Australia Launches Policy to ‘Remake, Remanufacture and Recycle’ More Goods

The Australian government has released its first environmentally sustainable procurement policy to promote domestic demand for recycled goods, reduce waste output, and support the country’s transition toward a “circular economy.” Starting July 1, bidders for government construction services projects exceeding $7.5 million (US$4.9 million) must satisfy specified sustainability outcomes; these could involve reducing or reusing waste and switching to recyclable materials in place of single-use materials. After a year, the policy will extend to tenders worth more than $1 million for textiles, Information and Communication Technology (ICT) goods, and furniture, fittings and equipment. It may include recovering, recycling, and reworking old uniforms into new materials....