Green + Social Procurement Trade Fair Launch

The Community Resources Network Ireland (CRNI), with support from the Regional Waste Management Plan Offices is delighted to invite you to the launch of our Virtual Green + Social Procurement Trade Fair.

This new virtual platform will be open 24/7 and give visitors the opportunity to explore procurement opportunities across the following categories:

• Furniture up-cycling + office fit-outs
• Bike donations, up-cycling + repair
• Reducing food + drink waste
• Recycling electric + electronic equipment
• Reducing plastic waste
• Specialist social recycling & repair schemes
• Textile reuse and up-cycling
• Paint reuse and recycling
• Events, education + workshops

What's in it for you?

This in-person launch event will give public sector employees working in procurement (or anyone interested in procurement) the opportunity to:

• Meet with and learn more about CRNI members working in community based reuse, repair and recycling
• Learn more and discuss green + social procurement opportunities
• Discover our Virtual Green + Social Procurement Trade Fair and the opportunities it presents as a resource for the public sector

Draft event agenda

11.00am-11.30am: Arrival/mini in-person exhibition of CRNI members goods and services

11.30am-1.00pm: Launch of virtual exhibition. An opportunity to hear from:

• Mr. Ossian Smyth T.D, Minister of State with responsibility for Public Procurement, eGovernment and Circular Economy
• Mr. Joe O'Brien T.D, Minister of State for Community Development and Charities
• + more TBC

1.00pm-2.00pm: Lunch and networking/explore the virtual trade fair

What do we mean by green + social?

• Green: CRNI members work is at the heart of driving the circular economy. They work in communities across Ireland on reuse, repair and recycling initiatives, with the aim of creating a world where the word waste doesn't exist.

• Social: CRNI members strive to facilitate social inclusion by providing employment opportunities in repair, reuse and recycling to people traditionally excluded from the jobs market. They also provide goods and services at affordable prices, or at no cost at all, so that everyone can have access.

Why are we doing this?

• From 2023 onwards, all public procurement contracts must include 'green criteria'.
• According to recent EPA research on procurement by government departments in 2020, only 17% of the total reported spend on contracts over €25k included green criteria.
• We hope to greatly increase this percentage in line with the Whole of Government Circular Economy Strategy 2022-2023 which seeks to promote the incorporation of social, innovative and environmental considerations in public procurement.
• The Circular Economy Act was signed into law in late July 2022, putting the transition to a more circular and social economy high on the political agenda.

Please register for this event if you would like to attend, as places are very limited. If you have any questions or queries, feel free to reach out to mary@crni.ie.

This event is kindly funded by the Regional Waste Management Plan Offices.

Learn more about the work of CRNI at www.crni.ie.