Project “Ossigeno” (Lazio Region, Italy): Using Green Public Procurement to Enhance Urban Green Infrastructure
The “Ossigeno” Project, promoted by the Lazio Regional Authority, is a large-scale public initiative aimed at increasing urban and peri-urban green areas through systematic tree planting and ecological restoration. Launched to address climate change impacts, air pollution, and declining urban environmental quality, Ossigeno leverages Green Public Procurement (GPP) as a core implementation tool.
Through environmentally driven public tenders, the region procures trees, planting services, maintenance activities, and green infrastructure solutions while embedding sustainability, biodiversity, and long-term environmental performance criteria. The project demonstrates how public procurement can directly support climate adaptation, public health, and urban resilience through nature-based solutions.
Challenges addressed
- Deterioration of urban air quality and rising health risks.
- Increasing urban heat island effects due to climate change.
- Lack of green spaces in densely populated municipalities.
- Fragmented and short-term approaches to urban greening.
- Need to align public spending with environmental and climate objectives.
Main objectives
- Increase tree cover and green areas across urban and peri-urban zones in the Lazio region.
- Use Green Public Procurement to ensure environmentally responsible sourcing, planting, and maintenance.
- Improve air quality, microclimate regulation, and urban liveability.
- Promote biodiversity and ecosystem services through public action.
- Strengthen local capacity for sustainable green infrastructure management.
External resources
Facts
Project type :
Regional public programme for urban greening and reforestation implemented through Green Public Procurement
Partners:
- Lazio Regional Authority, as programme owner and contracting authority.
- Municipalities across the region participating in implementation.
- Environmental service providers, nurseries, and landscaping companies selected through GPP-compliant tenders.
- Environmental experts and technical consultants supporting species selection and ecosystem planning.
Funding :
- Regional public funding allocated to environmental protection and climate adaptation.
- Public procurement budgets dedicated to green infrastructure, planting, and maintenance contracts.
- Complementary funding from national and EU environmental programmes where applicable.
Project description
Project Ossigeno is structured as a long-term regional programme that integrates urban forestry into public policy through procurement.
Public tenders specify environmental requirements such as:
- use of native and climate-resilient species,
- high-quality nursery standards,
- reduced environmental impact in production and transport.
Procurement focuses on life-cycle value, not the lowest upfront cost.
Contracts include multi-year maintenance obligations to ensure tree survival, growth, and long-term ecosystem benefits. This approach shifts procurement from one-off planting to performance-based green service contracts, a key GPP principle.
Integration of nature-based solutions (NbS)
Ossigeno embeds tree planting within broader urban planning strategies: green corridors, shading of public spaces & restoration of degraded urban areas.
Public procurement acts as the delivery mechanism for these NbS interventions.
The regional authority defines standards and GPP criteria, while municipalities implement projects locally. This coordinated approach ensures consistency, scalability, and replication across different urban contexts.
Impact and results
Environmental impacts
- Increased urban tree canopy and green coverage.
- Improved air quality through CO₂ absorption and pollutant reduction.
- Mitigation of urban heat island effects.
- Enhanced biodiversity and ecological connectivity.
Social and health impacts
- Improved quality of public spaces and urban liveability.
- Positive effects on public health linked to cleaner air and access to green areas.
- Greater environmental awareness among local authorities and citizens.
Green Public Procurement impacts
Project Ossigeno is a clear success case of GPP:
- Environmental criteria are systematically embedded in public tenders.
- Procurement supports long-term environmental outcomes rather than short-term outputs.
- Public demand stimulates sustainable practices in nurseries and landscaping markets.
- The project demonstrates how procurement can directly deliver climate and health benefits.
