AVV Klima in Procurement Law 2026

AVV Klima: the General Administrative Regulation on the Procurement of Climate-Friendly Services in Germany. Scope, requirements and implementation.

Definition: The AVV Klima (General Administrative Regulation on the Procurement of Climate-Friendly Services) is a binding administrative regulation of the German federal administration that requires federal-level contracting authorities, when procuring certain products and services, to take climate-protection requirements into account as minimum requirements or award criteria.

Last updated: January 2026 · Legal status: AVV Klima (Bundesanzeiger 2022); § 97(3) GWB

What is the AVV Klima?

The AVV Klima is a central instrument used by the German federal government to leverage public procurement for climate action. It was adopted in 2022 and is binding on the direct federal administration (federal ministries, subordinate authorities). Its objective is to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions via public purchasing by systematically integrating climate-protection requirements into procurement procedures.

Legally, the AVV Klima is based on § 97(3) GWB, which expressly allows contracting authorities to take social, environmental and innovative aspects into account as award criteria, as well as on the EU procurement directives, which promote strategic procurement.

Scope of application

The AVV Klima applies directly to bodies of the direct federal administration; federal states, municipalities and utilities are not directly bound but may use the regulation for guidance.

The regulation covers various product categories, including:

Vehicles and fleet (cars, lorries, buses)
IT equipment and office equipment
Buildings and energy procurement (green electricity)
Textiles and office supplies
Catering and food services
Construction works (energy efficiency)

Requirements and criteria

The AVV Klima distinguishes between minimum requirements (which every offer must meet) and award criteria (which influence the award decision).

Typical climate-protection requirements:

CO₂-equivalent limits for vehicles
Energy-efficiency classes for electrical appliances
Evidence of the use of renewable energy
Recycling quotas and circular-economy requirements
Life-cycle cost calculations instead of mere purchase-price assessments

Significance for tenderers

Undertakings seeking federal contracts must be aware of the climate-protection requirements of the AVV Klima and incorporate them into their bidding strategy. This may mean that CO₂ certificates, environmental management systems (e.g. EMAS, ISO 14001) or sustainability reports are required as evidence. Tenderers without such climate evidence risk exclusion or lower scoring on award criteria.

Relationship with green procurement

The AVV Klima is one building block of the broader concept of "green procurement" and complements other duties such as the AVV Druck (climate-friendly print products) and the guidelines for socially responsible procurement.

FAQ

Does the AVV Klima also apply to federal states and municipalities? No, it applies directly only to the federal administration. Many federal states have, however, adopted their own sustainable-procurement rules.

How is compliance with the AVV Klima monitored? Compliance is monitored through internal procurement reports and the procurement monitoring of the Federal Ministry of the Interior.

Can the AVV Klima significantly increase the cost of offers? Yes, climate-protection requirements may lead to higher acquisition costs. However, the AVV Klima requires a life-cycle cost assessment, under which climate-friendly products often prove more economical.

Last updated: January 2026 All information without warranty. For legally binding advice, please consult a law firm specialising in procurement law.