English
hrvatski jezik
српски језик
slovenski jezik
On June 16, a concluding event took place as part of a series of training sessions on circular public procurement. The event was designed to connect public procurers, businesses, and experts, while showcasing concrete solutions for sustainable construction projects.
Speakers at the event, organized by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Slovenia (GZS) as part of the European CE-PRINCE project (Interreg Central Europe), focused primarily on the practical aspects of integrating circular and sustainable criteria into public tenders. They discussed legal options for their implementation, challenges in preparing bids, and examples of good practices from Slovenia.
The central message of the event was that the public sector does not merely build structures; through its decisions, it sets the direction for market development, fosters innovation, and shapes the construction sector in Slovenia for decades to come.
The field of green public procurement is well-regulated in Slovenia. The decree was adopted in 2017, and an amendment further tightening sustainability criteria followed in 2025. This amendment stipulates that public construction projects in Slovenia must contain at least 30 percent wood components, though contractors can reduce this share to 20 percent if they hold certifications such as FSC.
Among the main challenges highlighted were the lack of cross-sectoral cooperation and a shortage of experience and knowledge, particularly among local-level procurers who less frequently encounter large or significant infrastructure projects. We also heard that public procurers still prioritize the lowest purchase price in investments (even when using the term "most economically advantageous"), which leads the market to adjust its offerings accordingly. However, if they begin to systematically include criteria related to life-cycle costing, resource efficiency, sustainability, user health, digital traceability, and circularity, they will create demand for higher value-added solutions. Participants repeatedly emphasized that public procurement must not remain merely an administrative procedure; it must become a developmental mechanism for the state and a tool for achieving long-term social, environmental, and economic goals.
"Gravia," a new Slovenian database of construction products with environmental proofs – which includes FSC certification – was presented. It is a publicly accessible browser developed by the company Priot in collaboration with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Spatial Planning. Now, any manufacturer, distributor, or importer can register their construction product, with the entrants assuming responsibility for the accuracy of the data.
Representatives of the LIFE IP RESTART project presented an analysis of the actual implementation of green public procurement in Slovenia, while GZS experts presented the results of the CE-PRINCE project, the state of the circular economy in Slovenia, financing options for circular projects, and the new "Circularity Audit" tool for assessing companies' readiness for future market demands.
Significant contributions were also made by representatives of the Ministry of Economy, Tourism and Sport, the Ministry of Public Administration, Slovenian Sovereign Holding, the Slovenian Regional Development Fund, D.S.U., and the Potočnik & Partners law firm, who addressed the legal, developmental, and financial aspects of sustainable public procurement.
The final part of the event was dedicated to presenting concrete solutions currently on the market. Our representative, Jure Rejec, highlighted the importance of demonstrating the traceability of wood materials in his presentation. The use of FSC-certified wood enables public procurers to verify the sustainable origin of materials in accordance with environmental standards.
