Sustainable procurement at the city administration of Mainz
The way we live, the products we buy and consume, the way we build has an essential influence on resource consumption, energy consumption, environmental impact and social justice. Local authorities can use their market power to have a positive impact on sustainable procurement. Mainz is joining in!
Mainz thinks globally!
When it comes to sustainable development, local authorities have a special role to play: a lot can be achieved in cities and towns because that is where people live, shop, travel, and help shape the future. How do we want to act in our administration and live in Mainz without jeopardizing functional living spaces and the future of other people?
Background
In Germany, the annual volume of public procurement contracts is around €360 billion. Local authorities account for around 60 percent of this. This means that local authorities can influence demand for sustainable products: the greater the demand, the more manufacturers are encouraged to offer them.
The public sector has a role model function when it comes to purchasing sustainable products. There are already many examples of this – including in Mainz.
Our global responsibility
Since 1997, numerous people in Mainz have been committed to sustainability issues. Mainz has been a Fair Trade Town since 2013. In 2019, Mainz signed up to commit even more strongly to implementing the Global Sustainability Goals (known as Sustainable Development Goals, SDGs) of Agenda 2030 (see below).
And in 2019, a climate emergency was declared. Global changes do not stop at the gates of our city hall.
Mainz buys sustainably
The purchasing department of the state capital Mainz plays an important role in achieving environmental and climate protection goals through the instrument of sustainable procurement.
Criteria for sustainable purchasing are taken into account in tenders and award processes. For many years, there has been a sustainable procurement working group consisting of representatives from the Parks and Environment Department, the Office for Sustainable Urban Development (Agenda Office), the Main Office, and the Finance Administration – Purchasing Division. This is where strategies and necessary steps are discussed.
It is also about informing colleagues about their orders, e.g., for office supplies. The city's electronic purchasing catalog always includes more environmentally friendly alternatives. The electronic purchasing catalog contains all products to be procured, from office supplies, printers, and copiers to PCs, monitors, and diapers for daycare centers. It comprises approximately 40,000 product groups.
