Nordværk I/S Secures DKK 4.4 Million Framework for Waste Bag Supply Across Northern Denmark

A framework agreement for the supply of waste bags worth up to DKK 4.4 million has been awarded by Nordværk I/S. The contract, won by BioBag Zenzo A/S across both lots, demonstrates how Danish waste management authorities are securing essential supplies for household waste sorting and collection across multiple municipalities.

Introduction

Every household in Aalborg, Hjørring, and Brønderslev municipalities depends on colour-coded waste bags to sort their waste correctly. From black bags for residual waste to green bags for food waste and red bags for textile waste, these bags are essential for Denmark's ambitious waste sorting and recycling programmes. Nordværk I/S, the waste management authority serving these municipalities, has taken a significant step to secure this essential supply by awarding a new framework agreement for waste bags.

While not a headline-grabbing deal, this contract is fundamental to ensuring that households across Northern Denmark can continue to sort their waste effectively. It reveals a great deal about how Danish waste management authorities procure essential supplies while prioritising environmental sustainability and user-friendliness.

Why This Contract Matters

Denmark has some of the most ambitious waste sorting and recycling targets in Europe. Households are required to sort their waste into multiple fractions, including residual waste, food waste, and textile waste. Providing colour-coded bags to households is a key part of this system, ensuring that waste is correctly sorted at source and can be efficiently processed at sorting facilities.

The contract covers three municipalities with a combined population of over 300,000 residents. The bags must meet strict technical requirements to withstand the collection and sorting process, including compatibility with the colour-sorting technology used at the processing facility.

Contract Timeline

• Previous notice referenced: 316409-2026
• Contract award notice published: 17 July 2026 (OJ S 136/2026)
• Winner chosen: 3 July 2026
• Contract concluded: 16 July 2026
• Coverage start date: 1 July 2026
• Coverage end date: 31 January 2030

Contract Overview

Nordværk I/S conducted an open procedure for the supply of waste bags to households in Aalborg, Hjørring, and Brønderslev municipalities. The contract is divided into two lots:

• Lot 1: Black waste bags for residual waste for Aalborg Municipality
• Lot 2: Green waste bags for food waste and red waste bags for textile waste for Hjørring and Brønderslev municipalities

The total contract value awarded is DKK 4,439,220. The contract duration is approximately 3.5 years, with the option for two extensions of up to 12 months each. This is a re-tender following the cancellation of the original procurement due to the ongoing conflict in Iran and the resulting need to adapt the tender material.

Key Contract Details

Detail	Information
Contracting Authority	Nordværk I/S
Winning Bidder	BioBag Zenzo A/S
Contract Subject	Waste bags (polythene waste and refuse sacks) - CPV 19640000
Procedure Type	Open procedure
Legal Basis	Directive 2014/24/EU
Total Contract Value (DKK)	4,439,220.00
Lot 1 Value (DKK)	2,826,900.00
Lot 2 Value (DKK)	1,612,320.00
Contract Duration	1 July 2026 – 31 January 2030 (with 2 x 12-month extension options)
Award Criteria	Price (70%), Environment and Sustainability (25%), User-friendliness (5%)
Bids Received (Lot 1)	4
Bids Received (Lot 2)	5
EU Funding	None disclosed
Covered by GPA	Yes
Review Organisation	Klagenævnet for Udbud

Lots Overview

Lot	Description	Annual Quantity	Contract Value (DKK)	Winner
LOT-0001	Black waste bags for residual waste – Aalborg Municipality	~390,000 rolls (50 bags per roll)	2,826,900	BioBag Zenzo A/S
LOT-0002	Green bags (food waste) and red bags (textile waste) – Hjørring and Brønderslev	~224,000 rolls (50 bags) or ~168,000 rolls (70 bags) green + ~56,000 rolls (10 bags) red	1,612,320	BioBag Zenzo A/S

Project Scope

The framework agreement covers the supply of waste bags to households in three municipalities:

• Lot 1 – Aalborg Municipality: Supply of black waste bags for residual waste. Approximately 390,000 rolls (each containing 50 bags) are delivered annually. Each household uses approximately three rolls per year. The bags must be compatible with the colour-sorting process used at the sorting facility, where green food waste bags are separated from black residual waste bags.
• Lot 2 – Hjørring and Brønderslev Municipalities: Supply of green waste bags for food waste and red waste bags for textile waste. Annual quantities include approximately 224,000 rolls (50 bags) or 168,000 rolls (70 bags) of green bags, and approximately 56,000 rolls (10 bags) of red bags.

