Packaging food sector
The food sector is a purchasing area that involves significant streams of plastic, approximately 30 percent of which consists of packaging and wrapping. By optimising the use of plastic, steering purchases towards sustainable choices and setting sustainability requirements in public procurement, we can reduce the environmental impact of plastics and head towards circular solutions
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Criteria group
| Download | Description | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Returnable crates | Core | Technical specification | Packaging food sector | ||
Criterion information The use of returnable crates minimises the use of single-use packaging whilst simultaneously allowing for simpler and more efficient handling in the goods flow. This requirement aims to reduce the amount of single-use packaging within the food sector – cardboard in particular – and thereby contribute to the more efficient use of resources Criterion text Whole fresh fruit and vegetables shall be delivered in returnable boxes from the supplier to the kitchen; that is, the products shall be delivered in reusable packaging that is designed to be reused in a reuse system during its lifecycle in accordance with SS-EN 13429:2004.1 Packaging – Reuse or an equivalent standard. | |||||
| Solutions for circular packaging within the food sector | Core | Special contract terms | Packaging food sector | ||
Criterion information More circular packaging flows shall allow for recycling and ensure that food and production waste or damage in transit do not occur. Criterion text The supplier shall, no later than [contract start or other time determined by the contracting organisation], disclose the measures taken in order to promote more circular packaging and wrapping flows, recycling and reduced waste from virgin materials for the contracted products. These measures must not result in an increase in food and production waste or additional damage in transit. The measures presented may cover one or more packaging materials at one or more levels of packaging used for packing the product; that is, the primary, secondary and tertiary packaging. During the contractual period, the supplier shall, upon the request of the contracting organisation, be ready to demonstrate how the special contract term has been fulfilled. | |||||
| Recyclable plastic packaging (Design for Recycling) | Core | Special contract terms | Packaging food sector | ||
Criterion information Plastic packaging that is designed to be recycled contributes to more circular plastic streams. Criterion text Secondary and/or tertiary packaging made from plastic that is used under the contract shall be designed for recycling. Plastic packaging and closures shall comply with at least the following: Plastic packaging1 and any plastic closures2 shall be manufactured as a mono-material3 from one of the following plastics or as separable4 components thereof:
Metallic parts shall not be used in the packaging,1 closure2 or label. Plastic packaging shall not be dyed using carbon black Plastic packaging shall not have printing that covers more than 60% of its surface. Labels Labels on plastic packaging shall meet one of the following twp requirements:
Labels shall be able to be washed away according to following:
Labels shall not cover more than 60% of the surface of the packaging. Exception: Any seals or sealing wads5 present are excepted on the condition that they are easily separable3 from the packaging and the closure. 1Plastic packaging includes rigid and flexible packaging, such as pots, bags, trays, wrappings, or similar. 2Closures include bottle caps, lids, bag sealer, cable ties, or similar. 3Mono-materials are plastics whose composition consists of a single type of plastic polymer, such as polyethylene. 4Separable components include elements of the packaging that can be easily taken apart by the end user without the need of tools before being recycled. Note, too, that an EVOH barrier in a fraction of up to 2% of PE can be accepted and is not considered to be a multi-layer material because it is compatible with existing recycling processes. | |||||
| Recycled beverage containers and/or meat trays made from PET plastic (r-PET) | Advanced | Special contract terms | Packaging food sector | ||
Criterion information Requirements for packaging manufactured from recycled plastic increase demand on the market and contribute to more circular flows and reduced plastic waste from fossil-based virgin plastic. Criterion text Plastic packaging for juice and other beverage containers and/or meat trays used within the scope of the contract shall consist, on average, of at least 30 percent by weight recycled PCR plastic (r-PET). The calculation can be made according to the mass balance principle1 during a defined period of time by means of the packaging supplier's monitoring and reporting. Upon request, the supplier shall present the calculation of the proportion of recycled plastic and demonstrate that the recycled raw material consists of PCR plastic. 1Mass balance can be applied using different methods that measure product substitution and include traceability back to production and raw material when transitioning to recycled and renewable raw materials. Additional information on different mass balance methods. | |||||
| Plastic packaging from renewable raw materials | Advanced | Award criteria | Packaging food sector | ||
Criterion information Plastic packaging that is manufactured from material made from renewable raw materials sourced from waste or by-products from other production processes instead of fossil-based raw materials can contribute to more climate-friendly and circular flows for the packaging in question. Criterion text In order to obtain [points or price reduction] during tender evaluation, the supplier shall certify in its tender that plastic packaging used within the scope of the contract is made from renewable raw materials sourced from waste or by-products.1 The supplier shall specify in its tender the percentage of the renewable raw material used. At least the following product(s) shall be covered: [state which product(s)]. Upon request, the supplier shall disclose the calculation of the percentage of renewable raw materials used as well as the origin of the renewable raw materials. The calculation can be made according to the mass balance principle2 during a defined period of time by means of the packaging supplier's monitoring and reporting. 1Waste and by-products refer to raw materials that are residual products from another production process, such as cellulose or starch. | |||||
| Returnable crates for increased circularity | Advanced | Technical specification | Packaging food sector | ||
