Sustainable Acquisition

Today we're announcing the Federal Government's first ever acquisition rule addressing single use plastic packaging.

Our new rule encourages our thousands of Federal Supply Schedule contractors to identify – and allows federal agency buyers to select – single-use plastic free (SUP-free) packaging for products supplied and purchased under those Federal Supply Schedule contracts,

To help federal buyers identify such products, we're establishing a new specialty icon in our ordering systems, including GSA Advantage,

Our GSA Acquisition Policy Federal Advisory Committee recommended we pursue rulemaking to reduce this waste stream. We've taken a big step by encouraging our contractors to give federal buyers the information they need to consider the impacts of plastic pollution as one element in their buying decision.

Some of my fellow acquisition policy nerds will appreciate the importance of establishing a definition. Single-use plastic packaging, as it pertains to this rule, means any plastic used for the containment, protection, handling, delivery, or presentation of goods by a producer for a consumer with the intent of being disposed of immediately after use.?

We'll separately announce timing to deploy the icon, modify Federal Supply Schedule contracts, and encourage contractors to highlight products available with SUP-free packaging.