The circular economy in supply and service public procurement

The circular economy represents a key lever for public authorities to respond to environmental, social and economic challenges. As a driving force, public procurement can stimulate innovation and demand for circular products and services. Through their purchasing policies, contracting authorities can encourage the development of circular solutions by, for example, opting for reconditioned products, renovating a building with reused materials, favouring the purchase of goods made from recycled content, or using services rather than buying new goods.

To support Walloon public authorities, the Walloon Region has developed a guide bringing together a series of best practices, tools and relevant resources for integrating the circular economy into public procurement.

In this guide, you can find out how to rethink your strategy using the Lansink scale, question your options for extending the lifespan of your purchases, proactively use prior consultation to align your needs with market availability, or innovate in the procurement procedure to develop innovative and circular solutions.

This guide proposes a range of practices, from easily applicable measures to more ambitious and structuring strategies. Each organisation is invited to identify the approaches best suited to its needs, resources and level of maturity in terms of the circular economy. The recommendations made apply mainly to supply and service contracts. The creation of this guide is supported by the Walloon Recovery Plan.