Plastic Credits

Plastic credits are transferable certificates that represent a verified quantity of plastic waste that has been collected, recycled, recovered, or prevented from entering the environment. They are used by companies and organisations to finance plastic waste management projects, often in regions with weak collection, sorting, or recycling infrastructure. One credit commonly equals one kilogram or one tonne of plastic waste, depending on the scheme. Credible plastic credits should be independently verified, traceable to a specific project, and supported by clear evidence on collection volumes, processing methods, final destination of materials, and social safeguards for workers. They can help fund clean-up and circular economy infrastructure, but they should not replace plastic reduction, reuse, better product design, or Extended Producer Responsibility. Their strongest role is as a complementary tool to address existing plastic pollution and improve waste systems.