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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 Action 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

The Minister of State for Public Procurement and eGovernment Ossian Smyth TD, welcomed the move stating: “This new arrangement for public bodies to use is an excellent example of the practical solutions that can be put in place to help people make green choices and demonstrates how the OGP is working to incorporate green elements into framework agreements in line with the Programme for Government. "I commend the work of the OGP in establishing this framework which comes at an opportune time as the EU Single Use Plastics Directive comes into force here in Ireland.”

ENDS

Notes to Editors

Office of Government Procurement           The Office of Government Procurement (OGP) is shaping the future of public procurement by integrating procurement policy, strategy and operations and through the provision of advice, guidance and training to public service bodies across the State. The OGP is headed by the Government’s Chief Procurement Officer and is an office of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.

Contact:

Claire Godkin - Press Officer, Department of Public Expenditure and Reform - 085 806 3969, pressoffice@per.gov.ie