Plastic credits are one part of the solution to tackle the plastic waste crisis – this is the message of the group of plastic credit voluntary standard setters who are active in the PREVENT Waste Alliance. In view of the current preparations for the upcoming UNEA Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee on Ending Plastic Pollution, the group for the first time has developed a joint position.

The voluntary plastic credit standard setters welcome the historic resolution adopted at the fifth session of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-5.2) to end plastic pollution and forge an international legally binding agreement by 2024. Meanwhile, since a proper legal framework which addresses the full lifecycle of plastics and enforcement of the same is lacking in many countries, the voluntary standard setters believe that flexible approaches to harness voluntary action are much needed.

They underline that plastic credits have the potential to play a powerful and complementary role in the full life cycle of plastics, alongside local/national policies such as Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) schemes, recycling or reduction laws.

The voluntary standard setters are part of the Roundtable on Plastic Credits within the PREVENT Waste Alliance. The objective of the Roundtable is to achieve global alignment of definitions, scope and methodologies for plastic credits to ensure global acceptance of the instrument and to create a level playing field for plastic credit issuers.