A new arrangement from the Office of Government Procurement (OGP) allows all public bodies to comply with the new Single Use Plastics Directive when sourcing disposable catering products.
Under the new EU Directive which came into law in Ireland this month, ten of the most commonly found littered items can no longer be placed on the market, including plastic straws, stirrers and cutlery.The new OGP Framework for the supply of ‘Catering Consumables and Meal Containers’ allows public sector bodies access to sustainable versions of the disposable products banned under the Directive.
Its launch this month coincided with the EU Single Use Plastics Ban and now single use disposable items supplied under the OGP arrangement must be made of either recyclable plastic or compostable material.This move also supports the ‘Waste and Circular Economy Actions Plan’ under the Programme for Government which highlights how public procurement needs to incorporate green criteria into its agreements.
The new arrangement aims to help reduce the negative impact of certain plastic products on the environment, in particular marine life, as well as promote the transition to a circular economy. It showcases the OGP’s commitment to the environment and how green thinking can underpin public procurement