

Building practical CCC capacity through procurement

Together, these three pilot cases show how Cēsis Municipality is progressively strengthening CCC integration across different procurement categories. While chemical safety is already well established, the municipality is now placing greater emphasis on circularity – through repairability, reusable systems and waste reduction – and on climate impacts related to logistics and resource use.

A key takeaway from Cēsis is the importance of involving specialists early in procurement planning, ensuring that sustainability requirements are both ambitious and realistic. Through CCC-2, the municipality is building internal capacity to translate policy goals into concrete, verifiable procurement criteria that deliver long-term environmental and social benefits.

Contact details:

Ilze Sestule, Project manager, ChemCilmCircle-2

Cesis Municipality

ilze.sestule@cesis.lv

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