The contract also includes an option for the inclusion of an insert card with informational material in the packaging. The bags must meet strict quality requirements, including ease of tearing from the roll and minimal odour.

About the Contracting Authority

Nordværk I/S is a Danish waste management authority serving the municipalities of Aalborg, Hjørring, and Brønderslev in Northern Denmark. The authority is responsible for waste collection, sorting, and processing across the region, serving a combined population of over 300,000 residents. Nordværk operates a colour-sorting facility that processes waste from Aalborg Municipality, where green food waste bags are separated from black residual waste bags using advanced sorting technology.

About the Winning Company

BioBag Zenzo A/S is a Danish company based in Hillerød, classified as a micro, small, or medium-sized enterprise (SME). The company specializes in the production and supply of waste bags and biodegradable products. With its expertise in sustainable packaging solutions, BioBag Zenzo is well-positioned to meet Nordværk's requirements for environmentally responsible and user-friendly waste bags.

Procurement Analysis

Procedure: An open procedure was used, following the Danish Public Procurement Act. This is a re-tender following the cancellation of the original procurement (notice 87161-2026) due to the ongoing conflict in Iran and the resulting need to adapt the tender material.

Competition: Four bids were received for Lot 1 and five bids for Lot 2. All bids were submitted electronically. The winning bidder, BioBag Zenzo A/S, submitted the lowest admissible tender for both lots, with Lot 1 at DKK 2,826,900 and Lot 2 at DKK 1,612,320.

Award Criteria: Price was weighted at 70%, environment and sustainability at 25%, and user-friendliness at 5%. This weighting reflects Nordværk's strong emphasis on environmental sustainability alongside cost efficiency.

Environmental Criteria: The environmental and sustainability criteria are detailed and comprehensive, including five sub-criteria:

• Use of renewable energy and waste heat in production
• Reduction of energy consumption
• Pollution to the environment
• Documentation and reporting
• Quality assurance

Bidders were required to submit a detailed description (maximum 5 A4 pages) addressing these sub-criteria, with Nordværk placing positive weight on higher levels of commitment and action.

User-friendliness Criteria: This criterion was evaluated through physical and visual inspection of product samples. For Lot 1, the sub-criteria were tearability and odour. For Lot 2, the sub-criteria included tearability and odour for both green and red bags, plus mounting (fitting onto the waste bin) for the green food waste bags.

GPA Status: The procurement is covered by the World Trade Organization's Government Procurement Agreement (GPA), meaning it was, in principle, open to qualifying international bidders. However, all bids received were from Danish companies, with one bid from another EEA country for Lot 2.

Additional Procurement Facts

• This is a re-tender following cancellation of the original procurement (notice 87161-2026) due to the conflict in Iran.
• The contract includes two extension options of up to 12 months each.
• An option is included for informational insert cards in the packaging.
• All winning bids were from Danish companies.
• No subcontracting was used by the winning bidder.
• The contract is not financed with EU funds.
• Disputes or review requests fall to the Klagenævnet for Udbud (Public Procurement Complaints Board).

Market & Industry Perspective

The waste bag supply market in Denmark is competitive and increasingly focused on sustainability. Municipalities and waste management authorities are placing greater emphasis on environmental criteria, including renewable energy use, energy efficiency, and pollution reduction in production processes.

This contract demonstrates the growing importance of detailed environmental criteria in public procurement. The 25% weighting for environment and sustainability reflects Nordværk's commitment to reducing the environmental impact of its operations, including the supply chain for essential materials.

The user-friendliness criterion (5%), evaluated through physical testing of product samples, highlights the importance of practical usability for household waste sorting. Bags that are easy to tear from the roll, have minimal odour, and fit properly on waste bins are more likely to be used correctly by households.

Economic Significance

At DKK 4.4 million, this contract represents a significant commitment to essential supplies for household waste management across Northern Denmark. The contract provides price certainty for Nordværk through the 2030 period, with options for extension.

For BioBag Zenzo A/S, the contract provides a stable revenue stream and the opportunity to demonstrate its environmental credentials through the detailed sustainability criteria.

Future Procurement Opportunities

This contract covers the supply of waste bags through January 2030, with extension options potentially extending to January 2032. Future procurement opportunities may arise for other waste management supplies, including bins, containers, and other materials.

