Sustainable procurement is an important building block for implementing the United Nations' global sustainability goals, to which the state capital of Mainz is committed. In addition, the climate emergency in Mainz has a direct impact on procurement processes and is now being addressed in concrete terms against the backdrop of the city council's decision. Sustainable public procurement is more complex than it appears at first glance. However, the strategy pursued in Mainz can gradually contribute to sustainable development. This enables the city to fulfill its role as a role model and its social responsibility.

SDG 12 (Sustainable Development Goal) "Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns" aims to bring about the necessary changes in our lifestyles and economic practices.

Sustainable consumption and production require that we consume and produce today in such a way that the legitimate needs of current and future generations are met without compromising the carrying capacity of the Earth and universal human rights. To this end, growth and prosperity must be decoupled from the use of natural resources as far as possible.

In the interests of public service provision, municipalities regularly procure a wide variety of products. These include goods that are often produced in violation of human and labor rights and with enormous environmental damage.

Local authorities therefore have concrete opportunities to implement changes in the interests of sustainable and globally responsible economic activity.

Sustainable procurement is not a strictly defined term; it is often used differently in different contexts. "Sustainable procurement refers to the process of procuring products and services that have a lower impact on the environment and/or producers than comparable products and services."

"Environmentally friendly" is a relative term: environmentally friendly refers to a product that has certain advantages over other comparable products with the same intended use in terms of specific properties (a good example is copy paper made from recycled paper versus paper made from chlorine-bleached pulp).

This can also be applied to environmentally friendly services provided by third parties, for example: orders that have a lower environmental impact than comparable services with the same function (e.g., transport routes).

Criteria for environmentally friendly purchasing include:

Ingredients:

• Free of harmful substances,
• No substances harmful to health,
• no use of carcinogenic, mutagenic, or reprotoxic substances

Durability:

• Durability,
• refillable,
• suitability for use,
• Practicality

Resource-efficient:

• Energy efficient,
• Reusable,
• regional,
• seasonal,
• organic

Repairability

Recyclability 

Disposal:

• Avoid waste,
• bulk and RC packaging

Taking social criteria into account means, above all, that the core labor standards of the International Labor Organization (ILO) are observed in production abroad. Among other things, these standards regulate the prohibition of exploitative child labor and forced labor, as well as compliance with basic labor rights. Numerous seals (see below) help consumers to pay attention to this when shopping. Furthermore, so-called country risks (production abroad) can provide assistance. The basis for this is the so-called DAC list.

Our consumer behavior has a direct impact on the sustainability of our living environment. The global flow of goods leaves nothing to be desired. However, we decide where a product is manufactured, at what price, and under what working conditions. There are many resources, websites, and lists of quality and certification labels that help us make purchasing decisions that are more socially just and resource-efficient. Just take a look, pay attention when shopping, and ask critical questions. Our contributions can help create a more sustainable and equitable world.

• You must become the change you wish to see in the world. Mahatma Ghandi – So start with yourself. Today.
• Don't think about problems, think about solutions.
• Where there's a will, there's a way; where there's no will, there are excuses.
• If everyone lived like me, would the world be sustainable?
• Better small steps than no steps at all.