Green public procurement is an instrument for promoting sustainable production and consumption through procurement of products and services with reduced environmental impact. This concept was created out of need for solving negative social, economic, and environmental conditions because the current dynamics of natural resources consumption is not sustainable. By using their purchasing power to procure environmentally friendly products, services and works, public authorities make an important contribution to sustainable production and consumption. Although green public procurement is a voluntary instrument, it plays a key role in the efforts that the European Union puts in achieving more resource-efficient economy. Public procurement decision-making is an important factor that can mobilize the community, because the purchase of green products and services by contracting authorities provides positive example to the private sector and the general public, thus encouraging the development of the green market. The number of green contracts in the Republic of Croatia has not been growing according to the dynamics predicted by the National Action Plan, although there has been a shift in recent years. It is necessary to conduct additional training for contracting authorities, to raise their awareness that the application of environmental criteria in public procurement procedures can lead to higher initial cost but lower life-cycle cost of product or service procured.