BUILDINGS MINIMUM ENVIRONMENTAL CRITERIA: CALL FOR TENDERS AND PROCEDURAL ISSUES

Since the 1990s Green Public Procurement (GPP) is a voluntary environmental policy promoting in EU low-impact goods and service markets; according to these more general objectives, contracting authorities should “buy green” i. e. environmentally friendly products and services. This has been translated into a short-term objective: to reach over than 70% of recycled materials from C&D waste by 2020 (CCE No 397 of 16 June 2008). Within this European framework, each Member State has proposed its own vision/strategy, adopting a National Action Plan. Italy has defined its PAN GPP in 2008, after a large consultation process with local Authorities and stakeholder organizations; in this way (identifying national targets and priorities), this Plan has represented effectively the national framework for GPP activities. As first tangible action, PAN GPP has established that the Ministry of the Environment must define Minimum Environmental Criteria (MEC) as national references in public procurements. Until now, at EU level you have a wide list of criteria (19), mostly reported to supply of goods and services (cleaning products and services, food and catering services, furniture, …), while in Italy there are some less (17). Although in Italy GPP was initially a voluntary tool, it is mandatory from 2015 and Italy has become the first European country which imposed MEC; in fact, according to recent regulatory changes and in particular to art. no. 34 sub. 1 of the new Code on Contracts “Energy and Environmental Sustainability Criteria”, contracting authorities must apply specific green criteria in public procurement. This means that every public purchase of goods and services must be green, but also every public work carried out by a contracting authority. The paper shows contents and procedures by which contracting authorities may take account of minimum criteria in awarding call for tenders.