Strategies to Reduce Plastic in Packaging
Advancing Efforts to Combat Plastic Pollution
The Biden-Harris Administration released a new strategy
to tackle plastic pollution - taking action to reduce single-use plastic by announcing a new goal to phase out federal procurement of single-use plastics from food service operations, events, and packaging by 2027, and from all federal operations by 2035. This goal supports section 207 of E.O. 14057, requiring all federal agencies to divert at least 50% of non-hazardous solid waste, including plastic, from landfills annually by fiscal year 2025 and 75% by fiscal year 2030. Federal agencies are leading by example within their operations and through new initiatives outlined in Mobilizing Federal Action on Plastic Pollution: Progress, Principles, and Priorities, developed by the Interagency Policy Committee on Plastic Pollution and a Circular Economy.
GSA Rule Promoting Single-use Plastic (SUP) Free Packaging
The U.S. General Services Administration encourages contractors to identify SUP-free packaging for products supplied and purchased under Federal Supply Schedule contracts, helping agency buyers find and select products that help cut plastic waste in their supply chains. The following SUP-free packaging icon is being added to GSA Advantage!®. Look for products that feature the icons to help reduce single-use plastic waste!
Use of the GSA SUP-free Packaging Icon
Federal contractors that offer products with SUP-free packaging on GSA Advantage! can use the icons on their website. Refer to General Services Acquisition Regulation (GSAR) 552.238-119 Single-use Plastic (SUP) Free Packaging Availability and the GSA Logo Policy for more information on using the icons. To download the icon, click on the "download icon" link above.
Definitions
Refer to subpart 502.1of the General Services Acquisition Manual (GSAM) for official definitions.
Single Use Plastic Free Brand Packaging
GSA's Verified Products Portal (VPP) is where manufacturers or their authorized partners can provide authoritative product content and supplier authorization information for products available on GSA Advantage!. To support agency plastic waste reduction goals, GSA has added an option for VPP users to identify products that use SUP-free brand packaging, which will result in the following icon on GSA Advantage!:
U.S. Navy Plastic Removal in a Marine Environment (PRIME)
The PRIME program helps reduce plastic waste aboard U.S. Navy ships, making it easier to manage and dispose of plastics. In compliance with The International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL), the program bans oceangoing vessels from disposing of plastics in the marine environment. Today, U.S. Navy ships are prohibited from discharging any plastic waste overboard. The PRIME program helps protect our oceans first by minimizing plastics in packaging, packing, and marking material within the Navy’s Supply System, but also by sorting, consolidating, and storing plastic waste until it can be off-loaded to an ashore facility. Look for products that display the PRIME logo, which can be found on GSA Advantage!.
Related Topics
Green Procurement Compilation
The Green Procurement Compilation consolidates and organizes information from federal environmental purchasing programs in one place, saving you from researching multiple web sites.
Click here to view the Green Procurement Compilation
Solid Waste
Waste comprises all materials that flow from a building to final disposal. Examples include paper, grass trimmings, food scraps, and plastics. Responsible stewardship tries to divert as much waste as possible from the landfill. This can mean recycling paper, mulching or composting grass trimmings, and reusing large items, such as furniture.
EPA | Land, Waste, and Cleanup Topics
Sustainable Purchasing
Purchasing managers should create purchasing plans and programs that give preference to items containing recycled content, certified wood, and rapidly renewable materials, as well as items that are energy efficient, non-toxic, durable and locally manufactured, harvested and / or extracted. Further, purchasing managers should prioritize vendors who promote source reduction through reusable or minimal packaging of products.
