Core GPP Criteria

Core GPP Criteria form the entry-level tier of the European Commission's GPP Criteria (EU) framework. They are designed to be accessible to the broad majority of suppliers in a given market and to impose a proportionate evidence burden on contracting authorities and bidders alike. Core criteria focus on the most significant environmental impacts of a product or service category and use means of proof that are already widely available, such as recognised ecolabels, standard test certifications, or straightforward self-declarations.

What are Core GPP Criteria?

The European Commission's Joint Research Centre (JRC) designs Core GPP Criteria to satisfy three conditions. First, the required environmental performance level must be achievable by a sufficient share of the market, typically at least 30 to 40 per cent of products in a category, so that competition is not unduly restricted. Second, the verification evidence must be readily obtainable rather than requiring bespoke testing or audit. Third, the criteria must capture the most material environmental impacts of the category rather than peripheral ones.

Core criteria appear in three forms within each GPP criteria document:

Technical specifications. Minimum thresholds that all tendered products or services must meet. A bid that does not satisfy Core technical specifications is excluded as non-compliant, regardless of price. Examples include minimum energy efficiency ratings, maximum hazardous substance concentrations, or requirements for sustainably certified timber.

Award criteria. Scoring factors that reward environmental performance beyond the Core minimum, used to differentiate between compliant bids. At Core level, award criteria tend to reward performance that is within reach for a meaningful portion of the market rather than only the leaders.

Contract performance conditions. Clauses applied to the winning supplier during contract delivery, such as obligations to report on packaging waste or to use vehicles meeting defined emission standards for delivery. Core-level performance conditions are generally proportionate and monitorable without specialist expertise.

Core criteria are distinguished from Comprehensive GPP Criteria by their verification simplicity. Accepted means of proof at Core level typically include compliance with the EU Ecolabel regulation, Energy Star certification, compliance with the Ecodesign Directive, or a supplier self-declaration supported by standard test reports. Buyers must, under Article 44 of Directive 2014/24/EU, also accept equivalent evidence where the underlying performance is demonstrably the same.

Core criteria are recommended as the starting point for contracting authorities that are new to GPP or that procure infrequently in a given category. They provide significant environmental benefit relative to unconstrained procurement without the specialist capacity required to administer Comprehensive criteria.

Why Core GPP Criteria matter for bidders

Core criteria define the floor that an increasingly wide range of public contracts sets for environmental performance. In countries where Core criteria adoption is widespread, such as the Netherlands, Sweden, and Germany, suppliers who cannot meet Core thresholds face systematic exclusion from large segments of the public market. Meeting Core criteria is therefore a baseline market access requirement in environmentally progressive procurement jurisdictions, not a distinguishing feature.

Bidders should map their product certifications and declarations against the Core criteria for their category and address any gaps before tenders arise. The lead time for obtaining recognised ecolabels or EPDs can be several months, so early preparation is essential.

Example

The EU GPP Core Criteria for office computers require, among other things, that devices meet the current Energy Star specification for computers and that they comply with RoHS restrictions on hazardous substances. A supplier whose laptops carry an Energy Star certificate and a current RoHS declaration of conformity can satisfy these Core criteria with existing documentation at essentially zero marginal cost. A supplier whose products do not meet Energy Star would be excluded from the technical specification gateway.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do Core and Comprehensive criteria interact in a single tender?

A contracting authority may use Core criteria for the technical specification (minimum compliance threshold) and Comprehensive criteria for the award scoring, rewarding the subset of bidders who exceed Core performance. This hybrid approach is common and legally permissible under Directive 2014/24/EU.

Can a buyer strengthen Core criteria in their tender documents?

Yes. The EU GPP Criteria are voluntary reference documents, and authorities may set thresholds above the published Core level if their market analysis shows sufficient supply at that higher level. They may not, however, set criteria so demanding that only one or two suppliers can comply, as this would violate equal treatment and competition principles.

Are Core criteria the same across all EU member states?

The Commission publishes a single set of Core criteria per product category. Member states may adopt these verbatim, translate and adapt them for national use, or set national criteria that are stricter. Nordic countries and the Netherlands tend to adopt Core criteria quickly and sometimes go beyond them in national guidance.