Negative list
The following products or product components are never to be procured for public supply and service contracts regardless of the order volume (cf. Green Procurement Guidelines 2019 (PDF)):
- Hot beverage equipment which requires portion packs (e.g., coffee capsule machines). Portion packs create unnecessary resource consumption.
- Mineral water, beer, and refreshments in disposable packing (except cardboard packing, tubular bag packaging, and stand-up foil pouches). This includes disposable packaging with a mandatory deposit because such packaging increases resource consumption and waste. Emergency catering for authorities with security responsibilities is a permissible exception here.
- Disposable tableware and cutlery in cafeterias and dining halls, as these boost resource consumption and waste. The districts may impose conditions for the approval of events within the bounds of their jurisdiction.
- Chlorine-releasing cleaners (hypochlorite and dichloroisocyanurate) as well as toilet tank additives and air fresheners, as these can pollute waste water and cause allergic reactions.
- Devices for heating (except necessary heating for winter construction activities) and cooling air outside enclosed rooms (e.g., mushroom gas heaters, similar electric radiators, and air conditioner units).
- Colorants based on heavy metals (lead, cadmium, chromium VI and their compounds), as these pollute the environment.
- Pursuant to the Senate decision dated 20 April 1999 (Resolution 16 / 2389), PVC must be avoided if suitable alternative products are available.
- Electricity from non-renewable energy sources. Guarantees of origin must be validated via the Register of Guarantees of Origin (Herkunftsnachweisregister, HKNR) for the amount of electricity from renewable sources.
- Non-electric leaf blowers.
- Purchase of transport and driving services within the City of Hamburg which include vehicles that do not at least comply with the Euro 5 emissions standards for passenger cars and Euro V for trucks. This does not apply to vehicles used for regulatory purposes.
- Wood and wood products without proof of legal and sustainable forest cultivation. Bidders must submit Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certificates, comparable equivalents, or itemized guarantees of origin. Comparable equivalent certificates or itemized guarantees of origin are to be accepted, if the bidder can provide proof that the current FSC criteria for the country of origin are met.
- Since 1984 Hamburg has abstained from using herbicides in public green and recreational areas (cf. Parliament Resolution 11 / 3204).
- Genetically modified foods.
- Microplastics in detergents, cleaning agents, and cosmetics.