The Government is on a drive to buy environmentally friendly products and services with €25 million in tenders already satisfying green criteria.
The green procurement initiative covers 18 categories of public sector purchases.
Finance Minister Tonio Fenech and Environment Minister Mario de Marco yesterday gave an overview of the nine-month old process.
Dr de Marco said that more than 120 tenders issued or being processed fell within the chosen categories and met all criteria for green public procurement.
Mr Fenech said the process required a change of mentality in the way government departments and entities handled their purchase requirements.
“This forms part of the Government’s drive to stimulate the green economy,” Mr Fenech said.
The green sensitivity varies from the purchase of environmentally-friendly cleaning products for schools to the Government’s paper requirements; from street lighting to electronic equipment and cleaner vehicles.
The initiative also covers tenders issued by local councils.
All public tenders are screened to determine whether they fall within the scope of the initiative.