Current

Plastic Credit System Consultancy for PTI Australia

Tender ID: 583759

Tender Details

Organisation:
Pacific Trade Invest Australia
Tender #:
-  
Status:
Current
Publish Date:
17 April 2025
Closing Date:
16 May 2025

Tender Description

1. ABOUT PACIFIC TRADE INVEST
Pacific Trade Invest Australia (PTI Australia) is the Pacific’s lead trade and investment promotion agency. PTI Australia develops and promotes businesses and communities from the Pacific through trade, investment and tourism. At the core of PTI Australia’s work is improving the livelihoods of Pacific people by enabling decent work and economic growth in the Blue Pacific.

PTI Australia is part of the global PTI Network with offices in China, Europe, Japan, and New Zealand. The Network’s mandate is driven by the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (PIFS), supporting the 16 Forum countries from the Blue Pacific: Cook Islands, Fiji, French Polynesia, Federated States of Micronesia, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, New Caledonia, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu.
PTI Australia is an agency of Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (PIFS), funded by Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).

2. BACKGROUND
PTI Australia is dedicated to facilitating connections between investors and commercially viable, environmentally sustainable opportunities that tackle plastic pollution and support a circular economy in Pacific Island countries. Plastic waste presents a major environmental challenge in the Pacific, but innovative market-based mechanisms, such as plastic credit systems (PCS), provide a promising solution to incentivise responsible waste management. They enable businesses and organisations globally to offset their plastic footprint by investing in initiatives focused on plastic collection, recycling, and waste reduction.

By commissioning an analysis into the feasibility of a PCS in Fiji through the following Terms of Reference (TOR), PTI Australia aims to position the country as a leader in this space for the Pacific region. This initiative aligns the region with global sustainability trends while supporting economic opportunities within the waste management sector. While PCS are operational in other countries, the Pacific faces distinct challenges, including limited scale, remote populations, and limited waste management systems. Despite these barriers, the impact on livelihoods and ecosystems in the Pacific is equally significant and worthy of focused attention.
Fiji was selected as the PCS pilot country due to its relatively larger population and active private sector. Fiji’s status as a tourism and trans-shipment hub also increases the likelihood a PCS can achieve the scale and waste consistency needed. This increases the chances of establishing a commercially viable and self-sustaining PCS. Fiji also has a robust presence of NGOs and regional actors like ANZPAC and the Pacific Recycling Foundation actively working on plastic waste solutions, and the pilot aligns with the ongoing waste audit efforts in the region. Importantly, Fiji has also become the first Pacific nation to recognise waste pickers as an integral part of its waste management system.

However, the success of a PCS will rely on conducting a feasibility study, designing a robust operational framework, and establishing effective governance and verification mechanisms. The first phase of this project (“the project”) will focus on ensuring the viability and potential impact of a PCS in Fiji by undertaking a rapid feasibility study. Commissioned by PTI Australia, the project will be executed by a recognised expert organisation specialising in environmental policy, market-based sustainability mechanisms, and nature-based solutions (“the contractor”). Extensive stakeholder consultations will be conducted to gather input from local businesses, local and national government, international partners, waste management organisations, and community groups, ensuring that the project is grounded in practical considerations and designed to achieve meaningful outcomes.

3. PURPOSE
The project aims to deliver a roadmap for the development and implementation of a PCS in Fiji, aligned with the goals expressed in the Pacific Regional Declaration on the Prevention of Marine Litter and Plastic Pollution (2021). It also seeks to explore the use of market-based mechanisms to support investment opportunities while addressing plastic pollution and fostering a circular economy.

By creating a robust and transparent framework, the project aims to enable Pacific decision makers to assess the viability of plastic credits in generating new economic opportunities and fostering environmental sustainability. By making this flow of plastic-to-credit-to-dollars transparent, the report aims to give decision-makers a direct line of sight into how such a system could create new revenue streams, formal jobs, and export-equivalent income, while addressing the plastic pollution challenge through a structured, monetised recovery model. The final report will serve as a cornerstone for policy development, stakeholder engagement, and the successful launch of Fiji’s first plastic credit initiative.

