1. Continuing the SAPIENS Policy Brief Series with a focus on Circular Economy 

In today’s global economy, linear practices dominate, fueling exponential growth in material consumption, pollution, and waste generation. The EU has embraced a Circular Economy (CE) model in response to this unsustainable trajectory.

Enter Aura‘s transformative policy brief, shedding light on the CE integration within public procurement. Drawing from rigorous research, this document addresses fundamental legal questions, offering insights for public buyers embarking on strategic procurement journeys with a CE focus.

Tailored primarily for public buyers ready to embrace CE principles, Aura’s brief extends its relevance to practitioners and actors grappling with EU legislation. The brief forges a more sustainable future through strategic procurement practices by demystifying legal ambiguities and providing actionable guidance.

2. Insights from the Policy Brief

Problem statement

The research field of Circular Economy is still fragmented and, combined with public procurement law, is understudied. It has been argued that there is a blurred distinction between the already-known Green Public Procurement (GPP) approach and the Circular Public Procurement (CPP), which is now gaining momentum. This ambiguity accentuates public buyers’ risk aversion and limits the potential circularity of public procurement.

How does this research contribute?

Given the above problem statement, the doctrinal legal research hereby conducted:

• Retraces the legal framework of the circular economy and proposes some solutions for public buyers;

• Clarifies the intertwin between GPP and CPP and assesses whether CPP is a self-standing strategy;

Policy recommendation

Public buyers should not dwell on formal distinctions but pursue concrete and ambitious objectives. Precision is essential, and choosing between the different CE objectives in the preparatory stage is key. By setting mandatory GPP criteria, public buyers will unquestionably contribute to a circular economy, yet their level of ambition matters: the higher the target (circularity), the higher the impact. To this end, public buyers must be well-trained in existing and upcoming GPP criteria and CE principles.