Tender: Plastic packaging fee effects

WWF No plastic in nature initiative aims to tackle the root cause of plastic pollution. Together with our partners we have developed a holistic systems-based approach which moves beyond downstream activities such as beach clean-ups to incorporate interventions across the plastics value chain.

The initiative aims to reduce plastic pollution through improving the global governance framework for plastic and at the same time accelerate a transition to a global circular plastics economy, with a focus on material and product re-design, consumer behavior and circular waste management. The strategy focuses on three-levels of plastic pollution in particular: creating a global treaty to regulate plastic pollution, reducing the use of plastics by redesign of materials and products and stopping the leakage by creating circular waste management systems for plastics.

WWF-Norway as part of the No plastic in nature initiative has advocated for a national plastics fee for many years. This work was inspired by our report The True Cost of Plastic from 2021, which demonstrated that plastic is costing society 10 times more than its market price. We believe a fee on plastic is a necessary and cost-effective way of reducing plastic consumption following the polluter-pays principle.

The Norwegian Government recently decided not to pursue a fee on plastic packaging due to “uncertain effects on the environment and climate” and “high administrative costs”. We are therefore now looking for support to better quantify the potential effects of a fee on plastic packaging in Norway.

We are seeking a consultant who can do a cost-benefit analysis of a potential fee on plastic packaging in Norway by focusing on quantifying the potential environmental effects of a fee using experiences from other European countries as reference points.

WWF is seeking a consultant to perform a desk study supplemented by expert interviews to quantify the environmental benefits of a fee on plastic packaging in Norway. WWF would like for the consultant to do the following:

• Gather direct information about the administrative arrangement and effects of material/plastic fees from other European or OECD countries where such fees have been implemented.
• Identify a minimum of 3 realistic scenarios for implementing a fee on plastic packaging in Norway, and for each scenario:
  - estimate effects of a plastic packaging fee on reducing greenhouse gas emissions,
  - estimate effects of the fee on intentional and unintentional pollution (including microplastic pollution),
  - estimate potential earnings for the Norwegian Government from a plastic packaging fee,
  - estimate likely administrative costs.

• Variables that could be considered for different scenarios are legally binding versus voluntary systems and differentiation based on environmental criteria.

• Presentation of methodology and data
• Regular meetings with WWF Norway
• Inception report
• Draft report and results
• Final report presenting the method and findings of the analysis, using an existing report layout design and graphs and figures as appropriate (approximately 30 pages, at least 3 graphics showing results)

Qualifications & Experience include:

• Degree in economics, social sciences, environmental sciences, or similar.
• 5 Years of experience doing environmental analyses.
• Excellent communication skills in English, written and oral.
• Computer literacy (Microsoft: Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint, Publisher)

We would like the consultant to begin the assignment as soon as possible and complete it within one month. WWF-Norway has a budget cap of 100.000 NOK including VAT.

Interested candidates should send their application including resume and application letter and proposed methodology in one PDF document to solsson@wwf.no with ttoreng@wwf.no in copy before December 3rd.