Background All products cause environmental degradation in some way, whether from their manufacturing, use or disposal. The integrated product policy (IPP) seeks to minimise these by looking at all phases of a products' life-cycle – from production, distribution, consumption to handling at the end of their lifetime – and taking action where it is most effective. The ‘greening’ of public procurement is an essential element of the IPP approach, and hundreds of billions of euros are spent every year by public authorities on the purchase of products and services. According to the OECD, sub-central government (provincial, local) represents 11% of the total public procurement in Greece. Thus, public procurement practices significantly affect the quality of the environment. Objectives The project aimed to develop and subsequently promote a systematic approach for the integration of environmental considerations into the procurement processes of Mediterranean local authorities with little or no experience in green procurement. Specifically, the project was to draft internet-based guidelines and produce training packages on green procurement, as well as launch a series of training initiatives and arrange seminars for procurement officers. The beneficiary was then to develop and promote a Green Profit Model (GPM) for identifying cost-efficient green products. The project was to focus its efforts on strategically important products and services where the greatest benefit could be derived from demands for ecological sustainability. The project would also analyse the need for institutional arrangements. Related to this was the goal of performing an analysis and monitoring of the rules in national legislation and international agreements. Lastly, the project hoped to ensure continual provision of assistance to the Mediterranean local authorities, via the creation of an informal internet-based network. Results The project achieved most of its foreseen objectives. It promoted the integration of environmental considerations in the procurement practices of Mediterranean local authorities through dissemination and training activities targeting public servants and elected officials. The Green Profit Model (GPM) for identifying cost-efficient green products was finalised and made available electronically. This is a tool that can support inexperienced public servants in adopting green public procurement practices in their everyday activities. A guideline document was also created in Greek, Portuguese and English. The products for which the pilot green procurement efforts could be made were strategically chosen in order to facilitate effective green public procurements. The EU and national legislative frameworks were analysed and institutional and legislative amendments were suggested for both Greece and Portugal. In Greece, the project supported the Ministry of Environment in its effort to promote green purchasing in central government as well, and legislative and institutional recommendations were formulated in co-operation with the central government. Several dissemination and training activities were organised, targeting elected officials and public servants from the local and central governments, with the aim of sensitising them to green public procurement and to overcome the supposed obstacles to it. An analysis of the present public procurement practices of local authorities in Greece and Portugal was done via the use of questionnaires. A list of products that should be used in green purchasing was evaluated and determined with the aim of facilitating the promotion of green public procurement among the local authorities of the two countries. Althought the key objectives of the project were achieved, most of the pilot procurements did experience delays. However, one green procurement pilot on cleaning products for school canteens and bathroom (in Portugal by the municipality of Torres Verdas) was completed within the project's timeline, while another one on environmentally friendly copying paper (in Greece by the municipality of Neo Psychico) was launched. Only a small percentage of the municipalities within the two participating countries currently implement green procurement. However, the majority of the respondents expressed interest in the promotion of green procurement. Information was also collected regarding the problems the Municipalities face in this regard, the solutions that they consider feasible and the products to which green criteria could be applied.