The EU’s 2025 Clean Industrial Deal identifies public procurement as a crucial tool to support competitiveness and decarbonisation of key industrial sectors, including construction. Accounting for about 15% of the bloc’s GDP, public procurement can drive large-scale demand from public buyers towards low-carbon and circular solutions.

ECOS has already shown that the construction sector is ready for mainstreaming green public procurement and . If green public procurement criteria were uniformly introduced in the EU for concrete and steel alone, emissions would be slashed by . That means lowering emissions by 43% compared to a scenario without green public procurement. However, in practice, only a handful of Member States have taken meaningful steps to move beyond lowest price alone – thus procuring low-carbon products – in awarding tenders.

Our continued efforts drive a positive change by embedding environmental ambition in Europe’s new competitiveness agenda – and we are not alone in this.

2025 marked the launch of Buy Better to Build Better (BBBB) – the first EU-wide coalition bringing together actors from civil society, industry, business associations, and public authorities  – convened by ECOS. With 37 members and growing, BBBB promotes procurement policies that drive demand for green and circular construction solutions and support the EU’s competitiveness. The launch event was co-hosted by MEP Anna Cavazzini and MEP Pierfrancesco Maran in the European Parliament, and attended by 70 representatives from relevant sectors, including EU and national lawmakers.

This quickly established BBBB as a trusted partner, providing expertise to amplify innovative solutions, support green jobs, and retain added value in Europe. Having already secured a policy portfolio with strong sustainability potential within the Construction Products Regulation and the Ecodesign for Sustainable Product Regulation, our sights are now set on 2026.  From the revision of the Public Procurement Directives to the Industrial Accelerator Act and the Circular Economy Act

But our environment is not constrained by borders, and neither is ECOS. That is why we are embarking on a new journey to mainstream public procurement for climate-friendly and circular construction solutions across Africa. Working with partners in Ghana, Kenya, and South Africa, we will support locally tailored solutions that develop green economies, domestic jobs, and innovation through lead markets.  We could not be happier to embark on this journey – make sure you follow us for the latest news!