Canemure – Towards Carbon Neutral Municipalities and Regions

From mapping the procurement groups to sharing best practices

The project started in the spring 2019 with the mapping of the City of Helsinki’s procurements and the selection of suitable pilot procurements. The pilot cases with significant climate impact were selected in collaboration with the city’s procurement experts. At least construction and maintenance work, food procurements, textile procurements and various ICT and vehicle procurements were examined. In addition to the climate impact of the procurement, the size of the procurement and the possibilities to take into account the carbon footprint in the procurement process as well as the city’s procurement schedule were taken into account in the selection of pilot cases.
Currently the project involves a total of nine pilot procurements:

• In the design and build contract, bidders calculated the carbon footprint of their plans during the tender phase, which was then scored as part of the tender.
• The carbon footprint of the restaurant service of the new division building will be calculated during the contract period.
• In repaving contracts, data is collected from contractors during the contract period in order to calculate the contract’s carbon footprint. We also participate in the development of a common carbon footprint tool for the asphalting industry.
• In the procurement of dairy products, the market’s readiness for carbon footprint calculation was surveyed, and the supplier’s action plan to reduce the carbon footprint during the contract period was required.
• In the procurement of meat products, the market’s readiness for carbon footprint calculation was surveyed, and the supplier’s action plan to reduce the carbon footprint during the contract period was required.
• In the procurement of food services in residential homes, the aim is to reduce the carbon footprint during the contract period by means of sustainability action plan.
• In the project planning phase of the renovation of a residential apartment building, the carbon footprint and life cycle costs of the building are optimized, as well as the energy consumption and life cycle costs.
  An emission assessment to direct the planning will be carried out during the street and water supply planning. The carbon footprint will also be taken into account later in the contract phase.
• In textile procurements, it will be examined whether a service procurement is more sustainable option compared to a product procurement in terms of life cycle effects.

The key factors behind the successful pilots are active market dialogue and cooperation with companies, research institutes and other municipalities and cities.

Pilot procurement processes are carefully documented to evaluate results and share information. In addition to emission reductions, the impact of completed procurement is also assessed from a life-cycle cost perspective, when possible.

At the same time with the selection of pilot procurements, an assessment of the carbon footprint of the City of Helsinki’s procurements was launched in cooperation with Syke. The assessment was completed in autumn 2019. The results can be used to assess the significance of procurement groups from a climate perspective, as well as to perceive where emission reduction measures should be targeted. The good practices are actively shared and the competence of the suppliers is developed by providing guidelines, tools and procurement training. The aim is that procurements inspired by the project can be carried out in other cities in Finland as well.