Minimum Environmental Criteria (MEC) are environmental requirements designed to promote public acquisitions of low environmental impact. They are applied to various sectors, such as construction, real estate and waste management, promoting the use of recyclable materials, the reduction of consumption and the responsible management of resources. The adoption of MEC makes it possible to direct the market towards more sustainable solutions, reducing the environmental footprint of public works and construction projects. The application of MEC also contributes to driving innovation in green technologies and promoting responsible business practices from an environmental perspective. In construction, for example, the MEC call for the use of low environmental impact materials, such as recyclable ceramics, and techniques that optimise energy efficiency and the durability of buildings, thus contributing to the development of architecture that is more sustainable and more in harmony with the surrounding environment.