Public authorities in the Helsinki region have joined forces to set joint tender criteria for greener heavy vehicles. In an interview the Procurement Manager at Helsinki Region Environmental Services Authority (HSY), Kristiina Bailey, said that heavy vehicles are responsible for carbon emissions and other air pollution, and are therefore an important area of focus to meet the region's CO2 reduction and other emission targets.

Air quality is an increasingly pressing issue in many European cities, with cities frequently failing to meet EU air quality targets. To tackle this issue, an initiative has been formed by the Urban Environment Division of Helsinki City, Helsinki City Construction Services Stara, Helsinki City Transport, Helen Ltd (energy), City of Espoo, City of Vantaa and HSY to define joint tender criteria for heavy vehicles.

Joint tender criteria offer a range of benefits. According to Ms Bailey, contractors feel more confident in improving their fleet and machinery accordingly, since multiple public bodies are implementing the same criteria. And, says Ms Bailey, “the initiative has shown us that cooperation between different public procurers, contractors and other organisations is possible!”

Read the full interview in the latest GPP News Alert.