Ocean Bound Plastic Certifications

Ocean Bound Plastic Certification scheme recognises work done by businesses and organisations to collect, manage and recycle plastic waste that is vulnerable to enter the oceans. The certification is maintained by the NGO Zero Plastic Oceans.

Over 12 million tons of plastic waste enter the ocean every year, 80% of which originates on land. It is near shores and river banks and is termed ocean-bound plastic.

Under the scheme, companies would be evaluated by third-party certification bodies that are independent of Zero Plastic Oceans. As of 2020, Peterson-Control Union is the only certification agency approved to provide the certification.

The certification consists of three standards:

• The first standard recognizes an organisation's efforts to collect of ocean-bound plastics and of selling it to recycling industry or recycling it themselves.  
• The second standard covers the plastics and plastics recycling industry. It covers trading, transforming and recycling of plastic waste, or for making final products or packaging with recycled plastics. The standard can be used to show recycled ocean-bound plastic content in end products.
• The third standard recognises companies’ contribution to finance ZPO’s waste collection initiatives and offers a third-party verified certification of that engagement.

Organisations have to pay fees to ZPO for the certification, and additionally pay fees to the certification agency. The agencies determine fees on a case-to-case basis, whereas ZPO has a fee that depends on the annual turnover of the organisation. Proceeds from the certification fund the maintenance of the certification standards and advocacy efforts towards more implication of the private sector in financing collection of non-recyclable Ocean-Bound Plastic.

The certification would help companies access higher value markets and environmentally conscious consumers and have a positive social and ecological impact, according to Peterson-Control Union.

The certification scheme was developed by ZPO in collaboration with Control Union, and with inputs from Heng Hiap Industries, Oceanworks, Race for Water Foundation, ANCON, Marea Verde, EuroFil, EcoFil, Alcane Conseils, Jan & Oscar Fondation and the support of SUEZ Central America and Caribbean.