Governments procure large amounts of goods and services to help them implement policies and deliver public services. As the COVID-19 crisis demonstrated, public procurement strategies, practices and systems directly affect the quality of life and wellbeing of citizens. It is important that countries aim for maximum efficiency, effectiveness and value for money in public procurement.

In addition to supporting economic efficiency, public procurement can help achieve other strategic objectives such as the green transition. Governments across the OECD are increasingly focusing on sustainability and using their purchasing power to steer their economies towards greater consideration of environmental choices and outcomes. By taking a whole life cycle approach to the purchase of goods, services and works, governments can make an important contribution to protecting the environment and tackling climate change.

Over time, OECD countries have been implementing and developing their green public procurement (GPP) policy frameworks. Reporting systems are essential to hold administrations to account for how environmental policy objectives are being met and assess their impact.