Tauragė: Testing greener construction, circular food systems and reusable solutions through procurement

Tauragė: Testing greener construction, circular food systems and reusable solutions through procurement

In the Tauragė District, Lithuania, public procurement is increasingly being explored as a tool to test and introduce more sustainable practices across different sectors. Within ChemClimCircle-2, the municipality and its affiliated organisations are working on three distinct procurements, covering construction, food supply and event services.

Although Tauragė has strategic goals related to climate neutrality and waste reduction, these have not yet been systematically integrated into procurement practices. The three cases presented here therefore embody an important step toward embedding climate, circular economy and chemical considerations into everyday purchasing decisions.

Case 1: Raising environmental ambition in road paving works

One of the key procurements focuses on road paving works, carried out through an open procedure. While the primary objective is to asphalt selected road sections, the case is being used to test whether higher environmental criteria can be applied beyond the minimum requirements set at national level.

Road construction procurements are common and typically follow standard green public procurement (GPP) criteria, including requirements related to environmental management systems, recycled content in materials, warm mix asphalt and CO₂ assessment. However, these criteria have generally been applied at a baseline level, without further ambition.

In this case, the Tauragė District aims to go further by exploring enhanced requirements related to circularity – particularly the use of recycled materials in asphalt – and the reduction of harmful substances in construction processes.

The procurement is prepared jointly by the construction and procurement departments, combining technical expertise with legal and procedural oversight. Market dialogue follows an iterative approach – from internal criteria development to supplier consultations and formal feedback via the Central Public Procurement Portal – allowing requirements to be tested and refined.

Case 2: Organic food procurement with a focus on circular improvements

The second case is carried out by VšĮ Ekomaistas, a public institution responsible for supplying food to pre-schools. The procurement covers grain-based products such as pasta, cereals and potentially bread, and is conducted through a negotiated procedure without prior publication.

Unlike many public food procurements, this case already starts from a strong sustainability baseline: the organisation’s core mission is to provide organic food. Products are sourced through short supply chains, often via direct relationships with local farmers.

This creates a different type of opportunity. Rather than focusing on switching to organic products (which has already been achieved), the procurement explores how to improve other lifecycle impacts – particularly packaging and transportation.

Market dialogue is highly direct and continuous, with suppliers (often farmers) engaged through personal contact. This allows for flexible discussions not only about product specifications, but also about broader practices – for example, reducing plastic packaging, introducing reusable containers or developing take-back and refill systems.

At the same time, the organisation is mindful not to overburden suppliers with additional certification requirements. Organic certification remains the main formal verification tool, while other sustainability aspects may be addressed through dialogue and contractual agreements.

Why it matters

Together, these three cases illustrate how the Tauragė District is beginning to integrate CCC principles into procurement across very different sectors – from infrastructure and food systems to public events.

Rather than relying solely on established approaches, the municipality is actively testing new ideas: raising environmental standards in construction, improving circularity in already organic food systems, and piloting reusable solutions in event management.

Contact details:

Agnė Petrošiūtė

Administrative Advisor (Green City Issues), Tauragė District municipality

agne.petrosiute@taurage.lt 

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