With nearly 20,000 public contracts awarded each year in Belgium, representing 40 to 50 billion euros (over 15% of GDP), public procurement is a major lever for transformation. Belgium's three Regions — Brussels, Wallonia and Flanders — are progressively strengthening the integration of environmental and social criteria into tender specifications. For tenderers, understanding these new requirements has become essential to remain competitive.
The Legal Framework in Belgium
The Belgian law of 17 June 2016 on public procurement already allows contracting authorities to integrate environmental, social and ethical considerations at every stage of the procedure: in technical specifications, selection criteria, award criteria and performance conditions.
In the Brussels-Capital Region, a ministerial circular makes it mandatory to integrate ecological, social and ethical criteria in all regional public contracts. Wallonia provides downloadable standard environmental clauses by sector. Flanders is also pushing the agenda through its sustainable public procurement strategy.
Environmental Criteria: What You Need to Know
Environmental clauses aim to prevent or limit negative impacts on the environment. Here are the most frequently required criteria in tender specifications:
- CO₂ emission reduction and carbon footprint of services
- Use of recycled or recyclable materials and circular economy
- Energy efficiency of buildings, equipment and vehicles
- Responsible waste management and packaging reduction
- Certified wood sourcing (FSC, PEFC) and bio-based products
Social Clauses: A Rapidly Growing Focus
Beyond the environment, contracting authorities are increasingly integrating social clauses into public contracts, particularly for contracts exceeding the European thresholds:
- Professional integration of people distant from employment (trainees, jobseekers, people with disabilities)
- Compliance with collective labour agreements and fair working conditions
- Use of the social economy and sheltered workshops
Which Sectors Are Most Affected?
All public procurement sectors are potentially affected, but some are on the front line:
- 1. Construction and public works — sustainable materials, construction waste management, building energy performance (EPB)
- 2. Cleaning and maintenance — eco-friendly cleaning products, water consumption reduction, staff training
- 3. IT and office equipment — energy labels, extended lifespan, equipment recycling (WEEE)
- 4. Catering and food services — local and seasonal products, food waste reduction, compostable packaging
- 5. Green spaces and road maintenance — differentiated management, biodiversity, low-emission vehicles
Labels and Certifications: Your Assets
Having recognised certifications can make the difference when your tender is evaluated:
- FSC / PEFC — sustainable forest management certification, required for contracts involving wood or paper
- EU Ecolabel — European eco-label covering cleaning products, paper, textiles and many other categories
- ISO 14001 — environmental management system, often valued as a qualitative selection criterion
- EMAS / Cradle to Cradle — advanced sustainability certifications, increasingly recognised in Belgian tender specifications
How to Prepare as a Tenderer?
Sustainability criteria are not an obstacle: they can become a real competitive advantage. Here's how to prepare:
- 1. Conduct an internal audit — identify your existing sustainable practices (recycling, energy efficiency, social policy) and document them
- 2. Obtain relevant certifications — FSC, ISO 14001, EU Ecolabel depending on your sector. The investment often pays off from the very first contracts
- 3. Train your teams — raise awareness among your staff about sustainability issues and integrate them into your tender response processes
- 4. Adapt your tenders — highlight your environmental and social commitments in every application, even when not explicitly requested
- 5. Monitor tenders proactively — with a tool like GPC Gov, identify tenders containing sustainability criteria and anticipate your response
Related Articles
- New European Thresholds 2026-2027: What Changes in Belgium — the thresholds above which sustainability criteria are strengthened
- European Public Procurement Reform 2026 — the European context accelerating the green transition
- Our personalised monitoring services — receive sustainable tenders matching your business