District mandates 'green product feasibility review' for all goods, services and construction orders, setting a purchase rate that exceeds the government's joint evaluation benchmark
[The Herald Business = Senior Reporter Park Jong-il] Seoul's Seongbuk-gu has drawn up a "2026 Green Product Procurement Activation Plan" to expand eco-friendly consumption in the public sector, setting a green product purchase rate target of 62.4%.
The figure exceeds the 50.55% benchmark set under the 2026 government joint evaluation framework.
According to the district, its green product purchase rate has risen consistently in recent years — from 43.3% in 2023 to 52.3% in 2024 and 61.9% in 2025. The district said it intends to push the rate even higher through the new plan.
The plan focuses on strengthening a management system that systematically reviews whether green products can be applied from the procurement stage onward. The district will require all departments to complete a "green product purchase feasibility review" when ordering goods, services or construction work. Projects subject to fiscal approval will also undergo a review by the head of the environment and climate change response team during the ordering process. When an exemption from green product procurement arises, the purchasing department will handle it directly through the EcoSquare platform. The mandatory review requirement applies from May 1, 2026.
The district will conduct quarterly checks on green product procurement performance and exemption cases, and plans to publicly identify underperforming departments to strengthen compliance. Disclosure of departmental performance and lagging units is set to begin in August 2026.
Training to build practical capacity has also been conducted. On April 22, Seongbuk-gu held a green product procurement education session for staff across all departments responsible for purchasing construction materials and other supplies. A specialist researcher from the Korea Environmental Industry and Technology Institute participated, explaining the green product regime and how to use the EcoSquare system over roughly two hours.
The district also operates an incentive regime to encourage green product procurement. Top-performing departments and neighborhood administrative units (dong) will receive cash awards — 500,000 won for the best department, 300,000 won for the runner-up, and 100,000 won each for two commendation-level departments.
"Green product procurement is an important policy tool through which the public sector can spread an eco-friendly consumption culture," a district official said. "We will raise the commitment of all departments through mandatory purchase reviews, performance checks, education and incentive programs."
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