Press room
Sustainable Public Procurement
Sweden’s regions have been collaborating since 2010 to promote sustainable procurement – all in line with Agenda 2030 and the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.
The regions’ office for sustainable procurement manages, develops, and coordinates processes at the national level. Decisions are made within the regions, which are also responsible for identifying social and environmental risks in procurement, developing action plans, and carrying out contract follow-ups.
The collaboration and greater combined purchasing power give each region more opportunities to influence and to encourage the transition to sustainable production and consumption, for the benefit of the regions’ inhabitants.
Organisation
The collaboration is led by a steering group appointed by the regional procurement management network (LfU) and the regional sustainability and environmental management network (RMC). The regions are divided into eight procurement regions, each responsible for different product categories. Each of the eight procurement regions has a regional coordinator.
History – how the regions’ collaboration has developed
In 2007, it was revealed that materials for Swedish healthcare were being produced in factories that violated labor rights and human rights. The regions responded by establishing a national collaboration with the aim of jointly placing higher demands on their suppliers. Over the years, the collaboration has evolved into an organisation that integrates sustainability into all procurement for Swedish healthcare.
