Description
Description (EN): Public procurement accounts for a large proportion of European consumption (nearly 20% of EU GDP). Public procurement has a major role to play in the transition towards a Circular Economy. It is important and efficient to make the right choices early on in the product creation process, so that materials and components are suitable, at end-of-life, for repair or refurbishment and re-use, thus helping to close the materials loop.
Project CircPro aims to promote the transition to a more Circular Economy related national and regional decision making by increasing the implementation of the Circular Procurement. There is no official definition yet, but "Circular Public Procurement in the Nordic Countries" (CIPRON) study suggests that Circular Procurement (CP) is a procurement of competitively priced products, services or systems that satisfy the customer needs and lead to extended lifespan, value retention and/or remarkably improved and non-risky cycling of biological or technical materials, compared to other solutions for a similar purpose in the market. CP as a process is expected to provide conditions and criteria that would stimulate energy and material savings and closed material loops, and spread innovative solutions and create markets for clean solutions.
The main existing barriers regarding implementation of the CP identified by the partnership are: general lack of knowledge and expertise; procedural and legal barriers; and procurers´ preconceptions about using products which are made of recycled materials, as well as lack of them.
12 partners from 10 EU regions and Norway will tackle these challenges by:
- identifying pilots and initiatives, main actors, organisations and networks that could promote the implementation of CP;
- identifying main legal and procedural challenges
- providing a meeting place and enhancing a dialogue between procurers and suppliers (both groups are represented in the partnership and stakeholders´groups).
Read more Achievements (EN): In terms of activities, the project has organised a total of 77 policy learning events. It has also identified 21 good practices, produced 10 action plans and led to the increased capacity of 79 people.
Website: https://www.interregeurope.eu/interreg-europe-2014-2020
Expected Results (EN): CircPro´s main objective is to increase the implementation of the CP under the targeted policy instruments so that the CP principles and criteria are incorporated or taken into account as a horizontal principle. It looks the CP from the angles of different approaches that have different complexity: all of which facilitate closed loops, but where the focus shifts from better quality products to new and innovative products and new business concepts.
Specific objectives (addressing the main challenges identified in the topic):
- to increase knowledge of partner regions on CE and how it´s principles could be adapted to public procurement;
- to identify, assess, exchange and disseminate existing national / regional initiatives, supporting measures and networks that support the implementation of the CP;
- to identify, assess, exchange and disseminate good practices and example cases of CP in selected product / service sectors;
- to enhance dialogue between product / service providers and procurers and draft a Method for how to involve local companies in CP process;
- to identify, exchange and disseminate procedural and legal barriers experienced by procurers and providers in implementation of the procurement with circular elements, and drafting Policy briefs to address these barriers;
- to lead strategic thinking processes, organised around Stakeholders Groups, leading to the adoption of Action Plans with specific proposals of improvement of existing regional policies, programmes, or instruments;
- to implement and evaluate the impact of Action Plans;
- to raise awareness among politicians and policymakers in the tangible benefits for a transition towards a CP, and thereby towards CE:
- to disseminate project results at the general level, looking for synergies with other IE projects and existing networks and initiatives;
- to contribute with good practices, policy briefs and recommendations to the IE Policy Learning Platform on Environment and Resource Efficiency.
Read more Expected Outputs (EN): Main outputs:
- 11 REGIONAL OVERVIEWS identifying existing national / regional initiatives, supporting measures and networks that support the implementation of the CP;
- CASE ANALYSES covering 7-8 selected product / service sectors from 11 partner regions;
- 1 joint BEST PRACTICE IN CIRCULAR PROCUREMENT document, consisting of jointly selected best case descriptions identified during the Case Analyses covering all 78 selected product / service sectors;
- 11 REGIONAL GUIDEBOOKS consisting of:
a. Regional Overview of the respective region
b. selected Best Practices
The Regional Guidebook is meant to serve as a practical guide for a public procurer or service / product provider in a concrete partner region in his/her mother tongue, introducing the CP, supporting environment of the CP in this region and describing selected best cases from all around the partner regions.
- 1 joint METHOD FOR INVOLVING COMPANIES IN THE CIRCULAR PROCUREMENT PROCESS addressing the challenge that is remarkably hindering the CP implementation - lack of dialogue between procurers and providers.
