Poland – Environment 2nd NAP

3. Ministry of Economic Development and Technology

Implementation of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (2030 Agenda)

[page 12-13]

“At the same time, investing in environmental protection and circular economy should provide the impetus for economic recovery from the COVID-19 crisis. (…) Integration of ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) factors into long-term business strategy has become an area of increasing importance. It entails striving by entrepreneurs to balance their own expectations with those of their employees, customers, suppliers, and local communities. What is valuable – nowadays in particular – is the ability to use the perspective of viewing the company in the framework of concern for the social environment, both internal and external, as well as the natural environment.”

12. Public Procurement Office

The new Public Procurement Law (Journal of Laws of 2021, items 1129 and 1598)

[page 32-33]

“Among the new solutions in the Public Procurement Law, which – in addition to the regulations already existing in this respect – are aimed at supporting the implementation of social policy objectives within the framework of public procurement, the following, inter alia, should be mentioned:”

(…)

“• addition to the catalogue of rules for awarding public procurement contracts of the principle of economic efficiency (Article 17(1)), which means awarding a contract in a manner ensuring both the best quality of the subject-matter of the contract given the funds which the contracting body may allocate to its performance, as well as the best relation of expenditures to effects, including those of social, environmental and economic nature;

• obligation to conduct a needs and requirements analysis before launching the procedure, taking into account the type and value of the contract. As part of the analysis, under Article 83 of the new Public Procurement Law, the contracting body should also indicate the possibility of considering the social, environmental or innovative aspects of the contract;”

Appendix 2 (information of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs)

Recommendations

[page 47]

“In their activities supporting Polish entrepreneurs, public procurement and development aid projects implementation, Polish foreign missions are guided by the following principles requiring them to:”

(…)

“- conduct its business with due care for the protection of the natural environment, in particular its elements important for the local community; maintain ongoing contact with the local community with respect to matters arising in relation to the conducted business activity and its impact on the life of the local community”

[page 48]

“- in the implementation of public procurement, take into account the so-called sustainable procurement criteria5 in order to integrate requirements, specifications and criteria ensuring environmental protection, social progress, and support for economic development”