Specifying recycled PolyAl in a municipal tender: a checklist for procurement officers

Public procurement is the most powerful lever in Europe for circular-economy products. The EU Green Public Procurement (GPP) framework and the upcoming Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) push municipalities to favour certified recycled content. Here is the practical checklist.

1. Scope

Define the article: pallets (Euro 1200×800), street furniture (benches, planters, bins), profiles (decking, fencing), or technical components (cable troughs, traffic calming).

2. Recycled-content requirement

• Minimum post-consumer recycled content (PCR): 80 %
• Reference standard: UNE 53925:2026 (or equivalent national/CEN standard once published)
• Acceptance of mass-balance approach (ISO 22095) where appropriate

3. Mechanical performance

Reference standards by application:

• Pallets: EUMOS 40509 load testing, ISO 8611
• Decking: EN 15534 (composite decking), wet-slip ≥ R11
• Profiles: EN 13362 (design)
• Cable troughs: EN 50642 / DIN 4262

4. Cleaning and chemical resistance

For surfaces in public space: UNE 56875:2021 (cleaning chemical resistance) — pass general and intensive use.

5. UV and weathering

Min. 15 years equivalent UV exposure under ISO 4892-2 with > 70 % retention of mechanical properties.

6. Carbon footprint

• Per-batch certificate kg CO₂e/kg cradle-to-gate
• Methodology: ISO 14040/14044
• Acceptable max: ≤ 1.0 kg CO₂e/kg for PolyAl-equivalent products

7. Traceability

• Per-batch CoA (certificate of analysis) including PCR %, mechanical properties, ash, density, moisture, UV package
• Origin of feedstock (carton recycler name and country)
• Mass-balance audit available on request

8. Award criteria weighting (suggested)

• Price: 40 %
• Recycled content + verified COA: 25 %
• Carbon footprint per item: 15 %
• Mechanical guarantees: 10 %
• Take-back scheme at end of life: 10 %

9. Take-back / circularity clause

Require the supplier to operate, or contract, a take-back scheme to recover the items at end of life and reprocess them into new PolyAl pellets. Document recovery rate ≥ 70 %.

10. Reporting

At installation handover, supplier delivers:

• Aggregate carbon footprint (t CO₂e avoided vs virgin reference)
• Total recycled content (t)
• Per-batch CoA archive (5-year retention)

With these clauses, a municipality writes a tender that EU PPWR-aligned suppliers like PolyAl producers can win — and that low-content competitors cannot.