The Plastics Standard sets requirements for new or scaled-up collection and recycling projects that can measure their impact in a credible, transparent and consistent way to generate Plastic Credits. Projects must meet strict requirements, including social and environmental safeguards. Credits are awarded for the additional amount of plastic waste collected from the environment and managed responsibly (e.g. recycled, landfilled or incinerated with energy recovery) or for any plastic recycled beyond a basic recycling rate.
Any company that wants to reduce its plastic footprint beyond its own value chain can purchase Plastic Credits. Proceeds from credit sales enable projects to maintain or expand their collection and/or recycling activities.

Projects that measurably increase the collection and/or recycling of waste plastic above baseline rates. Creditable activities include, but are not limited to: community waste collection from the environment; collection and sorting of recyclable plastic waste; development of new or expanded waste collection infrastructure; and development of new or expanded recycling infrastructure.
Most of the credited collection activities will take place in economies dependent on “informal” waste management, where waste collection projects must ensure the inclusive and beneficial inclusion of local waste collector communities.

A Plastic Credit represents one ton of collected or recycled plastic waste certified by the Plastic Standard. Projects generating Plastic Credits must meet strict requirements, including social and environmental safeguards. Verra issues credits for the additional amount of plastic waste collected from the environment and managed responsibly, or for any plastic recycled beyond a basic rate. Companies can purchase credits to invest in scaling up plastic waste collection, recycling or waste management infrastructure as part of a full lifecycle approach to plastics management.