Social enterprises working in the circular economy play a vital role in creating local jobs, improving resource efficiency, and supporting Europe’s climate ambitions. Yet under the current EU public procurement framework, they face significant barriers that limit their participation and impact.
As part of the European Commission’s ongoing revision of EU public procurement rules, this consultation highlights the challenges experienced by social enterprises and proposes concrete measures to unlock more strategic, inclusive, and sustainable procurement practices.
Why this matters
Social enterprises demonstrate strong social and environmental value—creating on average 70 local jobs per 1,000 tonnes of reused items collected and contributing to substantial CO₂ savings. Despite this, procurement procedures often prioritise lowest price, apply fragmented sustainability criteria, and underuse reserved contracts, leaving many social economy actors at a systemic disadvantage.
Public consultation
