Efforts to increase agency procurement of recycled content have been boosted with a new report that engages with all levels of governments as well as industry.
Published by the Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation (APCO) the new report, Supporting government procurement of recycled materials sets out the challenges procurement managers face in buying goods containing recycled content and the strategies needed to overcome them.
It sets out how procurement managers can access detailed and reliable information on products and materials – including technical product information, local availability, standards, lifecycle impacts and sustainability/recycled content certifications.
The report also canvasses the new Australian Circular Economy Hub platform being launched on 24 November.
The hub – developed by Planet Ark and APCO and with federal government funding provided through the Environment Restoration Fund – will provide procurement-relevant information on recycled materials and products.
The APCO report also examines the importance of procurement managers establishing a business case for recycled content and demonstrating the direct benefits of recycled content (eg, material quality, costs and return on investment) as well as the broader positive impacts for local economies, including local and regional waste solutions and regional employment.
APCO CEO Brooke Donnelly said: “Government procurement of recycled content will play an important role in Australia’s ability to meet the 2025 National Packaging Targets.
“We developed this report to help Australia realise this potential,” she said.
“By providing procurement professionals and the businesses aspiring to supply to them with a clear outline of the challenges in the system, we hope this report will start breaking down some of the barriers and start building capability and skill where it’s most needed.”