ABSTRACT
This chapter examines empirical practices of programmes in Finland, Norway and Sweden that incorporate environmental aspects into the public procurement of paper. Green products are commonly defined by the 'Nordic Swan' eco-label, which is generally considered a public institution, regardless of its semi-independent status. The Nordic Swan is used even in larger procurement programmes, because their administrators consider that they do not have the resources to make exhaustive lists of green products themselves. Finland used to have a centralised government supply house, VHK, which provided most of the unprinted paper used by the central and many local governments. Norway's central and local government organisations purchase unprinted paper on the open market. Many procurement programmes in local government have been launched in Norway during the 1990s. Distributors have expressed few negative effects arising from green public procurement programmes. Collaboration between the managers of green procurement programmes and the manufacturers and distributors enhances the potential of least-cost results.
