The purpose of the fourth stakeholder meeting in Latvia was to provide suggestions on areas to evaluate the lifecycle cost of products and services based on the stakeholders’ experiences with existing preliminary Life Cycle Costing methods and indicators that promote green products and services. Stakeholders gained information on different lifecycle costing methodologies and standards as well as the tools available in Latvia as well as the discussed the use of these tools for successful GPP (presented by Jānis Brizga, NGO Green Liberty). He also explained the legal framework setting the rights and obligations of the procurers to use life-cycle costing tools in evaluating different proposals. Stakeholders also learned about new information sources where to learn more about the lifecycle costs.
Latvia has developed several tools to facilitate the uptake of the lifecycle cost analyses in the selection of the most economically advantageous application:
- Life cycle costs calculators for the energy consuming goods -
www.varam.gov.lv/lat/darbibas_veidi/zalais_publiskais_iepirkums/kalkulators/
c=25445 (including mobile application - play.google.com/store/apps/details)
- Life cycle costs calculators for vehicles - http://www.iub.gov.lv/kalkulators
- Life cycle costs calculators for construction projects -
varam.gov.lv/lat/darbibas_veidi/zalais_publiskais_iepirkums/kalkulators/25
Additionally, Dr Daina Vasiļevska from Bioeconomy and Sustainable Resource Management Center, Latvian University of Agriculture introduced the workshop participants with the concept of bioeconomy, linking it to the GPP. She explained the theoretical and policy framework for bioeconomy development in Latvia and touched upon the need for integration with the circular economy as well as showed several good practice examples.
Uģis Zanders from the Ministry of Environmental protection and Regional development introduced the participants with the overall progress of GPP implementation in Latvia and the results from the regional workshops specifically focusing on the GPP in Construction, Food and catering and ICT. Necessary changes in the existing regulation were also discussed, especially the need to update several GPP criteria: for food and catering, construction, indoor and outdoor lighting, ICT equipment, furniture, transport and cleaning products and services. Some of the most frequently asked questions were also discussed, e.g. how to deal with the products and services where there is no state developed GPP criteria? Is it necessary to use GPP criteria for the lighting (mandatary group) in the construction works (voluntary group)?
