Logo of the interministerial committee for sustainable public procurement (Larger version opens in new window) Source: BMI

On 11 March 2025, stakeholders from public administration, civil society, academia, business and industry met in the conference centre at the Federal Ministry of the Interior and Community for a forum hosted by the interministerial committee for sustainable public procurement (IMA nöB). State Secretary Markus Richter of the Federal Ministry of the Interior and Community and State Secretary Bernhard Kluttig of the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action opened the event, noting the relevance of cooperation among stakeholders for making public procurement more sustainable. The forum followed an event in September 2024 at which the interministerial committee initiated cooperation with public administration at state and local level on sustainable public procurement.

Key ideas from civil society, academia, business and industry

The interministerial committee IMA nöB can greatly benefit from the expertise and ideas from civil society, academia, business and industry. Civil-society stakeholders reflect the broad range of societal interests. Business and industry enable sustainable public procurement by offering sustainable products and services as well as innovative solutions. Research results and innovative approaches from the academic community play a key role in organising sustainable public purchasing.

A broad range of topics discussed

Along with exploring the possibilities for future cooperation, forum participants discussed how to make vehicle purchasing more environmentally friendly and how to integrate sustainable procurement within the public administration in structural terms. Other topics addressed included challenges for companies that submit bids and the permanent implementation of sustainable procurement, along with ways for public procurement law to ensure that inclusive enterprises receive preferential consideration. An exhibition accompanying the forum provided participants with examples of successful practices.

Annual expert meetings planned

Meetings to discuss various perspectives and new ideas are to be held every year, offering a platform for sharing experience, developing connections and inspiring innovative ideas for sustainable procurement.

The secretariat of the interministerial committee is the point of contact for stakeholders from civil society, academia, business and industry.

As set out in the programme of measures for sustainability (2021), the interministerial committee for sustainable public procurement aims to establish sustainable procurement practices that are as consistent nationwide as possible. All of the federal ministries are represented in the committee, which makes decisions on standardising sustainable public procurement which are binding for the entire federal administration. To achieve greater consistency nationwide, the interministerial committee has the task of working with state and local public administration and with stakeholders from civil society, academia, business and industry.