Soft Plastics Stewardship Australia Limited (SPSA) is an industry-led, not-for-profit organisation established to design, implement and operate a national soft plastics recycling scheme. SPSA’s mission is to turn soft plastics into a valuable resource, in pursuit of a sustainable circular economy for soft plastics in Australia, which is achieved through trust, collaboration, innovation and global best practice. SPSA is focused on delivering positive community, environmental and stakeholder outcomes in line with this vision.

SPSA is amidst regulatory approvals with the Australian Consumer and Competition Commission (ACCC). Following the initial approval steps, SPSA is permitted to commence the procurement phase of the proposed scheme via conducting a Request for Information (RFI) process. This phase will be used to identify immediate term and longer term soft plastics recycling industry participants across the entire supply chain including but not limited to recyclers, MRFs, councils, collection points, technology providers, traceability platforms and other expert advisors. Upon the proposed scheme receiving all required approvals, SPSA may then proceed to awarding contracts to deliver services for the scheme. In some cases, SPSA may proceed to a Request for Proposal (RFP) or directly to a contracting phase.

SPSA is committed to conducting its business with transparency and integrity, including but not limited to the appointment of scheme participants via this RFI process and any subsequent processes. All participants will receive equal information and consideration. SPSA will appoint an independent expert advisor to assist with a range of activities, including upholding probity and confidence in the processes. All information provided will be held in the strictest confidence and we respect the respondants preference to avoid sharing any information considered commercially sensitive.

Objective of the procurement process

SPSA is aiming to achieve two key outcomes:

1. Establish the initial supply chain – identify supply chain participants who can be operational during the first half of 2026. This ensures SPSA is operating a sustainable scheme from the outset, including carefully balancing collections, recycling capacity, scheme funding and end markets.
2. Improved sector market intelligence – capture information directly from a broad range of participants relating to operational, capacity and capability factors which best inform the broader scheme rollout. This will then allow SPSA to implement the scheme across Australia with greater confidence over factors such as collections, recycling capacity, end markets, funding and consumer participation.

SPSA may also use the information to fulfil any regulatory or reporting obligations placed on the scheme, however will not release confidential information without prior written consent.

Scope of Participation

SPSA is seeking information from participants from the entire value chain, including but not limited to collection services (stores, councils, other drop off), transport and logistics, recycling, end markets, MRFs, councils, technology providers, brand owners, and other expert advisors. SPSA expects to collate the information and insights from participants, which will then inform a wider rollout of the proposed soft plastics scheme. SPSA may also use RFI responses to proceed to RFP or direct to contract with certain participants.

Information Sought

SPSA expects to capture key data including current and future collection and/or recycling capacity, proposed future recycling projects, technical expertise, logistics solutions, end market and offtake opportunities, brand partnerships, information technology solutions, traceability and other industry factors. Information will be kept confidential and used solely for the objectives outlined above. SPSA is interested to hear from all parts of the supply chain, including national and international partners, and those with proven and innovative solutions which can deliver outcomes in line with SPSA’s mission – this can only be achieved through a comprehensive view of the wider market. Participation in the RFI process is free and carries no obligation on any party. No fields in the RFI are mandatory other than organisational contact information.

Process and Timeline

The RFI opens Wednesday 12 November and closes Wednesday 10 December 2025. SPSA intends to deliver three phases; (1) this RFI to assess a broad range of services to inform future scheme expansion and RFP processes, (2) An RFP for recyclers operating by 30 June 2026, and (3) a future RFP for services informed by the initial RFI. This process is designed to hear from expert advisors and all parts of the supply chain while similtaneouly contracting the initial recyclers providing investment confidence for recyclers already operating or commissioning.

Evaluation and Next Steps

SPSA’s requirement to establish the initial supply chain rapidly is a key factor for any initial contracts with scheme participants. RFP and/or other formal procurement activities are expected to follow as required. SPSA will provide transparent documentation to any party invited to participate in those processes. SPSA is committed to ongoing dialogue with all respondants, including immediate and longer term participants, and encourage all potential scheme supply chain participants to respond.