Other Danish waste management authorities may adopt similar approaches to environmental criteria in their procurement of essential supplies, creating opportunities for suppliers with strong sustainability credentials.

Opportunities for Suppliers

Suppliers of waste bags and related products should note the growing importance of environmental and sustainability criteria in Danish public procurement. The detailed environmental criteria used in this tender require suppliers to demonstrate commitments to renewable energy use, energy efficiency, pollution reduction, and transparent reporting.

Key success factors include: competitive pricing, documented environmental credentials, high-quality product samples that meet user-friendliness criteria, and the ability to provide comprehensive documentation and reporting.

What Businesses Should Watch

• Whether Nordværk exercises the extension options for this contract.
• Similar procurement opportunities from other Danish waste management authorities.
• The evolving environmental criteria in public procurement for waste management supplies.
• Opportunities for subcontracting with BioBag Zenzo A/S on this and future contracts.

DenmarkTender Procurement Intelligence

This contract is a useful case study in how Danish waste management authorities are embedding sustainability into their procurement of essential supplies. Nordværk I/S has secured a DKK 4.4 million framework for waste bags, with BioBag Zenzo A/S winning both lots through a combination of competitive pricing and strong environmental credentials.

The most interesting feature of this tender is the 25% weighting for environment and sustainability, with five detailed sub-criteria that require bidders to demonstrate concrete commitments to renewable energy use, energy efficiency, pollution reduction, and transparent reporting. This reflects a maturing procurement approach that treats sustainability as a core requirement rather than a secondary consideration.

The 5% weighting for user-friendliness, evaluated through physical product samples, highlights the importance of practical usability in household waste sorting. Bags that are easy to use are more likely to be used correctly, improving waste sorting outcomes.

The re-tender of this procurement following cancellation due to the conflict in Iran also highlights the impact of geopolitical events on supply chains and procurement processes. Suppliers must be aware of the potential for such disruptions and the resulting need for procurement adaptations.

For suppliers, the lesson is that environmental credentials and product quality are increasingly important in public procurement. Companies that can demonstrate sustainability commitments, provide high-quality products, and offer competitive pricing are best positioned for these tenders.

Supplier Takeaways

• Environmental and sustainability criteria are increasingly important (25% weighting).
• Detailed sustainability documentation, including renewable energy use and energy efficiency, is essential.
• Product samples are evaluated for user-friendliness, including tearability, odour, and mounting.
• Price remains important (70% weighting), but not the only factor.
• Danish public procurement increasingly requires comprehensive environmental reporting.
• Geopolitical events can impact procurement; suppliers should be prepared for supply chain adaptations.

Key Takeaways

• Nordværk I/S awarded a DKK 4.4 million framework for waste bags to BioBag Zenzo A/S.
• Two lots: Lot 1 (black bags for Aalborg) and Lot 2 (green and red bags for Hjørring and Brønderslev).
• Award criteria: Price (70%), Environment and Sustainability (25%), User-friendliness (5%).
• The winning bidder submitted the lowest admissible tender for both lots.
• Contract duration: 1 July 2026 – 31 January 2030, with 2 x 12-month extension options.
• This is a re-tender following cancellation due to the conflict in Iran.

Conclusion

This is not a contract that will make national headlines, but it reflects something structurally important about how Danish waste management authorities are procuring essential supplies. By awarding a DKK 4.4 million framework for waste bags to BioBag Zenzo A/S, Nordværk ensures that households across Northern Denmark can continue to sort their waste effectively. The contract demonstrates the growing importance of environmental criteria in public procurement and the value of supplier sustainability credentials.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is Nordværk I/S?

It is a Danish waste management authority serving the municipalities of Aalborg, Hjørring, and Brønderslev in Northern Denmark.

Q: What does this contract cover?

It covers the supply of colour-coded waste bags for household waste sorting, including black bags for residual waste, green bags for food waste, and red bags for textile waste.

Q: Who is the winning bidder?

BioBag Zenzo A/S, a Danish SME based in Hillerød, specializing in waste bags and biodegradable products.

Q: Why was this contract re-tendered?

The original procurement was cancelled due to the ongoing conflict in Iran and the resulting need to adapt the tender material.

Q: How were bidders evaluated?

On three criteria: Price (70%), Environment and Sustainability (25%), and User-friendliness (5%), evaluated through physical product samples.

Source: EU Official Journal, Contract Award Notice 495614-2026, OJ S 136/2026, published 17 July 2026.