Helsinki advances sustainable procurement through practical CCC pilots

As part of the CCC-2 project, the City of Helsinki is using real-life procurement cases to test how circular economy, climate mitigation and chemical safety objectives can be translated into concrete requirements. The selected pilot cases address everyday goods and services that are essential for city operations and widely used by staff across multiple sectors.

The pilots build on Helsinki’s long-term environmental ambitions, the City Strategy and the Environmental Protection Targets 2040, that are aiming for net-zero emissions by 2040, carbon negativity thereafter and for systematically reducing indirect environmental impacts from procurement. By applying CCC principles in diverse procurement categories, Helsinki aims to better understand where the strongest leverage points lie and how sustainability requirements can be made both ambitious and operational.

Case 1: Cleaning detergents – simplifying use while reducing chemical and climate impacts

The first procurement case focuses on cleaning detergents and agents intended for professional use across the City of Helsinki. These products are used daily in school and daycare kitchens, cafeterias and dining halls, central food production facilities, and city-owned sports facilities such as swimming halls and indoor sports centres. The estimated value of the framework contract is around 2 million euros, with a planned contract period of four years.

A central objective of this procurement is to reduce the number of different detergents in use by selecting a limited range of multi-purpose products that can cover several cleaning needs. This approach aims to make cleaning work easier for staff who frequently change workplaces, while also improving chemical management and reducing risks related to incorrect use of cleaning agents.

From a CCC perspective, chemical safety is a key priority. Most detergents are required to carry recognised environmental labels, which serve as a minimum requirement to limit hazardous substances. Some products containing substances such as chlorine remain necessary due to hygiene standards, but their use is managed through established chemical management systems. Climate impacts are addressed through transport requirements, with all deliveries required to be fossil-free within two years from the start of the contract. Circularity is supported through requirements for recycled packaging materials.

Environmental experts, procurement specialists and end-user representatives are all involved in the preparation, ensuring that sustainability criteria are both ambitious and practical. Market dialogue has played an important role, including a joint sustainability-focused event with the City of Turku and planned one-to-one discussions with suppliers to further refine criteria and expectations.

Case 2: Workwear and laundry services – durability, repair and reduced chemical risks

The second procurement case covers workwear and related laundry services for Palvelukeskus Helsinki, including clothing for school and daycare staff, care sector employees, food production services and customer-facing roles. The procurement is divided into several parts, combining both owned workwear and workwear-as-a-service models, with an estimated contract value of 600,000 euros and a contract period of four years with additional two years as option.

The main CCC focus areas are circularity and the reduction of harmful chemicals. Helsinki aims to procure durable, high-quality garments with long lifetimes, supported by clear quality requirements for fabrics and products. Repair and maintenance services are expected to play a stronger role than in previous procurements, and reuse and service-based models are usedwhere possible due to practical and logistic reasons. Chemical criteria will be strengthened compared to earlier contracts, with clearer requirements on substances to be avoided. Internal circular economy and sustainability experts support the procurement team, and end users are actively involved through product testing and quality assessments during the evaluation phase. Market dialogue focuses specifically on sustainability, with dedicated discussions on circular solutions, chemical safety and environmental responsibility.

Case 3: Mobile phones – extending lifetimes and reducing lifecycle emissions

The third procurement case addresses the procurement of mobile phones and related lifecycle services for municipality employees. The contract will most likely cover the devices themselves as well as maintenance, repair and end-of-life services. Based on previous contract, the estimated value is approximately 10 million euros, with a contract period of four years.

For ICT equipment, circularity is the main lever for reducing climate impact. Helsinki’s objective is to extend the lifetime of mobile phones as much as possible through repair, reuse and improved lifecycle management. DigiHelsinki, the municipality’s service provider, will own and manage the devices, ensuring maintenance, buffer storage and

Environmental experts from the Urban Environment Division and DigiHelsinki are involved in defining criteria and planning the procurement. The process is closely linked to the update of the city’s ICT equipment policy, which will set clearer guidelines on repair, maintenance, reuse and user needs. In addition to the reuse and repair, other possibilities such as certified devices and refurbished phones could be considered in the procurement planning. Verification is expected to focus on monitoring repair, reuse and recycling rates rather than relying solely on product certificates.

From pilots to improved procurement practice

Taken together, Helsinki’s three CCC-2 procurement cases highlight different pathways for embedding sustainability into public purchasing: simplifying product selections to improve chemical management, strengthening circular solutions through durability and repair, and extending product lifetimes to reduce lifecycle emissions. The pilots will generate practical lessons on criteria setting, market engagement and verification, helping Helsinki to further integrate circular, climate-smart and chemical-safe approaches into everyday procurement decisions.

Contact details:

Hannele Pudas, Project manager, ChemCilmCircle-2

City of Helsinki

hannele.pudas@hel.fi

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