As the world grapples with climate change and environmental degradation, sustainable procurement has emerged as a solution that holds great potential. This was made abundantly clear during the 6th European Conference on Sustainable and Innovative Public Procurement held in Turin, Italy, on June 6, 2023.

Diverse Topics Explored

The event brought together distinguished academics and professionals from around Europe, with speakers tackling subjects as diverse as public construction law, large infrastructure projects, and innovative public contracting. Chaired by Professor Mario E. Comba from the University of Turin, the conference started by emphasizing the significance of sustainable construction and the role of public procurement.

Concrete Examples of Sustainable Procurement

The conference moved swiftly from theory to practice, with speakers outlining concrete examples of sustainable procurement in action. Professor Roberto Caranta, SAPIENS Network Coordinator, underscored the importance of green public procurement (GPP) criteria in making public construction law sustainable. Professor Bernardino Chiaia, from the Polytechnics of Turin, followed up with a presentation on sustainability in large infrastructure projects, highlighting the use of innovative strategies in the maintenance of infrastructure. Using the Turin Metro as a case study, he addressed issues from anticipatory management in tender design to the benefits of predictive maintenance. Further, he discussed social and environmental impacts, and the implementation of BIM in infrastructure management.

Public authorities are also playing a crucial role. Riccardo Gentilucci, from the Ministry of the Infrastructure and Transport of Italy, showcased the experience of the PON Infrastructures and Networks 2014-2020, an initiative that works on improving mobility and territorial cohesion in Italy’s less developed regions, while integrating environmental protection measures.

Professor Luís Valadares Tavares, from the University of Lisbon, discussed the importance of fostering innovation in public works through sustainable contracts. Addressing the limitations of the lowest price and award criteria, he proposed the Innovation Partnership as a potential solution, citing successful examples from Europe. He emphasized the need for competition and a good sharing model to ensure successful partnerships.

Professor Valentina Villa, from the Polytechnic of Turin, presented the importance of sustainability and circular economy in construction management. She discussed the shift from linear to circular economy models, advocating for a Cradle2Cradle (C2C) design approach. She highlighted the importance of applying Circular Economy principles at every stage, from design to end-of-life and renewal.

Professor Angelo Luigi Camillo Ciribini, from the University of Brescia, discussed “Digitization, ESG Criteria and Construction Procurement”. He evaluated EC policies, organization-wide standards, and ISO procurement strategies (21500, 22500, 19650). He examined the evolving roles of public procurers and financial players in procurement-to-finance dynamics. A focus was also given to the shift from procurement to ownership and the critical role of digitization as a sustainability tool.

Professor François Lichère from Jean Moulin Lyon 3 University, engaged in a pragmatic discourse about field sustainability issues, drawing examples from actual site explorations. He examined the challenges arising from field uncertainties, the importance of collaboration, and efficient problem-solving methods. His case studies from brown fields developments provided real-world insights into sustainable practice hurdles and their solutions.

Research Insights on Sustainable Construction

Two Marie Curie fellows from the SAPIENS Network project shared significant research on sustainable construction and energy-efficient buildings. Haitham Abu Ghaida, from the University of Hasselt unveiled his study on Life Cycle Assessments (LCAs) in the built environment. His focus was on the accelerated inclusion of LCAs into EU building regulations. He offered an analysis of the level(s) methodological background, based on EN 15978, revealing its ambitious system boundaries. He also discussed the potential for decarbonization scenarios, but noted uncertainty regarding future technologies. His presentation underscored the need for comprehensive carbon limits and a roadmap for the decarbonization of buildings. Meanwhile, Alexandru Buftic, of the Babeș-Bolyai University of Cluj-Napoca examined the perceptions and engagement of developers and procurers with near zero energy buildings (nZEBs) in Romania. He highlighted the greater involvement of developers in nZEB projects, driven by several factors, including education, training, and regulatory hurdles. Buftic identified the key barriers and benefits of nZEB construction, stressing that a one-size-fits-all approach would not work. He concluded that promoting nZEB requires cooperation between the government, private sector, and industry stakeholders. A clear public procurement criteria for nZEB, coupled with targeted education, supportive regulations, and strategic partnerships are critical for achieving sustainable development and energy efficiency goals.

Digital Tools for Sustainability

The conference further explored how digital tools like Building Information Modelling (BIM) are enabling sustainable construction. Dr. Roxana Vornicu, from King’s College London, highlighted the role of BIM in fostering a whole-life approach to construction projects. This approach, combined with sustainable procurement contracts, could help meet net-zero policies and legislative measures.

The conference also underlined the importance of collaboration for sustainable public procurement in construction. Professor Sara Valaguzza, from the University of Milan, explored the transformation of bilateral construction contracts into multi-party collaborative agreements, fostering more cooperative and innovative workspaces.

Dr. Peter Braun from Dentons presented an excellent example of sustainable construction in practice. He outlined the application of circular economy principles in wood construction and the implementation of sustainability criteria in procurement procedures.

The Role of Public Procurement in Healthcare

Finally, Alexandre Ricardo, from the Lusíada University of Lisbon, highlighted the crucial role of public procurement in healthcare. He stressed the challenges of selection under innovation and sustainability, introducing Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) as an effective solution for candidate ranking. His comprehensive evaluation of Multicriteria Aggregation Procedures and Multi-Attribute Value Theory provided invaluable insights into sustainable award criteria application.

Conclusion: A Multidimensional Potential

The conference showcased the multidimensional potential of sustainable and innovative public procurement. It presented a strong case for the shift from traditional to sustainable procurement, integrating environmental and social considerations into public purchasing decisions. This innovative approach is necessary as we strive towards creating a sustainable and resilient future. Particularly in light of the emerging EPBD and RED proposals, which present a dynamic framework, it becomes evident that further research is imperative.