30% of firms yet to implement green procurement practices [Video]

Nearly a third (30%) of organisations have yet to implement green procurement practices, and a fifth (20%) don’t feel prepared to do so, a new survey from business law firm Mason Hayes & Curran (MHC) has found.

The study identifies the main barriers to further adoption of green public procurement as limited supplier options (40%), budget constraints (31%) and resistance to change (29%).

Almost six out of ten respondents (59%) also highlighted training and education as a critical support required in order to successfully implement green public procurement.

A minority of respondents also called for increased procurement resources (18%) and better access to green suppliers (23%).

The findings, based on answers from 200 professionals, predominantly from the public sector, comes as Ireland prepares for the government’s Green Public Procurement Strategy and Action Plan.

“Sustainability is one of the defining issues of our time and Green Public Procurement is a vital policy lever in meeting our environmental policy …