On 21 July 2025, the Irish Government issued Circular 17/2025, a pivotal update reinforcing the country’s commitment to Green Public Procurement (GPP). Issued by the Office of Government Procurement (OGP) on behalf of the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform, the circular replaces the previous guidances and introduces binding instructions for all public sector bodies to support the delivery of environmental and climate goals through procurement activity.
A Strategic Turn
Circular 17/2025 reflects Ireland’s evolving climate policy landscape, providing public bodies with updated GPP obligations in alignment with Buying Greener: Green Public Procurement Strategy and Action Plan 2024–2027. Of the 54 actions outlined in the strategy, the circular brings forward 11 specific actions grouped under five priority themes:
· Corporate Procurement Plans
· Accelerating GPP Implementation
· The Built Environment
· GPP Training and Awareness
· GPP Monitoring and Reporting
These measures are applicable immediately, marking a clear shift from optional guidelines to mandatory practices for contracting authorities across the public sector.
Key Measures and Expectations
Circular 17/2025 encourages contracting authorities to embed sustainability more deeply in procurement planning and execution. Highlights include:
· Market Engagement: Authorities are urged to engage with suppliers early through preliminary market consultations, particularly when sourcing innovative or green solutions.
· Life Cycle Costing: Beyond the purchase price, public buyers are expected to assess operating and end-of-life costs, especially for products with significant environmental footprints.
· Social and SME Impact: The circular promotes socially responsible public procurement, including engagement with social enterprises and community-based organisations. Additionally, a 12-month impact assessment will evaluate how GPP practices affect small and medium enterprises (SMEs).
· Centralised Procurement: Where possible, public bodies are encouraged to use existing central procurement arrangements to simplify GPP compliance.
· Innovation Procurement: The circular signals strong support for innovation procurement as a lever to deliver greener solutions and support broader climate targets.
Enhanced Reporting Obligations
From 1 January 2025, several enhanced reporting requirements took effect:
1. All public bodies subject to the Public Sector Climate Action Mandate must explain in the SEAI Monitoring and Reporting system why GPP criteria were not included in tenders over national procurement thresholds, where such criteria exist.
2. All government departments must report annually to the EPA on:
o Tenders awarded to social enterprises and community organisations using GPP criteria;
o Implementation of GPP in contracts above national thresholds, with justification where criteria were not used.
These measures aim to build accountability and provide clear data on GPP progress at both department and sectoral level.
Support Tools and Guidance
To assist implementation, public sector bodies are directed to the EPA’s GPP Guidance and Criteria and the OGP’s GPP Criteria Search Tool. The latter offers practical templates and verification methods for incorporating GPP criteria across a wide range of procurement categories.
A Cross-Sectoral Call to Action
Circular 17/2025 marks a decisive move to operationalise Ireland’s sustainability ambitions through procurement. It sends a strong signal that green criteria are no longer peripheral but central to public purchasing decisions. With an emphasis on transparency, innovation, and inclusive participation, the Circular sets a clear roadmap for embedding environmental responsibility into every stage of the procurement lifecycle.
Public bodies now face a dual responsibility: complying with the new obligations and actively contributing to Ireland’s broader climate and sustainability goals.
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