How France is Revolutionizing Public Procurement
France has set ambitious goals with Article 58. This law, enacted in February 2020, aims to make public procurement a significant lever and driver for economic transformation. Public institutions are now required to ensure that a specified percentage of their annual purchases consist of products that are reused, repurposed, or made from recycled materials. The percentage varies by product type, ranging from 20% to 100%. The goal is to encourage all stakeholders to use recycled materials, thereby advancing the circular economy[1].
France is on the right track, as the first evaluation report in July 2022 shows. Based on data from 143 public purchasers who reported their procurement expenditures for 2021, the report indicates that the law positively impacts the integration of circular economy practices in public procurement. However, this is only the beginning: ongoing feedback and experiences are being gathered to further improve and adjust the law. The report also analyzes the environmental impact of digital services in France and emphasizes the importance of refurbishing electronic devices as an eco-friendly alternative[2].
A Model for Germany?
Why not? Germany also has room for improvement in promoting sustainable procurement practices. France, with Article 58 and the National Sustainable Procurement Plan (PNAD 2022–2025), offers a path that Germany could follow. The plan includes 22 measures aimed at supporting purchasers in achieving their goals, strengthening the mobilization, promotion, and monitoring of the plan, and making environmental and social clauses available in open data[3].
Germany has yet to tackle these challenges as comprehensively as France. But the will is there, and policymakers are increasingly asking, “How do our neighbors do it?” Closer collaboration between Germany, France, and Italy on the circular economy has already been established. It’s only a matter of time before Germany embeds the circular economy even more deeply in legislation and implements it widely. The momentum is certainly building!
Article 58 in France shows impressively how legislative measures can contribute to promoting the circular economy. It’s about reducing waste and encouraging the use of recycled materials. Germany can benefit from these experiences and adopt similar approaches to further advance the circular economy. The path to a sustainable future requires joint action and the exchange of proven practices.
[1] https://jumelages-partenariats.com/en/actualites.php?n=19453
[2] Ebenda
[3] Ebenda