Council toolkit created for practical circular procurement

Hunter Joint Organisation (Hunter JO) wanted to help its 10 member councils move from circular procurement ambition to practical, consistent action.

The organisation saw an opportunity to give councils a shared approach that would make circular procurement easier to apply in everyday work and, to support this transition, it needed a clear, shared approach that could be applied across multiple councils, was easy to use and reflected the realities of regional supply chains.

Hunter JO partnered with sustainability firm thinkstep-anz to develop a Circular Procurement Toolkit for council procurement, asset management and project teams. The toolkit was designed to work within existing council processes.

The thinkstep-anz team reviewed national and state procurement frameworks, circular economy standards, verification systems and relevant industry tools — including ISO 20400, ISO 59020, NSW sustainable procurement guidance and the Transport for NSW Materials Register — to ensure the toolkit was practical, credible and aligned with current policy expectations.

The result is a set of resources that guide councils through the procurement lifecycle.

The toolkit includes five detailed guides covering:

1. Circular procurement fundamentals
2. The procurement pathway
3. Fair and proportionate evidence requirements
4. Low-carbon concrete procurement
5. A framework for future material-specific modules

It also brings together practical tools such as the Material Circularity Indicator, tiered evidence levels, product stewardship guidance and model contract clauses.

The organisation said these resources help councils set consistent expectations and support suppliers to provide achievable circular outcomes. Supplier forms, procurement checklists and case study templates turn the guidance into practical steps for council officers, engineers, asset managers and procurement teams. They help staff question whether a new purchase is needed, engage suppliers early, specify circular options, evaluate evidence and monitor delivery.

The toolkit also supports councils to consider durability, repairability, recycled content, reuse opportunities and take-back schemes. It places strong emphasis on requirements that are fair and proportionate, so regional SMEs can participate alongside larger suppliers.

By focusing on whole-of-life value rather than upfront cost alone, the toolkit helps councils make procurement decisions that reduce waste, extend asset life, strengthen regional resilience and support local industry development.

The circular procurement toolkit at a glance

The organisation said the toolkit gives councils a practical way to embed circular thinking into everyday procurement. It includes plain English guidance, a step-by-step procurement pathway, council-specific examples, checklists, supplier forms and model brief and contract clauses.

• Consistent regional approach: Clear, practical method for embedding circular procurement across councils.
   
• Actionable content: Specific examples of more circular actions and how to use briefs and contracts to support more circular outcomes.
   
• Reduced waste outcomes: Less waste through reuse, repair and better specification.
   
• Better-value decisions: Stronger focus on whole-of-life value for the community, not just upfront cost.
   
• Improved material choices: Greater confidence in procuring low-carbon concrete and key materials.
   
• Stronger local supply: More accessible procurement for regional suppliers and SMEs.
   
• Ongoing capability building: Shared foundation for learning, collaboration and continuous improvement.
   

For more information about the Circular Procurement Toolkit, visit the website.

Image credit: iStock.com/lkonya