GPAM & GPP in Action
GPAM, a powerful coalition in the Philippines, actively promotes environmental purchasing among individual consumers, businesses, and government organizations. Operating as a network, GPAM engages in a diverse array of purchasing activities, all centered around the principles of sustainable development. Its establishment was mandated by Executive Order 301, which requires government agencies to adopt green procurement programs.
Green Public Procurement (GPP), on the other hand, represents a policy approach aimed at ensuring that goods and services procured by public authorities have a reduced environmental impact throughout their lifecycle. This encompasses considerations such as energy efficiency, recyclability, and eco-labeling.
Advocacy and Education: GPAM takes a leading role in advocacy and education on green purchasing. It conducts workshops, orientations, and meetings to establish green purchasing policies and programs. GPP policies, in turn, offer the framework and guidelines for public authorities to make environmentally conscious purchasing decisions.
Criteria Development: GPAM, in partnership with the National Ecolabelling Programme-Green Choice Philippines (NELP-GCP), actively contributes to the development of criteria for environmentally preferable products. These criteria can be seamlessly integrated into GPP policies for public procurement.
Policy Implementation: GPP policies, designed by government agencies, align perfectly with GPAM's advocacy efforts. These policies seamlessly integrate environmental considerations into the procurement process. GPAM lends its support by disseminating informative materials on green purchasing.
Market Demand: GPAM's endeavors to promote green purchasing foster a heightened demand for environmentally friendly products and services. This, in turn, encourages industries to produce and offer more eco-friendly options. Consequently, GPP policies benefit from a broader selection of sustainable products.
Monitoring and Compliance: Both GPAM and GPP share the goal of monitoring and ensuring compliance with green purchasing practices. GPAM may play a crucial role in verifying and certifying products, while GPP policies establish the standards and criteria for procurement.
In essence, GPAM and GPP work hand in hand to advance environmentally sustainable consumption and production practices. GPAM's advocacy and educational initiatives contribute to a market environment that strongly supports GPP policies. Simultaneously, GPP policies provide the essential framework for public authorities to make environmentally conscious procurement decisions. Together, they play a pivotal role in creating a more sustainable and eco-conscious economy.