- 11 POLICY BRIEFS for identifying and disseminating procedural and legal barriers experienced by procurers and providers in implementation of the CP
- 11 REGIONAL ACTION PLANS
- Ca 60 people (25 partner staff and SG members, 35 local stakeholders) with increased professional capacity;
- CircPro HIGH LEVEL FINAL CONFERENCE including Policy Panel;
- 8 REGIONAL STAKEHOLDERS` GROUPS meetings involving appr. 130 stakeholders;
- 11 INTERREGIONAL PARTNER AND STAKEHOLDERS` meetings and Study Visits
- 3 project newsletters (1 per year in Phase 1)
As a result:
- 11 POLICY INSTRUMENTS improved so that the CP principles and criteria are incorporated or taken into account as a horizontal principle. Currently there is no comprehensive explanation within any of the addressed Policy Instrument on what Circular Procurement is and what kind of measures and actions would be acceptable to achieve evaluation points for the proposal implementing such principles. As a result of the project, it will be analysed if CP could be included into the Policy Instruments as an horizontal principle / an award criteria to encourage applicants to implement CP principles more.
As a long term impact of the increased implementation of the CP:
- the creation of new solutions and new business models that, in an innovative way, promote a better offer of services and support the implementation of new business models is supported and increased;
- the implementation of innovation service models are made possible and encouraged by enhanced market dialogue;
- the effectiveness of the relationship between innovators, territories and public administrations is increased.
Read more
Thematic information
Specific Objective:
Improve the implementation of regional development policies and programmes, in particular programmes for Investment for Growth and Jobs and, where relevant, ETC programmes, aimed at increasing resource-efficiency, green growth and eco-innovation and environmental performance management
Thematic Objective:
(06) preserving and protecting the environment and promoting resource efficiency by:
Investment Priority:
(06g) supporting industrial transition towards a resource- efficient economy, promoting green growth, eco-innovation and environmental performance management in the public and private sectors
Partners (12)
Lead Partner:
Kouvola Innovation Oy
Address:
Paraatikenttä 4, 45100 Kouvola, Finland
Legal status:
public
Website:
https://www.kinno.fi/en/circpro
Total budget:
EUR 359 467.00
ERDF budget:
EUR 305 546.95
-
Razvojna agencija IGRA d.o.o.
-
Name:
Razvojna agencija IGRA d.o.o.
Address:
Park hrvatskih branitelja 1, 10310 Ivanic-Grad, Croatia
Legal status:
public
Website:
http://www.ra-igra.hr
Total budget:
EUR 109 594.00
ERDF budget:
EUR 93 154.90
-
Agencia de Medio Ambiente y Agua de Andalucía
-
Name:
Agencia de Medio Ambiente y Agua de Andalucía
Department:
NA
Address:
C/Johann Guttenberg, 1, 41092 Seville, Spain
Legal status:
public
Total budget:
EUR 129 786.00
ERDF budget:
EUR 110 318.10
-
Българска асоциация по рециклиране
-
Name:
Българска асоциация по рециклиране
Department:
NA
Address:
205 Alexander Stambolyiski blvd., 1309 Sofia, Bulgaria
Legal status:
private
Website:
http://www.bar-bg.org
Total budget:
EUR 132 498.00
ERDF budget:
EUR 99 373.50
-
Elverum Kommune
-
Name:
Elverum Kommune
Address:
Lærerskolealleen 1, N-2418 Elverum, Norway
Legal status:
public
Total budget:
EUR 149 000.00
-
Comissão de Coordenação e Desenvolvimento Regional do Alentejo
-
Name:
Comissão de Coordenação e Desenvolvimento Regional do Alentejo
Address:
Av. Engenheiro Arantes e Oliveira 193, 7004-514 Évora, Portugal
Legal status:
public
Website:
http://www.ccdr-a.gov.pt
Total budget:
EUR 166 827.00
ERDF budget:
EUR 141 802.95
-
Stockholmi Keskkonnainstituudi Tallinna Keskus
-
Name:
Stockholmi Keskkonnainstituudi Tallinna Keskus
Address:
Arsenal Centre, Erika 14, 10416 Tallinn, Estonia
Legal status:
public
Website:
https://www.sei.org/centres/tallinn/
Total budget:
EUR 191 307.00
ERDF budget:
EUR 162 610.95
-
VšĮ Lietuvos inovacijų centras
-
Name:
VšĮ Lietuvos inovacijų centras
Department:
NA
Address:
Mokslininku 6A, LT-08412 Vilnius, Lithuania
Legal status:
public
Website:
http://www.lic.lt
Total budget:
EUR 201 883.00
ERDF budget:
EUR 171 600.55
-
Consejería Agricultura, Ganadería, Pesca y Desarrollo Sostenible, Junta de Andalucía
-
Name:
Consejería Agricultura, Ganadería, Pesca y Desarrollo Sostenible, Junta de Andalucía
Address:
Avenida de Manuel Siurot, 50, 41071 Sevilla, Spain
Legal status:
public
Website:
http://www.juntadeandalucia.es/medioambiente/site/portalweb/
Total budget:
EUR 59 126.00
ERDF budget:
EUR 50 257.10
