March 31, 2006
The Ministry of the Environment conducted an environmental benefit study on CO2 emissions reduction as the result of the efforts of government institutions on promoting green procurement and a study on the state of market creation for items meeting green procurement criteria (hereinafter referred to as "the designated procurement items").*
The study results show that green procurement by government institutions has achieved a great result of reducing 42 thousand tons of CO2 in FY 2004. This is equivalent to the CO2 emissions produced by approximately 20 thousand people in the household sector. Government procurement of the designated procurement items in FY 2004 exceeded 95% of the total volume procured for most of the items (132 items in total).
The share of designated procurement items introduced in the market is expanding. The result of the survey conducted on the market share of 32 items in 10 categories of the designated procurement items confirmed this trend. For example, the market share of ballpoint pens had increased from 13.0% in FY 2000 to 43.4% in FY 2004.
| * | Government institutions have promoted procurement of goods and services that contribute to reducing environmental load by setting voluntary targets since FY 2001 in accordance with the Law Concerning the Promotion of Procurement of Eco-Friendly Goods and Services by the State and Other Entities (generally known as the Green Purchasing Promotion Law). |