NACE 22.2 – Manufacture of Plastic Products | Public Tenders

Definition: NACE 22.2 covers the manufacture of plastic products such as pipes, containers, packaging, window profiles, floor coverings and technical plastic components. Products in this group form part of almost every public construction and infrastructure project — from sewer systems to school refurbishments.

Legal basis: NACE Rev. 2 (Regulation (EC) No 1893/2006) · Last updated: January 2026

What does NACE 22.2 cover?

NACE 22.2 (Manufacture of plastic products) classifies companies that manufacture finished products from thermoplastic, thermosetting or elastomeric polymers — a cross-cutting segment that touches virtually every area of public infrastructure and building procurement.

Group 22.2 within Section C (Manufacturing) and Division 22 is broken down into several classes:

In public procurement, sewer pipes (HDPE, PVC), pressure pipes for water supply, cable protection ducts for infrastructure projects, waste containers and plastic street furniture, as well as floor coverings for public buildings, play a particularly important role.

Public tenders: scope of activity NACE 22.2

Plastic products are procured in considerable quantities by the public sector as building materials (pipes, profiles, coverings), as municipal equipment (waste bins, street furniture) and as part of building fit-out (floor coverings, windows).

Typical contract types

• Sewerage and pipeline construction: procurement of PVC-U and HDPE sewer pipes, shaft rings and fittings for municipal civil engineering and sewer projects
• Drinking water infrastructure: PE 100 pressure pipes and connection fittings for water supply networks and house connections
• Cable protection ducts: duct systems for fibre-optic, electricity and telecommunications lines as part of municipal digitalisation projects
• Waste containers and street furniture: bins, recycling containers, litter bins and bike racks made of plastic for municipal waste-management operations
• Floor and floor coverings: PVC and polyolefin floor coverings for schools, hospitals and administrative buildings
• Membranes and sealing systems: geomembranes for landfills, sludge ponds and stormwater retention basins

Thresholds and procurement procedures

Larger infrastructure procurements (e.g. pipe supplies for sewer construction projects) frequently exceed the EU threshold. They are tendered in the open procedure or as part of larger construction projects (in lots). Smaller purchases — such as waste containers or floor-covering renewals — are tendered in national procedures under UVgO.

Relevant CPV codes for NACE 22.2

The following CPV codes are the key search terms for plastic-products tenders on TED and national platforms.

Current tenders with these CPV codes are published on TED (Tenders Electronic Daily) as well as on municipal procurement platforms and the German Procurement Portal (DTVP).

For whom is NACE 22.2 relevant in procurement law?

Public contracting authorities

Contracting authorities for plastic products are primarily municipal civil engineering departments and wastewater utilities (pipes, sewer parts), municipal waste-management operations (waste containers), road authorities (street furniture, safety equipment), municipal building services (floor coverings, roof membranes), publicly owned water utilities (pressure pipes), as well as public building projects (window profiles, façade elements).

Companies and bidders

Manufacturers of plastic products and specialist wholesalers acting as bidders should pay attention to:

• Standards compliance: product-specific EN standards are mandatory — e.g. EN 1401 for PVC-U sewer pipes, EN 12201 for PE drinking-water pipes, EN 14726 for geomembranes
• Quality monitoring: RAL quality marks for pipe systems (RAL-GZ 961) as trust-building evidence
• Sustainability evidence: growing requirements for recycled content and Environmental Product Declarations (EPD) in accordance with EN 15804
• Volume reliability and delivery logistics: reliable bulk deliveries for infrastructure sites
• Chemical regulation (REACH): particularly relevant for PVC products (phthalate-free plasticisers in floor coverings for schools and nurseries)

NACE 22.2 in context: Section C and Division 22

NACE 22.2 is part of Division 22 (Manufacture of rubber and plastic products) and, through its applications, is closely linked to almost every area of public construction and infrastructure.

• NACE C – Manufacturing: parent section
• NACE 22 – Manufacture of rubber and plastic products: parent division
• NACE 22.1 – Manufacture of rubber products: sister group (tyres, seals)
• NACE 23.6 – Manufacture of articles of concrete, cement and plaster: complementary infrastructure materials

Frequently asked questions on NACE 22.2 and public tenders

Which plastic products are most often tendered publicly? Sewer pipes and fittings made of PVC and PE are the largest segment by volume, followed by waste containers and municipal refuse bins as well as floor coverings for public buildings. Empty ducts for broadband roll-out are gaining significant importance in the wake of the digitalisation drive.

Can smaller trade businesses also participate in tenders for plastic products? Yes — the statutory requirement to divide contracts into lots (§ 97(4) GWB) allows smaller companies to participate. Many municipalities tender pipe supplies as specialist lots for individual construction sections or by product category.

What role do environmental requirements play in plastic products in public procurement? The EU Plastics Strategy and the Circular Economy Package mean that contracting authorities increasingly require minimum recycled content, REACH compliance (plasticisers, flame retardants) and EPD environmental product declarations. Particularly strict requirements apply to harmful substances in PVC floor coverings for schools and day-care centres.

Last updated: January 2026 All information provided without warranty. For legally binding advice, please consult a law firm specialising in public procurement.