Sustainable Procurement Research Initiative
Professional Resources
SOUTH KOREA
Green Procurement in South Korean Communities
In 2020, South Korea’s government purchasing accounted for 25.7 percent of country-level gross domestic product. Purchased items include vehicle fleets, construction materials, chemicals, electronics, and office materials, all contributors to global climate change and other environmental concerns during these products’ production and use.
To address the environmental impacts associated with government purchasing, some municipalities have implemented green purchasing policies. A green purchasing policy refers to the set of activities undertaken by an organization to implement purchasing that reduces negative effects on the environment.