Prioritization of Product Categories and Climate Requirements Based on Potential Climate Benefit
Procurement can be a powerful tool for achieving climate goals and targets. It is important that our limited resources are used effectively by focusing on areas and requirements that can generate the greatest positive climate impact. Within this project, Bjerking has developed a report aimed at helping procurers formulate effective climate requirements by prioritizing product categories and climate-related requirements based on their potential to contribute to climate benefits.
The report provides guidelines for four product categories that typically rank high in municipal environmental and economic analyses. For each area, recommendations are given on the types of climate requirements that have the potential to provide the greatest climate benefit. The recommendations are summarized as follows:
Construction and Infrastructure
- For new construction and extensions: Set requirements based on limit values for the construction phase and energy performance requirements for the operational phase.
- For renovation: Set requirements for improvement compared to your own reference value.
- For facilities: Set requirements for improvement compared to project-specific baseline cases. Alternatively, focus on the largest items such as mass handling/transports, concrete, asphalt, and steel.
Transport
- Set requirements for the proportion of renewable fuels and the greenhouse gas emissions of the fuel.
- Also set requirements for vehicles to ensure they are adapted for high climate performance and require a certain percentage of environmental vehicles to ensure legal compliance.
IT/Telecom
- Procure refurbished IT equipment and robust products with long warranty periods.
- Request systems for recycling and environmental product declarations for new products.
- Set requirements for energy efficiency in data storage and server rooms.
Food
- Choose raw materials with low climate impact.
- Reduce the proportion of animal products and increase the inclusion of seasonally appropriate vegetables.
- Set raw material-specific climate requirements and focus requirements on animal products.
- Work to reduce food waste.
