Using innovation procurement and capacity building to promote Circular Economy
Circular PP
 
PROGRAMME 2014-2020
priority
1 Innovation
objective
1.3 Non-technological innovation

Circular PP

The Interreg project Circular PP promoted a circular procurement approach engaging public authorities, procurers, suppliers, policymakers and stimulated the development of new business models.
The challenge

Linear vs circular economy approaches

Compared to the linear economy that follows a ‘take-make-dispose’ pattern, a circular economy aims to keep products and materials in the value chain for a more extended period and to recover raw materials after the lifetime of the products for their next use. The principles of the circular economy model have increased maintenance, repair, reuse, refurbishment and recycling. One of the key observations from the growing European work on circular economy is the gap between opportunities identified at the transnational and national levels and common practice in public institutions.

Public procurement in the spotlight

In terms of public procurement with the circular economy approach, one should consider the way of acquiring goods and solutions tackling the whole lifecycle of products throughout the entire supply chain. In general, public authorities usually procure products and services in a linear way, following a buy-use-dispose model. However, a growing interest in a new circular approach that contributes to 'closing the loop' of product lifecycles is a fact.

Circular PP aimed to improve the current knowledge on what is needed to encourage a higher uptake of circular procurement among public institutions.

Budgets

Circular PP
in numbers
  • 2.45
    Million
    Total
  • 1.80
    Million
    Erdf
  • 0.09
    Million
    Eni + Russia
  • 0.00
    Million
    Norway

Achievements

Mapping helped to develop a baseline

For setting up a baseline of circular procurement for the Baltic Sea region, the project mapped 57 calls for tender from seven countries. The partners developed country-specific action and implementation plans for each pilot area, followed by events for raising awareness of circular procurement among procurers.

Piloting experiences build a legacy

Applied to pilots, public authorities in Aalborg (Denmark), Malmö (Sweden), Smiltene and Pļaviņas (Latvia) piloted innovative approaches to buying circular goods and services.  Sharing the knowledge created during pilot activities would ensure a legacy for circular procurement in those model regions as well as for other partners. The experience of the pilots and other exchanges resulted in a series of recommendations for promoting circular procurement at the local, national and European levels. The project delivered e.g. recommendations for public and private organisations on becoming more circular, e.g. through structuring the connected processes or focusing the respective communication. The close collaboration helped to share best practices of circular procurement and provide training to procurers and suppliers across different levels. All material including e.g. videos, infographics on circular public procurement, market engagement, the resource loop, circularity strategies, and circular tenders criteria was presented at 75 events, reaching over 6,000 people.

Baltic Circular Procurement Congress

The project organised the Baltic Circular Procurement Congress attracting more than 300 procurement experts, suppliers, researchers and key opinion leaders from all over Europe to share experiences and best practices of using procurement as an effective tool for the transition towards the circular economy. Purchasers within governmental entities and companies discovered the advantages of circular procurement and explored tools that can facilitate and optimise its implementation. The societal challenge of resource efficiency and search for innovative solutions from a multidimensional perspective was discussed by public authorities, research institutions, SMEs and non-profit organisations.

Outputs

Lessons learned from pilot procurements

The report focuses on providing tips to those planning to work on circular procurement in their own municipality or organisation, with a focus on practical elements. The reader can follow how procurement processes were done during the pilots and what was learned from this. Headed by an experienced forerunner, City of Malmö, all partners as well as mentors contributed to the content of the report. Based on the pilots, procuring partners share practical insights and hands-on tips. Next to general experiences, it highlights success factors like simplifications of procedures, clear communication of priorities or sub-division of procurements.

Recommendations and other supporting material for the policy framework

Beyond rather practical aspects, the project considered support to and influence on the policy framework in the Baltic Sea region, looking into the circular procurement support factors. The project developed easy-to-read brochures for the decision-makers and policy level, highlighting the best practice and recommendations. Besides, the elements like an overview on Circular Procurement in 8 steps, training kit, material for market dialogue and the case studies were developed. Additionally, the project produced an animated video on circular public procurement with an overview of the related processes. Beyond that, infographics on circular public procurement, market engagement, the resource loop, circularity strategies, and circular tenders criteria are available.

Project Stories

Partners

City of Aalborg (AAL)

  • Town
    Nørresundby
  • Region
    Nordjylland
  • Country
    Denmark
Approximate total partner budget in EUR
716,567.41
57.06072519.9241319

City of Malmo (MAL)

  • Town
    Malmö
  • Region
    Skåne län
  • Country
    Sweden
Approximate total partner budget in EUR
252,890.59
55.605293113.0001566

Aalborg University (AAU)

  • Town
    Aalborg
  • Region
    Nordjylland
  • Country
    Denmark
Approximate total partner budget in EUR
219,270.00
57.04626269.9215263

Saint Petersburg campus of National Research University Higher School of Economics (HSE)

  • Town
    St. Petersburg
  • Region
    City of St. Petersburg
  • Country
    Russian Federation
Approximate total partner budget in EUR
105,588.00
59.91785735000000630.380619357025516

Latvian Environmental Investment Fund (LEIF)

  • Town
    Riga
  • Region
    RÄ«ga
  • Country
    Latvia
Approximate total partner budget in EUR
225,388.00
56.949397724.1051846

Rzeszow Regional Development Agency (RRDA)

  • Town
    Rzeszow
  • Region
    Rzeszowski
  • Country
    Poland
Approximate total partner budget in EUR
140,575.00
50.037453122.0047174

Rijkswaterstaat – Ministry of Infrastructure and the Environment (RWS)

  • Town
    Utrecht
  • Region
    Utrecht
  • Country
    Netherlands
Approximate total partner budget in EUR
394,890.00
52.0809856000000055.12768396945229

Finnish Environment Institute (SYKE)

  • Town
    Helsinki
  • Region
    Helsinki-Uusimaa
  • Country
    Finland
Approximate total partner budget in EUR
161,416.00
60.167488124.9427473

Latvian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI)

  • Town
    Riga
  • Region
    RÄ«ga
  • Country
    Latvia
Approximate total partner budget in EUR
58,130.00
56.949397724.1051846

NorthDenmark EU-Office (EENA)

  • Town
    Støvring
  • Region
    Nordjylland
  • Country
    Denmark
Approximate total partner budget in EUR
178,905.00
56.88472049.833064