Criterion information The use of returnable crates minimises the prevalence of single-use packaging whilst simultaneously allowing for simpler and more efficient handling in the goods flow. On the advanced level, returnable crates shall be used throughout the value chain to contribute towards a transition to circular solutions. Other relevant product groups can be included on agreement with the supplier. Criterion text Processed products made from fruit and vegetables, such as fresh, chilled vegetables and root vegetables/potatoes that are peeled, washed and chopped, and precooked products shall be delivered in a returnable crate throughout the value chain from the primary producer/processing plant to the kitchen; that is, the products shall be delivered in reusable packaging that is designed to be reused via a reuse system during its lifecycle in accordance with SS-EN 13429:2004.1 Packaging – Reuse or an equivalent standard. | |||||
| Recyclable primary plastic packaging included (Design for Recycling) | Advanced | Special contract terms | Packaging food sector | ||
Criterion information Plastic packaging that is designed to be recycled contributes to more circular plastic streams. Criterion text Primary, secondary and/or tertiary packaging made from plastic that is used under the contract shall be designed for recycling. Plastic packaging and closures shall comply with at least the following: Plastic packaging1 and any plastic closures2 shall be manufactured as a mono-material3 from one of the following plastics or as separable4 components thereof:
Metallic parts shall not be used in the packaging,1 closure2 or label. Plastic packaging shall not be dyed using carbon black Plastic packaging shall not have printing that covers more than 60% of its surface. Labels Labels on plastic packaging shall meet one of the following twp requirements:
Labels shall be able to be washed away according to following:
Labels shall not cover more than 60% of the surface of the packaging. Exception: Any seals or sealing wads5 present are excepted on the condition that they are easily separable3 from the packaging and the closure. 1Plastic packaging includes rigid and flexible packaging, such as bottles, pots, bags, trays, wrappings, and similar. 2Closures include bottle caps, lids, bagsealers, cable ties. 3Mono-materials are plastics whose composition consists of a single type of plastic polymer, such as polyethylene. 4Separable components include elements of the packaging that can be easily taken apart by the end user without the need of tools before being recycled. Note, too, that an EVOH barrier in a fraction of up to 2% of PE can be accepted and is not considered to be a multi-layer material because it is compatible with existing recycling processes. 5Seals and sealing wads include components such as foils or multi-layer materials that seal certain food packages, such as margarine tubs, liver pâté containers and ketchup bottles. | |||||
There is great potential within the food and retail sectors for reducing and improving the use of plastics on different levels of packaging where hygiene requirements and legislation do not limit market demand for recyclable packaging.
There are various initiatives under way, and there are stated industry objectives and ambitions within the Swedish Food Retailers Federation roadmap for reducing reliance on fossil-based materials and expanded recycling, such as the objective that plastic packaging shall be produced from renewable or recycled materials by 2030 and that packaging shall be recyclable by as early as 2022.1,2
The objective has been recently adjusted to 2025 as part of the Plastic Initiative. An important element of this is working with renewable plastic materials and finding new innovative materials and solutions.
It is important that we increase the amount of business packaging that is recycled. The new packaging ordinance (2022:1274), which enters into force on 1 January 2023, includes provisions intended to simplify the sorting of waste for both households and businesses. Simplified collection and sorting will help producers to recycle more of their waste, make waste handling more resource efficient, and reduce the need for new raw materials, which will also reduce carbon dioxide emissions. This ordinance means that municipalities and producers take on new roles.
As of 1 January 2024, municipalities will have operational responsibility for collecting household packaging waste and informing households about preventative measures and how to sort packaging waste. From the same date, the producer responsibility organisation that has the greatest market share will be required to arrange for reception sites for packaging materials from businesses. These reception sites shall be completed by 1 January 2026. For more information, see the Producer Responsibility for Packaging guide (in swedish) provided by the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency.
A survey of member companies of the Swedish Trade Federation indicates that a variety of obstacles to circularity must be taken into account, such the availability of effective recycling technology for separating different materials from one another, ensuring the quality and cleanliness of recycled materials, working infrastructure and returns logistics, and a functioning market with demand for secondary goods and recycled raw materials, summarised in the Circularty Gap Report Sweden (2022)3
Use the sustainability criterion or criteria that meet your needs and objectives, and in areas where you are able to follow up the requirements that are set. Specify in your tender document exactly which products shall meet a certain packaging and wrapping requirement. It is also important to specify how the supplier shall verify that the requirement is met.
The requirements specifically target the use of plastic in packaging and wrapping. It can be difficult for individual suppliers in the food sector to influence how food packaging is sourced. The requirements should therefore be used in conjunction with a well-thought-out strategy in the purchasing work conducted by the procurer or contracting organisation. This strategy should include long-term efforts to reduce the amount of plastic used in packaging and wrapping. Such a strategy should also include dialogue and collaboration with contractors and materials suppliers. It should be kept in mind that it may initially be difficult to use these requirements in the case of small-scale food suppliers.
Conduct a thorough market analysis to become informed about availability and the prevailing market conditions. Please see the National Agency for Public Procurement's guides for conducting a market analysis (in swedish) and having an early dialogue (in swedish) with the supplier market. Read also more under Innovation in Procurement.