---
title: "RDE760 Reaching Net Zero within a Circular Economy Quantifying waste sector-base"
ocid: "ocds-b5fd17-9178f3a4-d7e4-42c4-b932-4bbcc897e67f"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-9178f3a4-d7e4-42c4-b932-4bbcc897e67f"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-9178f3a4-d7e4-42c4-b932-4bbcc897e67f.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-9178f3a4-d7e4-42c4-b932-4bbcc897e67f.json"
source: "Contracts Finder"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "DEPARTMENT FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOOD & RURAL AFFAIRS"
published: "2025-02-11"
---

# RDE760 Reaching Net Zero within a Circular Economy Quantifying waste sector-base

Buyer: DEPARTMENT FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOOD & RURAL AFFAIRS  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-b5fd17-9178f3a4-d7e4-42c4-b932-4bbcc897e67f

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## Summary

The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) has awarded a contract titled "RDE760 Reaching Net Zero within a Circular Economy Quantifying waste sector-base" to Ricardo-AEA Ltd. This procurement, categorised under "Research and development consultancy services" (CPV 73200000), involves a selective procurement method through a call-off from a framework agreement. The contract, valued at £52,990, commenced on 14 February 2025 and will conclude on 31 March 2025. The project will address the impacts of transitioning to a circular economy on the UK's Net Zero by 2050 commitment, focusing on waste sector case studies in various regions including the British Overseas Territories, the Channel Islands, Europe, the Isle of Man, and the United Kingdom.

This tender presents significant opportunities for businesses specialising in sustainability, environmental research, and waste management sectors. SMEs and VCSEs are particularly encouraged to engage, given their suitability considerations. By participating in this contract, businesses can contribute to pioneering research that supports Defra’s top priority of establishing a circular economy, thereby positioning themselves at the forefront of innovative environmental policy development and implementation. This project offers a platform for businesses to demonstrate their expertise and play a pivotal role in shaping the future of the UK's environmental strategies.

## Notice

The UK has a legally binding commitment to Net Zero by 2050 and the CCC has stated we are 'not on track to hit this target', we therefore must be able to quantify the impact of new priorities and align our nationally determined contribution with emerging policies. The SoS has announced the circular economy as one of the top 5 priorities for Defra, highlighting the need to move from our 'take make throw' economy to one which uses a systemic approach across the full material and product lifecycle, maintaining the value of our resources for as long as possible. The Circular Economy is a transformative transition, however, virtually nothing is known about how this transition will impact our commitment to Net Zero by 2050. Without this knowledge we risk having contradicting priorities which will mean we do not meet future targets and commitments. To actualise a growth based, just circular economy, evidence gaps around how this transition could impact current targets need to be filled. As circular approaches are adopted, emissions will change and could have unanticipated consequences (e.g increase emissions in different sectors or not be reflected in our current accounting system). This work will concentrate on specific case studies within the waste sector, and will look beyond this, to understand initial cross cutting impacts of circularity across the national atmospheric emission inventory, acting as a proof of concept for other waste streams within a circular economy. Initially these waste streams will be medical plastic, food, textile, and WEEE waste; all of which are expected to change as greater recycling, reduction and reuse approaches are expected to take effect. This work is needed to begin to quantify the relationship between our current statutory commitment to Net Zero by 2050 and the recent priority to move to a circular economy, identifying the waste streams which pose the greatest risk to carbon-efficient circular economy.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Contracts Finder |
| Latest notice | https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/b53f4439-5b19-4ea4-b2cc-f17d555c6f67 |
| Notice type | Award Notice |
| Procurement type | Framework |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Selective |
| Procurement method details | Call-off from a framework agreement |
| Tender suitability | SME, VCSE |
| Awardee scale | Not specified |
| All stages | Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 11 Feb 2025 |
| Submission deadline | 7 Feb 2025 |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 11 Feb 2025 |
| Contract period | 14 Feb 2025 - 31 Mar 2025 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | £52,990 |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | £52,990 |
| Contracts value | Not specified |

## Status

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender status | Complete |
| Lots status | Not specified |
| Awards status | Active |
| Contracts status | Not specified |

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | DEPARTMENT FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOOD & RURAL AFFAIRS |
| Locality | LONDON |
| Post town | South West London |
| Postcode | SW1P 3JR |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLI London |
| ITL 2 | TLI3 Inner London - West |
| ITL 3 | TLI35 Westminster and City of London |
| Local authority | Westminster |
| Electoral ward | St James's |
| Westminster constituency | Cities of London and Westminster |
| Delivery location | Not specified |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 1 |
| Supplier names | RICARDO-AEA |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 73 - Research and development services and related consultancy services

### Codes

- 73200000 - Research and development consultancy services

## Release History

- 11 Feb 2025 at 17:10 - Award - Award Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/b53f4439-5b19-4ea4-b2cc-f17d555c6f67

## Documents

- https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/b53f4439-5b19-4ea4-b2cc-f17d555c6f67
  11th February 2025 - Awarded contract notice on Contracts Finder

## Provenance

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