Study on postal-enabled reverse value chain (RVC) approaches for the circular economy of packaging

This call for tenders concerns the provision of consultancy services to the UPU for the conduct of a study tentatively titled “Study on postal-enabled reverse value chain (RVC) approaches for the circular economy of packaging.”The consultancy shall provide analytical, technical and stakeholder support to inform the UPU’s future work on sustainable packaging and postal circularity. The consultancy aims to generate practical knowledge, stakeholder engagement, and initial country-level experience that can contribute to UPU’s programme development.Specifically, the Vendor shall:− Conduct an analytical study of packaging waste management and circular economy systems, identifying where postal networks can play a value-adding role, particularly in reverse logistics and traceability;− Assess potential revenue and financing mechanisms that can strengthen postal participation in packaging circularity while ensuring commercial and environmental sustainability, including preliminary indicators for tracking material recovery, carbon reduction, and community benefits;− Map and analyze the stakeholder landscape including DOs, government entities, recyclers, packaging producers, technology providers and development partners, as well as identify potential areas for cooperation with the UPU;− Support the delivery of at least three country-level projects, to be selected by the UPU, to demonstrate postal-enabled RVC approaches for packaging circularity and to generate lessons for broader application;− Facilitate stakeholder consultations to raise awareness, build relationships, and identify collaboration and co-financing opportunities for future UPU-led initiatives; and− Consolidate findings and practical recommendations in a final report that will inform the UPU’s policy dialogue, capacity-building activities, and subsequent programme design.