proCURE Webinar – Joint Procurement on 25 March 2026

The webinar on joint sustainable procurement, moderated by Maya Knevels from Alliance in the Alps, presented practical approaches and concrete examples of how local authorities can make their procurement processes more efficient and sustainable through collaboration.

The focus was on the concept of ‘joint procurement’, i.e. procurement carried out jointly by several local authorities. The aim of this approach is to pool requirements, achieve larger procurement volumes and thereby secure better economic terms. At the same time, collaboration opens up new opportunities to systematically integrate sustainability criteria into tendering procedures. For smaller municipalities in particular, which often operate with limited human and financial resources, this represents an important lever for establishing professional and future-oriented procurement structures.

A key element of the webinar was the presentation of a guide developed as part of the European proCURE project. This offers local authorities practical, step-by-step guidance on implementing joint procurement processes – from the political decision and the coordination of requirements through to tendering, awarding contracts and subsequent evaluation. The guide is supplemented by practical tools such as checklists and decision-making aids, which make it easier to get started and provide guidance.

The example of the city of Karlsruhe, among others, demonstrated what such cooperation can look like in practice. There, a central procurement office was established to consolidate and structure the city’s overall purchasing. In an inter-municipal project, several towns jointly procured circular workwear. In doing so, both social and environmental minimum criteria were made mandatory in the tender, for example through recognised certifications and requirements regarding the recyclability of the products. The cooperation led not only to cost savings but also to greater standardisation and professionalisation of the processes.

Another example was provided by the Alta Marmilla municipal association in Italy on the island of Sardinia, which comprises 19 small municipalities. Here, school catering, among other things, was organised centrally and put out to tender jointly. In addition to efficiency gains, the focus was particularly on sustainability aspects, such as the use of regional and organic products and measures to reduce plastic. At the same time, uniform standards ensured equal access to services for all users. The collaboration led to a significant strengthening of administrative capacities and a shared strategic direction among the participating municipalities.

These examples illustrate that joint procurement is far more than just a tool for cost reduction. It enables local authorities to embed sustainability in a binding manner, pool knowledge, learn from and benefit from one another, and build structures that are sustainable in the long term. However, clear organisational and legal frameworks, a transparent division of roles, and a high degree of coordination and trust between the partners involved are prerequisites for success.

The webinar made it clear: joint sustainable procurement is an effective tool for advancing environmental and social goals at the local level – whilst simultaneously strengthening the efficiency, quality and professionalism of public administration.