Minimum Environmental Criteria (CAM – Criteri Ambientali Minimi) are environmental requirements established by the Italian Ministry of Environment and Energy Security (MASE) to promote more sustainable public procurement.
CAM were developed within the framework of Green Public Procurement (GPP), with the aim of integrating environmental criteria into public purchasing procedures and contracts. In Italy, their application has progressively become more structured and is now mandatory for specific categories of public procurement under public procurement legislation.
CAM establish technical specifications, contractual clauses and award criteria covering, depending on the sector, issues such as resource efficiency, reduction of environmental impacts, circular economy, recycled material content, durability, recyclability and emissions reduction.
Regulatory references
- Legislative Decree 36/2023 – Italian Public Procurement Code, particularly Article 57, concerning the inclusion of CAM in procurement and tender documentation.
- Law 221/2015, which strengthened the Italian framework for Green Public Procurement and introduced important provisions concerning CAM.
- National Action Plan on Green Public Procurement (PAN GPP), which provides the national framework for green public procurement.
- Sector-specific Ministerial Decrees, through which CAM are defined and periodically updated for different categories, including construction, furniture, design and engineering services, waste management, public green areas and other procurement sectors.
Circular Srl CAM Services
Circular Srl supports companies, designers and public administrations in analysing and verifying compliance with the Minimum Environmental Criteria (CAM), assisting clients in identifying the applicable requirements and preparing the evidence needed to demonstrate compliance.
The service includes the identification and analysis of applicable CAM requirements, verification of technical documentation and the environmental performance of products and materials, identification of potential non-compliances, and definition of the actions required to achieve compliance.
Where appropriate, Circular integrates CAM assessments with quantitative tools such as Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), Carbon Footprint, recycled content and circularity assessments, providing objective data and indicators to support technical documentation and public procurement procedures.
The service can support companies in participating in public tenders, demonstrating the environmental performance of their products and preparing the documentation required to demonstrate compliance with CAM requirements.