Green public procurement in civil infrastructure construction: Current performance and main project characteristics

Green Public Procurement (GPP) is an alternative for public agencies to purchase goods and services with a reduced environmental impact. GPP encourages the integration of environmental criteria in the procurement procedure to achieve goals related to climate change, resource use, and sustainable consumption and production. The inclusion of environmental criteria in public procurement of civil infrastructure has been claimed as an essential step to enhance sustainability in construction. However, there is limited knowledge of how environmental criteria currently are included in public procurement. This study analyzed the inclusion of environmental criteria in public works procurement. Three research objectives were established: (1) identify the environmental criteria included in public-works procurement of civil engineering projects, (2) analyze how these criteria are included in the procurement processes, and (3) identify the characteristics of projects main factors driving in the inclusion of these environmental criteria. This study analyzed 343 tendering documents from 11 different countries at the international level. Tendering documents were analyzed using quantitative content analysis, descriptive statistics, nonparametric techniques, and logistic regressions. Within the 343 tenders analyzed, the study identified 4,500 instances in which environmental indicators were included in the procurement processes. These instances can be classified into 9 criteria (emissions, energy, environmental management, flora and fauna preservation, landscaping, materials, noise and vibration, waste, and water) and 22 subcriteria. These criteria were analyzed considering their inclusion within the procurement process, in general, and in the different stages of the procurement process, in particular: selection criteria, award criteria, and technical specifications and contract performance clauses. The results show that although more than 90% of the analyzed tenders included environmental criteria, the environmental management criterion was the only one included as selection criteria and award criteria. Environmental criteria tend to be included as technical specifications and contract performance clauses. Their inclusion depends on the type of civil infrastructure, the size of the contract, and the type of construction work. Nevertheless, the project delivery and procurement methods do not influence the inclusion of environmental criteria. This study helps procurement professionals and researchers implement GPP by providing guidance on how to incorporate environmental criteria in the procurement process based on the type of infrastructure and characteristics of the project. This action is necessary for governments interested in improving their performance toward the Sustainable Development Goals.