4. OBJECTIVES
The primary objective of this project is to assess the viability of a PCS in Fiji, and in doing so,
• Establish a formal mechanism for issuing, verifying, and trading plastic credits.
• Encourages investment in plastic waste collection and recycling infrastructure.
• Aligns with global plastic credit standards (e.g., Verra, Plastic Credit Exchange).
• Creates economic opportunities for waste collectors and local recycling businesses.
• Enhances Fiji’s commitment to sustainability and circular economy principles.

5. SCOPE OF WORKS OVERVIEW
The project will be carried out in three distinct phases, with the completion and review of recommendations at each phase serving as the trigger for proceeding to the next phase. The phased approach is designed to allow PTI Australia to carefully assess viability at each stage and to seek consensus from relevant stakeholders before committing to further development or implementation.

This TOR is focused on phases one and two only. Phase Three, which will involve implementation and piloting of the proposed PCS, is outside the scope of this TOR and will be subject to a separate procurement process. For the avoidance of doubt, there is no guarantee that the contractor engaged for Phases One and Two will be commissioned for Phase Three, should it proceed.

Phase One: Rapid Feasibility Assessment and Stakeholder Consultations
The contractor will assess the feasibility of a PCS in Fiji, crafting a report with clear recommendations as to the viability of such a system. This includes a review of local waste management practices, regulations, scale and environmental impacts, as well as stakeholder consultations. Stakeholder consultations should also be conducted to gather relevant input from businesses, government, and communities.

Specifically, the report will provide an evidence-based recommendation on whether to proceed with the development of a PCS for stakeholders to consider. The outcomes and recommendations of Phase One will determine the next steps for the project, including whether Phase Two will proceed.

Phase Two: Design and Framework Development
The contractor is expected to design and outline the full mechanism of a scalable PCS, including recommendations around roles for stakeholders, guidelines for credit issuance, including verification and certification by an accredited body and monetisation through credit sales to responsible companies. The contractor will also outline operational processes and ensure alignment with international standards and local conditions.

6. PROJECT PHASES & KEY DELIVERABLES
Please refer to attachment.

7. QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERTISE CRITERIA
The selected contractor must demonstrate:
a. Proven experience in waste management, sustainability consulting, nature-based solutions, or carbon/plastic credit systems.
b. Expertise in market-based environmental solutions.
c. Familiarity with plastic credit standards and verification frameworks.
d. Strong stakeholder engagement and project management skills.
e. Demonstrated experience working in the Pacific Islands region is highly desirable.

8. PAYMENT TERMS
The contractor should submit a detailed financial proposal outlining costs per phase, noting:
• Payments will be made in phase-based tranches, contingent on the successful completion of deliverables.
• Applicants should also provide a schedule of rates for variations or additional work.
• Any value-adding or outcome-enhancing suggestions that involve scope adjustments should be clearly identified as optional additions.

9. SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS
PTI Australia invites qualified and experienced contractors to submit their proposals for a PCS in Fiji by the stated deadline. The selected contractor will be expected to demonstrate professional independence, suitable qualifications, extensive experience, and the capacity to deliver the project while adhering to high standards of quality and compliance with Fiji’s environmental and waste management objectives.

10. DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION
Interested parties are requested to submit their proposals by the deadline below.
Closing Date: 5:00pm on 16 May 2025

11. CONTACT INFORMATION
The contractor will report to the PTI Australia Investment Manager, with oversight from the Trade Commissioner. For further details and submission of proposals, please contact:

Samuel Sutton
Investment Manager
Pacific Trade Invest Australia
samuel@pacifictradeinvest.com
0451 946 230
www.pacifictradeinvest.com

Tender Documents

The documents for this tender have been provided direct by the issuer below:

Location

New South Wales   :   Sydney  

Category

Environmental & Heritage Services   :   Environmental Impact Assessments   :   Environmental Management   :   Environmental Monitoring & Audit   :   Environmental Testing Services  
Waste Management   :   Recycling Services   :   Waste Collection & Processing   :   Waste Management Equipment   :   Waste Material Handling & Recycling Systems  
Management Advisory Services   :   Economic Analysis   :   Management Consulting   :   Professional Procurement Services   :   Quality Assurance Services   :   Risk Management  
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