June 21, 2024 — The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) announced on June 6 that it has finalized a rule that encourages GSA’s Federal Supply Schedule contractors to identify single-use plastic free (SUP-free) packaging for products supplied and purchased under those Federal Supply Schedule contracts, helping federal buyers find and select products that help them cut plastic waste in their supply chains. The rule advances President Biden’s Federal Sustainability Plan by helping agencies take action to reduce and phase out the purchase of single-use plastic products to the maximum extent practicable.
The rule, which amends the GSA Acquisition Regulation (GSAR), aims to reduce single-use plastic waste by encouraging contractors to state whether they offer SUP-free packaging and whether that packaging is the default option or must be specified by the ordering agency. To make it easier for buyers to make sustainable purchases, GSA intends to highlight contractors that offer SUP-free packaging with a new product icon on ordering systems, including GSA Advantage, and intends to encourage federal agencies to consider this in buying decisions.
The GSA Acquisition Policy Federal Advisory Committee we established to advise us on sustainability considerations for federal buying identified several risks associated with single-use plastic waste and recommended [PDF – 3 MB] we pursue rulemaking to reduce this waste stream. By empowering federal buyers to select products with single-use plastic free packaging from our Federal Supply Schedule, we are taking a step to address the impacts of plastic pollution and further promote long-term sustainability within federal supply chains.
GSA Senior Procurement Executive Jeffrey Koses
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.
As a result of the rule, there is the opportunity for Federal Supply Schedule contractors to highlight their SUP-free packaged products for the federal consumer. The new icon described in the rule will make it easier for agency buyers to identify and select products that help them meet their plastic waste reduction goals.
The Federal Supply Schedule is the premier contracting vehicle for the federal government to obtain common commercial products and services. With over 14,500 contractors and annual sales of over $45 billion, this contract vehicle is the number one way to reach federal buyers.
Jeffrey Koses
To implement this new rule, GSA will deploy the icon, modify Federal Supply Schedule contracts, and encourage contractors to highlight products available with SUP-free packaging.
This is the first broad federal acquisition rule specifically addressing the challenge of plastic waste. It emphasizes GSA’s commitment to work closely with industry to address environmental stewardship in federal acquisition. We received feedback from large and small businesses, trade groups, and the public. This collaborative approach was important in refining the rule to ensure it successfully balances operational needs with environmental responsibilities.
Jeffrey Koses
GSA remains committed to implementing new strategies to minimize the federal government’s environmental footprint, in line with broader federal sustainability and Administration goals, including the transition to a circular economy and achieving net-zero emissions in federal procurement by 2050. GSA provides centralized procurement and shared services for the federal government, managing a nationwide real estate portfolio of nearly 370 million rentable square feet, overseeing approximately $100 billion in annual contracts, and delivering technology services that serve millions of people across dozens of federal agencies.