ACCC Process

The ACCC approval process is ongoing, with the ACCC issuing their draft determination on 11 August which allows SPSA’s RFI process to commence. The final determination is expected in mid/late-November 2025. SPSA is working closely with the ACCC to ensure all information is provided promptly and fulsomely, with the aim of commencing operations in January 2026, shortly after approval is received.

No Exclusivity

In line with the ACCC’s draft determination, SPSA cannot enter into exclusive arrangements with recyclers. SPSA does not expect exclusive arrangements for other products or services with other supply chain participants, service providers, advisors or partners. This approach is consistent with SPSA’s commitment to transparency including the public reporting of scheme outcomes and financial performance.

Terms and Conditions

SPSA is under no obligation to award contracts for products or services as a result of this RFI. Information provided as part of this RFI will be kept confidential, and used solely for the purposes of implementing an efficient, effective and sustainable soft plastics recycling scheme. It is free to participate in the RFI and does not bind SPSA or the participant.

Information on your Collection Services

SPSA defines collections as community-facing service providers, such as retail stores, drop-off locations, pickup services from households, kerbside collectors and so on. For services which collect the material from the collector and consolidate and/or ship to a processor, please see ‘Transport, Logistics and Storage’. No fields in the RFI are mandatory other than organisational contact information. Please upload additional / supporting documents where preferred.

Information on your Logistics Services

SPSA defines this service as transport which occurs between any/all of the collection sites, consolidation points, sorting facilities and MRFs, and recyclers / processors. Storage and warehousing incorporates consolidation and compaction activities in the normal course of collection and processing. Long term storage is not a component of the scheme. No fields in the RFI are mandatory other than organisational contact information. Please upload additional / supporting documents where preferred.

Information on your MRF and/or Sorting Service

SPSA expects MRFs and other sorting facilities capable or seeking to capture consumer soft plastics would be participating in partnership with the relevant council(s). If completing this section as a Council, please include the operator of the MRF. No fields in the RFI are mandatory other than organisational contact information. Please upload additional / supporting documents where preferred.

Information on your Processing Facility/ies

SPSA defines processing and recycling as all steps post-MRF / sortation, including pre-processing, processing to a pellet / flake / resin / oil / other. The end product / use of the end product is included in End Markets & Offtake. No fields in the RFI are mandatory other than organisational contact information. Please upload additional / supporting documents where preferred.

Remanufacturing and Offtake Markets

SPSA includes end market and offtake participants as anyone who will procure recycled material (such as a pellet) from a processor, and remanufacture that recycled content into new products. Examples of these products include food grade film, extrusion moulding and other applications. No fields in the RFI are mandatory other than organisational contact information. Please upload additional / supporting documents where preferred.

Information about your Council

Context: With the aim of increasing soft plastic recycling and stimulating investment confidence to construct soft plastic recycling facilities, several bag-in-bin kerbside collection trials have operated since 2022. The results of the trials, initially delivered via the National Plastic Recycling Scheme and more recently directly by SPSA, indicated that scaling collections through kerbside collections is popular with the community and provides the feedstock volume necessary for recyclers to operate at scale. SPSA plans to utilise the levy income from brands to cover incremental costs of council collections and sortation, and contract organisations to recycle the collected material.

Instructions: SPSA considers Councils can / will play a range of roles in the proposed scheme, accepting that local governments have unique variables in their region such as number of residents, varying MRF ownership models, kerbside collection programs, remote / regional / metro differences, and other resident-specific matters. Councils could act as collection agents, operate MRFs, procure recycled content at scale, undertake extensive community engagement or other activities. SPSA looks forward to designing a tailored program suited to your residents. No fields in the RFI are mandatory other than organisational contact information. Please upload additional / supporting documents where preferred.

Information about your Other product, service or requirement

SPSA expects to engage a range of service providers in the future, including but not limited to IT software and hardware, brand & marketing, consumer behaviour, traceability systems, audit services, Brand Owners, finance and banking services, recruitment and so on. No fields in the RFI are mandatory other than organisational contact information. Please upload additional / supporting documents where preferred.