GPP Criteria (EU)

EU GPP Criteria are the European Commission's authoritative, freely available reference documents for environmentally responsible public purchasing. Published by the Commission's Joint Research Centre (JRC), they cover product and service categories where public spending is significant and where environmental criteria can make a measurable difference. Categories include computers and monitors, office furniture, cleaning products, catering services, road vehicles, street lighting, and construction works, among others.

What are GPP Criteria (EU)?

EU GPP Criteria are structured documents containing ready-to-use procurement language that authorities can insert directly into tender documents. Each criteria document is divided into two tiers:

Core GPP Criteria. These represent the environmental performance achievable by the majority of products and suppliers in a given market. They are designed to be adopted widely, with a low verification burden. They focus on the most significant environmental impacts of the product category and can typically be evidenced by widely available labels, self-declarations, or standard test results.

Comprehensive GPP Criteria. These represent best-in-class environmental performance and are aimed at authorities that want to drive market transformation. They may require third-party verification, detailed life-cycle data, or specific certifications that only a subset of suppliers can currently meet.

Within each tier, criteria are further divided into three types:

1. Technical specifications. Minimum requirements that a product or service must meet to be accepted as compliant. Non-compliant tenders are excluded regardless of price.
2. Award criteria. Environmental factors that are scored in the evaluation, rewarding performance above the minimum threshold.
3. Contract performance clauses. Conditions imposed on the winning supplier during contract delivery, such as waste reporting obligations or energy consumption targets.

EU GPP Criteria are updated periodically to reflect market developments, new legislation, and advances in environmental science. The criteria documents reference relevant EU Directives, including Directive 2014/24/EU on public procurement and Directive 2009/125/EC on ecodesign, as well as standards and labels such as the EU Ecolabel and Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs).

Authorities in EU member states and EEA countries may adopt the criteria as published, adapt them to local conditions, or use them as a starting point for national GPP criteria. In Norway and Switzerland, national GPP programmes broadly align with EU criteria structures. In Ukraine, EU approximation commitments are driving adoption of EU-compatible environmental procurement standards.

Why EU GPP Criteria matter for bidders

If you sell into European public markets, EU GPP Criteria define the environmental evidence you will be asked to provide. Understanding which criteria apply to your product category, and at which tier (Core or Comprehensive), tells you precisely which certifications, labels, EPDs, and test results to obtain before bidding. Suppliers who hold the right evidence are far better positioned than those who must scramble to compile documentation after a tender lands.

The criteria also signal where the market is heading. Product categories where Comprehensive criteria are already widely adopted are those where environmental performance is becoming a baseline competitive requirement, not a differentiator.

Example

The EU GPP Criteria for computers and monitors require, at Core level, that devices meet Energy Star efficiency thresholds and that hazardous substances comply with RoHS Directive limits. At Comprehensive level, they additionally require minimum recycled plastic content and a manufacturer take-back programme. A supplier bidding for a national ministry's IT contract in Germany, where Comprehensive criteria are commonly adopted, must have both an Energy Star certificate and documented recycled content data to remain competitive.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where can I find the EU GPP Criteria documents?

The criteria documents are published on the European Commission's GPP website (ec.europa.eu/environment/gpp). Each document is available in all EU official languages and includes explanatory notes on the scientific rationale and means of verification for each criterion.

Are EU GPP Criteria legally binding?

No. The criteria are voluntary reference documents. However, once a contracting authority incorporates them into its tender documents (as technical specifications, award criteria, or contract clauses), they become contractually binding on bidders and on the winning supplier. Several member states have made adoption of Core criteria mandatory for certain central government categories.

How often are the criteria updated?

Update cycles vary by product category, typically every three to seven years, triggered by significant market changes, new legislation such as the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation, or new scientific evidence on environmental impact. The JRC consults industry and NGOs during each revision cycle.