High Potential of Sustainable Public Procurement (SPP) in China

 

Economic growth has been very fast in China since the 1980’s. However, the growth in GDP has taken its toll on China’s environment and resources. In particular severe water and air pollution are threatening ecosystems, as well as human health. As the public sector in China is of great importance, implementing Sustainable Public Procurement (SPP) can play a key role in tackling environmental degradation, mitigating climate change and promoting social standards.

The SuPP-Urb project aims at implementing and mainstreaming SPP on city level in China. It takes place in the frame of the SWITCH ASIA programme of the European Commission and contributes to achieving the environmental targets of China's 11th five-year programme.

 

Project Objectives and Approach

 

• Overcome implementation problems on local level,

• Mainstream SPP through Public Procurement Centres (PPCs) on city level in China,

• Generate recommendations towards improved policies on the national level,

• Focus on environmental and social aspects of products in the field of office equipment and consumables,

• Take a participatory approach, including knowledge from Chinese and European supporting partners, practitioners in PPCs and the supply side (SMEs).

 

Project Activities

 

I. Implementation of Sustainable Public Procurement Processes in Three Chinese Megacities

 

• Qinhuangdao, Hebei Province

• Lanzhou, Gansu Province

• Tianjin, municipality directly under central government

 

Best practice principles and a compilation of case studies from both China and the EU have been elaborated. It will be followed by the composition of SPP action plans for the three partner cities. Procurement procedures and tools are being produced as well as an experience-sharing workshop will be organised on mid of March 2010.

 

II. Dissemination of the Experiences to Other Chinese Cities

 

Workshops, a homepage and several practical publications on good practice principles, checklists, evaluation tools, and methodologies are being developed to promote SPP in China, particularly with eighteen project-associated cities.

 

Project Achievements

 

Current SPP practices both in Europe and in China, as well as problems encountered and solutions found in its design and implementation have been documented.

Relying on these Chinese and European researches, SPP principles and practical experiences have been exchanged, especially during the kick-off meeting of the SuPP-Urb project, which took place on 21-23 April 2009 in Qinhuangdao, China. A common understanding of SPP has been built between the project partners, mainly on public procurement processes in China, overall SPP regulations and practices in China and Europe, process and criteria for public procurement focusing on eco-labelling in China and Germany and the role of social criteria in sustainable procurement.

 

Project Partners

 

• Wuppertal institute for Climate, Environment and Energy (WI) link http://www.wupperinst.org/projekte/proj/index.html?projekt_id=269&bid=43&searchart=projekt_uebersicht

• Environmental Management College of China (EMCC) link www.emcc.cn

• Nankai University (NKU) link www.nankai.edu.cn

• Lanzhou Environmental Protection Bureau (LZEPB)

• Three public procurement centres in the three target cities of Qinhangdao (www.qhdzfcg.gov.cn ), Tianjin (www.tjgpc.gov.cn ) and Lanzhou (www.lzepa.gov.cn ).

• It is financed under the European Commission SWITCH Asia Programme – Promoting Sustainable Consumption and Production in Asia and is part of the CSCP priority area SCP for National and Local Development.

 

Project Duration: 12/2008 - 12/2011