How can procurement rules and criteria be redesigned to accelerate sustainability across the built environment?

This interactive workshop translates the Global Framework for Action: Harnessing sustainable and circular public procurement to drive demand for a near-zero and resilient built environment into practical implementation pathways for the built environment. Moving beyond “lowest upfront cost,” the session explores how prioritizing whole-life carbon, resilience, and circularity stimulates demand for low-carbon materials and innovative practices.The session begins with a “fire-starter” roundtable featuring perspectives from national governments and the private sector to set the scene. Participants will then engage in scenario-based breakout groups centered on a municipal office building project. These discussions tackle three critical pillars: policy leadership, procurement practice (including performance-based standards, life-cycle costing and certifications), and market engagement. Designed for procurement officers, practitioners, and sustainability leads, this session aims to identify global priority actions and enabling conditions to scale sustainable procurement across varying levels of national readiness

A short introductory presentation, including a “fire-starter” conversation to set the scene, followed by breakout groups focused on a set scenario