Sustainability criterion for Plastic packaging in pouches | The National Agency for Public Procurement

Criterion text

To be awarded [points or price deduction] in the evaluation of the bid, the supplier shall confirm that the pouches used as packaging, in the bid, fulfils the following:

The primary packaging¹ of laminate is made of:

monomaterial (PE, PP eller PET)

The closure² is made of one of the following plastics:

Polyethylene (PE)
Polypropylene (PP)
Polyethylene terephthalate (PET)

The label is not made from PS (polystyrene) or halogenated plastics.
Black primary packaging¹ and closures are not coloured with Carbon black.
Fillers (such as CaCO₃) can not be included in PE or PP packaging1 and closures² at a level that the density of the plastic exceeds 0.995g / cm³.
Barrier coatings can only be made from EVOH (Ethylene vinyl alcohol) in maximum amounts of 5 percent related to the total weight.

Exception:

For cleaning products, TPE-PE in fittings for pouches with closed-system automatic dosing are exempted.

¹Primary packaging includes pouches or other plastic “bags”.

²Closure includes caps/lids

Verification

The supplier shall, upon request, be able to present any of for example the following:

Valid license for any of for example the following labels:

Nordic Swan Ecolabel for Hand dishwashing detergents

Nordic Swan Ecolabel for Cleaning products

Nordic Swan Ecolabel for Care products for vehicles

Nordic Swan Ecolabel for Laundry detergents and stain removers

Packaging specifications (including pouch, label and closure) showing:

The materials in the packaging and closure and any barrier coatings.

For black packaging, information is also required on which pigments have been used for colouring

Calculation of the density to ensure that the density limit is not exceeded.

The supplier’s self-declaration including technical documentation of compliance verified by an accredited verification body, accredited for the task in accordance with ISO/IEC 17029 or equivalent standard.

Proposed follow-up

Labelling

If the requirement is verified with a label, check that there is a valid license for the product in question. This can be controlled here: Nordic Swan Ecolabel.

Packaging specification

Check the packaging specification to ensure that it is in accordance with the requirement. If black packaging or closures are included, check in the specification that they are not coloured with carbon black. Check any calculations on the fillers to ensure that the density limits are fulfilled.

Self-declaration verified by an accredited verification body

If a verified self-declaration is used to prove that the requirement is fulfilled, request the supplier’s self-declaration, including documentation showing that the requirement is met. The self-declaration shall be verified by a verification body accredited for the task in accordance with ISO / IEC 17029 or equivalent standard.

Information about the criterion

This requirement is an award criterion, i.e., it provides added value (points or price deductions) according to the evaluation model used, to the tender with bags / pouches in recyclable materials.

Note that pouches in laminate often consist of layers in several different plastics. There are a few pouches that are made of laminate from one plastic, which thus meet the requirement, and some bags that are made of the combination PE / PP. Before this requirement is set on bags, a market analysis should be made.

There are currently a limited number of accredited verification bodies for ISO/IEC 17029 (Conformity assessment - General principles and requirements for validation and verification bodies) as it is a relatively new standard. This may change, especially if the demand for verifying compliance in this way increases. More information about the standard and accredited verification bodies can be found on Swedac's website.

Environmental goals

A Good Built Environment

Agenda 2030

Versions history

The version date indicates when the sustainability criterion was created or last updated. Last reviewed dated tells when we last checked that the sustainability criterion still is relevant.

Current ID: 11332:4
Version date: 2024-01-22

2024-01-22, Krav ID 11332:4: The exception has been aligned with Nordic ecolabelling and now only covers TP-PE in fittings for bags in closed systems with automatic dosing.
2023-06-29, Krav ID 11332:3: The limit for how much EVOH that is allowed to be included in the packaging has been changed from 2 percent to 5 percent.
2022-10-31, Krav ID 11332:2: Exception for cleaning agents in bags in closed systems has been added to align with Nordic Ecolabelling.

Plastic packaging in pouches