# Critical Factors for Green Public Procurement: The Case of Greece
###### Abstract  
_Background_: Green Public Procurement (GPP) is a sector that has been growing in recent years through policies encouraged by the European Union. In the Greek public sector, the respective National Action Plan (NAP), which sets specific targets for GPP, has very recently come into force. However, although the influencing factors that contribute to the success of the implementation of green procurement are a crucial element of this policy, they have not yet been explored for the Greek public sector. _Methods_: This study applied data collection and a combined qualitative and quantitative data analysis. The research was divided into two phases: (i) the identification of critical factors (CFs) based on the literature, and (ii) an analysis of fourteen experts' insights into those factors employing the Grey DEMATEL approach. _Results_: Based on the surveyed literature, fourteen CFs that contribute to the successful implementation of GPP were identified. From the analysis of the experts' views, the factors were classified into two groups. Each group contains seven CFs. The CFs in the first group (causes) affect the CFs in the second group (effects). _Conclusions_: This study of the success factors in implementing green procurement in Greek public organizations can be further improved by incorporating new factors, as well as by utilizing the presented results in the follow-up of theNAP. green public procurement; Grey DEMATEL; green procurement decision factors +
Footnote †: journal: _Acticle_  
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are increasingly being pressed by stakeholders, shareholders, customers, employees, and society to assess their socioeconomic impact and manage their actions sustainably and resiliently [7], GPP can be an important driver in promoting innovation by providing incentives for the development of green products and services. In addition, it can contribute to savings for the public sector, particularly when the life-cycle costs of the goods, services or projects are considered, as well as the purchase price. Greece has been a laggard in the adoption of a National Action Plan (NAP) for GPP, as it was only in 2021 that the Greek government presented such a plan. The official recording of relevant data through the Central Electronic Register of Public Procurement started in early 2024; therefore, there are no aggregated data for Greek public contracts established using green criteria prior to this date [8]. This delay can be attributed to a number of factors, such as political priorities, regulatory complexity, lack of resources, and capacity development. Changing political priorities and the economic crisis that Greece has faced in recent years drew attention away from GPP initiatives, so they were not a priority. Moreover, the complex legal and regulatory landscape in Greece has not contributed to the creation of a coherent action plan. A lack of adequate funding and human resources has also hindered the development and implementation of green public procurement strategies. Finally, the insufficient training and knowledge of civil servants regarding sustainable procurement practices pose an additional barrier. Despite this delay, Greece's adoption of GPP policies in 2021 is noteworthy, as it marks a significant commitment by the country to sustainability, in line with the broader EU environmental objectives. Public awareness of environmental issues is also stimulated. Moreover, this alignment with the corresponding EU policies places Greece as an active participant in the collective efforts of the Union to reduce carbon dioxide emissions. The importance of GPP as a critical strategy for sustainable policymaking is widely recognized [9], but there is a significant research gap in terms of identifying the CFs influencing the implementation of GPP and its outcomes--especially in Greece. Studies usually refer either to the general European landscape or to a specific sector, dismissing the specificity of the Greek context in terms of socio-economic and regulatory factors.