Mandatory criteria for green procurement

Explore mandatory environmental requirements that must be included in applicable procurement instruments.

On this page

• About these criteria
• Non-commodity-specific green procurement criteria
  • Disclosure of greenhouse gas emissions and the setting of reduction targets
  • Environmentally preferable packaging
• Commodity-specific green procurement criteria
  • Embodied carbon in construction
• Green criteria for standing offers and supply arrangements
  • Commercial Tires (N26): Tires and tubes
  • Communication, detection and coherent radiation equipment (N58): Closed-circuit television
  • Furniture (N71): Furniture for work spaces
  • Office supplies and devices (N75): Office supplies
  • Passenger motor vehicle (N2310): Light duty vehicles (ground effect vehicles, motor vehicles, trailers, and cycles)

About these criteria

Since the introduction of the Policy on Green Procurement in 2006, Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) includes environmental criteria in shared procurement instruments. As of 2022, 46% of all PSPC-administered standing offers and supply arrangements include environmental considerations. To help accelerate a net-zero greenhouse gas emissions and circular economy, the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat and PSPC work with industry to develop environmental considerations that must be included in all procurement instruments. These criteria are categorized into either commodity-specific or non-commodity-specific types.

Non-commodity-specific green procurement criteria

Explore criteria that are not specific to a product, service, industry or good.

Disclosure of greenhouse gas emissions and the setting of reduction targets

Standard on the Disclosure of Greenhouse Gas Emissions and the Setting of Reduction Targets: Requires major suppliers to disclose their greenhouse gas emissions and set reduction targets according to the commitments in the Greening Government Strategy: A Government of Canada Directive for procurements with a value of over $25 million.

• Greenhouse gas emissions and reduction target: Policy notification (PN-157)
• Implementing the Standard on the Disclosure of Greenhouse Gas Emissions and the Setting of Reduction Targets

Environmentally preferable packaging

Standard Language on Environmentally Preferable Packaging: Policy notification (PN-158) (effective September 7, 2023)

The objective of the standard language is to reduce plastic waste generated during the procurement process. It requires or encourages suppliers to supply goods in packaging that is reusable, returnable, or recyclable, as per the commitments in the Greening Government Strategy: A Government of Canada Directive.

Request a copy of policy notification-158

Email: spac.paachatsecologiques-apgreenprocurement.pspc@tpsgc-pwgsc.gc.ca

Commodity-specific green procurement criteria

Explore criteria that are specific to a product, service, industry or good.

Embodied carbon in construction

Standard on Embodied Carbon in Construction: Sets minimum requirements for the procurement of design and construction services to disclose and reduce the embodied carbon of major construction projects.

Green criteria for standing offers and supply arrangements

PSPC, as a common service provider for procurement, supports client departments through a series of mandatory standing offers and supply arrangements. Client departments must use these standing offers and supply arrangements when purchasing the associated goods and services.

Mandatory standing offers and supply arrangements

The following are samples of environmental criteria included in mandatory standing offers and supply arrangements.

Commercial tires (N26): Tires and tubes

Sample National Master Standing Offer: Commercial Tires E60HP-21COMT/A (closed Mar 16, 2023)

• The offeror is registered or meets ISO 14001; or
• The offeror meets and will continue to meet throughout the duration of the standing offer, a minimum of 4 out of 7 criteria below:
  • The bidder must provide product specific examples in their bid, demonstrating that they are addressing a minimum of 2 of the following environmental considerations: GHG reduction, waste reduction, plastic reduction, or hazardous chemical reduction
  • The bidder must establish and work towards achieving long term organizational greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction targets through at least 1 of the following options:
    • Participation in Canada’s Net-Zero Challenge, demonstrated through provision of a letter of participation
    • Document their GHG emissions reduction targets for scope 1 and scope 2 emissions (as defined in the Greenhouse Gas Protocol) in a corporate strategy document
    • Publicly disclose its previous calendar year’s verified GHG emissions inventory. This may include publication on its corporate website, or inclusion in its Annual Report, for example

Communication, detection and coherent radiation equipment (N58): Closed-circuit television

Sample National Master Standing Offer: Procom Video Systems INC (CW2253062-ACM_154179154)

• Offer recyclable or re-useable packaging that minimizes waste
• Take action to consolidate orders or minimize transportation
• Provide inventory numbers for replacement parts when available
• Participate in extended producer responsibility programs

Furniture (N71): Furniture for work spaces

Sample Supply Arrangement: Adirondack Technologies Furniture INC (E60PQ-140003/001/PQ)

• The materials used in the manufacturing of the product must have the following attributes:
  • hazardous air pollutant (HAP) free
  • non-toxic surface coating
  • 25% recycled content for steel components
  • sustainable wood originating from sustainably managed forests
  • composite wood products must contain 60% recycled material
  • plastic components must be recyclable at end of life
  • supplier must have certificates as proof that all products contain no chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) or polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE)
• Parts susceptible to wearing must be designed to be replaceable
• Waste material from the manufacturing process must be minimized and/or recycled, and the facility must have a hazardous and toxic material management system in place
• All products offered must come from a manufacturer that has a Chemical Management Plan in place

Office supplies and devices (N75): Office supplies

Sample National Master Standing Offer: Grand & Toy LTD (E60PD-19OSFB/001/PD)

• Actions around all phases of the lifecycle (extraction [raw materials], transformation [manufacturing plant], distribution [clients], product use, and end of life [recovery transport, recycling and landfilling]) will be considered
• Certifications include UL (Underwriters Laboratories) ECOLOGO, Cradle to Cradle, Green Seal, Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC), Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI), etc
• Products have minimal packaging and all packaging is recyclable, biodegradable or made from renewable resources
• Supplies made from post-consumer recycled content

Passenger motor vehicle (N2310): Light duty vehicles (ground effect vehicles, motor vehicles, trailers, and cycles)

Sample National Master Standing Offer: FCA Canada INC (E60HP-22DS01/001/HP)

• Hybrid electric vehicles (HEV), plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV), battery electric vehicles (BEV) and fuel-cell electric vehicles (FCEV)
• Fuel consumption and GHG emissions values are calculated and included in financial evaluation or evaluated price