AI-generated illustration, created for Royaal Project.
A municipality refurbishes its offices. A company replaces laptops or workwear. Each decision creates an opportunity to reduce resource use, extend product life and encourage reuse. Circular procurement starts by asking what is actually needed.
PIANOo, the Dutch Public Procurement Expertise Centre, identifies value retention as the core principle: keeping products in use for longer, reusing components and reducing demand for new raw materials. This requires attention during preparation, supplier selection and contract delivery. Read PIANOo’s guidance on circular procurement (in Dutch).
Municipalities: turn policy into clear procurement requirements
For municipalities, a key challenge is connecting policy ambitions with budget holders and procurement teams. What does a circularity target mean in practice for office furnishings or the management of public spaces?
Start by identifying what can be retained, repaired or reused. Then explore the solutions suppliers can offer. Translate these findings into clear requirements and evaluation criteria that fit the contract and the applicable procurement framework.
Businesses: make circularity part of everyday operations
Businesses can apply the same approach to machinery, packaging, IT equipment and furniture. Compare costs across the full period of use, including purchase, maintenance, repairs and end-of-use processing.
Ask suppliers about spare parts, repair options and take-back arrangements. A take-back commitment only becomes meaningful when it is clear what will happen to the product afterwards.
Make commitments verifiable
A practical starting point for both municipalities and businesses:
- Define the need: what could stay in use for longer or be redeployed internally?
- Set concrete targets: for example, extending product life or achieving a verifiable share of reused products.
- Agree on evidence: what information will the supplier provide, and when?
- Assign responsibility: who will check that commitments are met throughout the contract?
- Evaluate the results: what has actually been retained, repaired or reused?
Start with one manageable procurement category. This will show which commitments are achievable and which approach can be applied to future contracts.
From circular ambitions to workable agreements
Would you like to translate circular ambitions into procurement and contract practices? Discuss your challenge with Royaal Project in an introductory call.