Researcher in Residence: Revolutionising public procurement
In the race to achieve the UK’s ambitious Net Zero commitment by 2050, significant changes are sweeping through public procurement processes. Starting from September 2021, prospective suppliers vying for contracts exceeding £5 million annually must align with the government’s Net Zero target. Luis D. Torres from the University of Nottingham will be working with Connected Places Catapult to facilitate this revolution in public procurement.
While public procurement holds immense potential in driving local authorities’ Net Zero agendas and supporting suppliers in this journey, recent research by Energy Systems Catapult in 2021 reveals a stark misalignment. It underscores the urgent need for substantial changes in local government processes and culture to meet Net Zero ambitions effectively.
In response, a groundbreaking proposal emerges which aims to embed circular economy principles into the procurement of Net Zero solutions by local authorities. Focused on the East Midlands region, this initiative seeks to develop an implementation framework that empowers local authorities to embrace circular economy principles, particularly in fostering industry innovations within the transportation sector.
Speaking about the project. Luis said: “Domestic transportation is responsible for over a quarter of greenhouse gas emissions in the UK. By enabling circular public procurement, local authorities can enable the circularity of products and services within the sector and promote the development of circular business models across their whole life-cycle.”
At its core, this project envisions the creation of a public platform offering invaluable information and guidance for local authorities not only across the East Midlands but also beyond. Leveraging the expertise of a multidisciplinary team from the Business School and the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Nottingham, this initiative promises to catalyse transformative change.
