21Step by Step Towards Mandatory Green Public Procurement 2014 22 1 Step by Step Towards Mandatory Green Public Procurement

Green Public Procurement (GPP) is one of the key environmental management tools to reach sustainable consumption patterns, drive innovation and widen the market for eco-technologies. GPP is when procurers take environmental issues into account when buying goods or services. Buying green is one of the most active and demonstrative ways of enhancing environmental protection; it is a tool that every individual, public authority and private company can use to promote and achieve sustainable consumption. This article will focus on defining a possible purchasing strategy for public authorities, which is using GPP. This paper presents a systematic approach model using GPP as a driver of sustainable consumption while highlighting the importance of its policy background. A short analysis of EU Member States ’ GPP action plans will also be introduced. The upcoming government act on GPP in Hungary will be presented with a practical example of green tendering by the National Bank of Hungary