EU Ecolabel shows the way to green procurement of paper products

Public buyers can make a step towards green procurement of paper products. The two newly released Practical guides for the use of the EU Ecolabel in the green public procurement of graphic paper, and of tissue paper and tissue products are here to help. 

A third set of practical guidelines is also on the horizon, this time focusing on printed paper, stationery, and printed paper carrier bags. 

Public procurement: a staple in the paper market  

Despite digitalisation, public sector entities still much rely on paper for official records, legal documentation, and communication. In parallel, tissue paper products such as toilet paper, paper towels and facial tissues are indispensable in the daily operations of public facilities, making their sustainable procurement important. 

By choosing responsibly sourced, sustainably produced and recycled paper, public buyers can make a tangible contribution to the green transition by helping to reduce deforestation, minimise waste, and promote resource efficiency - all without necessarily increasing their expenditure.  

Why choose the EU Ecolabel? 

The use of the EU Ecolabel - the official EU voluntary label for environmental excellence, with over 102.000 certified products across 25 products categories, in public procurement offers clear environmental, administrative and potential economic benefits.  

Environmental: EU Ecolabel criteria are scientifically based, legally established and are third-party verified. They are developed through research and extensive stakeholder consultation. Criteria are regularly updated to reflect evolving environmental priorities and technological progress. With the EU Ecolabel certification, products are guaranteed best-in-class in terms of environmental performance, without compromising on performance!  

Administrative: The EU Ecolabel helps streamlining public procurement procedures as public buyers can either simply require goods and services to be EU Ecolabel certified, or they can reference specifically identified EU Ecolabel criteria in the technical specifications and/or award criteria tender calls. Both options reduce verification efforts, as EU Ecolabel certified products – which have already been independently assessed against stringent requirements - already meet strict environmental standards.  

Economic:  The EU Ecolabel also supports cost-effective procurement by offering access to competitively priced goods and services, while helping contracting authorities to meet sustainability objectives without compromising on quality and on value for money. 

New Practical Guides to help procurers 

Designed to make green procurement more straightforward, the newly released Practical Guides on graphic paper and on tissue paper and tissue products clearly identify the most relevant and appropriate EU Ecolabel criteria that can be used when drafting technical specifications and award criteria in tendering processes.  Recommended criteria include fibre sourcing, pulp bleaching, emissions to air and water, and energy consumption. 

EU Ecolabel products successfully streamlined in green procurement practices 

Several public administrations have successfully used the EU Ecolabel in their procurement processes for paper products. 

The Slovenian Ministry of Public Administration has developed their own guidelines to facilitate public authorities in requiring Type 1 ecolabels, such as the EU Ecolabel when procuring stationary paper products. The guidelines stipulate that paper must be sourced from sustainably managed forests or recycled fibres, with verification through a Type I ecolabel. Bidders can demonstrate compliance using certifications such as the EU Ecolabel. These guidelines now support 180 public bodies in Slovenia in procuring eco-friendly paper more efficiently. 

The Government of Flanders included sustainability criteria into its framework agreement for stationary supplies, including requirements aligning with the EU Ecolabel for paper.  Suppliers were mandated to offer only recycled or sustainably sourced paper, ensuring compliance with recognised ecolabel certifications such as the EU Ecolabel. The goal is for at least 50% of office supplies to be sustainable; in practice, 75.34% of purchased paper products meet sustainability criteria. This initiative demonstrated the importance of ecolabels in public procurement, driving the adoption of environmentally friendly office supplies across government agencies. 

Leaf through the Practical Guides for paper products 

With the new EU Ecolabel Practical Guides, all Member States can now green their public procurement for paper!  Make your procurement green today, download the guides, use the EU Ecolabel criteria, and share this valuable resource with your networks! 

Don’t miss the webinar on the benefits of using the EU Ecolabel in green procurement on the 10 October morning. 

Find EU Ecolabel certified products the ECAT catalogue, look for  more tips on the Green Procurement page and follow us on LinkedIn to stay updated on the latest EU Ecolabel developments!