Plastic Credits — Frequently Asked Questions
What are plastic credits?
A plastic credit represents a verified unit of plastic waste that has been collected from the environment, diverted from landfill, or recycled. They allow companies to offset their plastic footprint and meet plastic-neutral or plastic-negative certification requirements.
The plastic credit market is the fastest-growing environmental credit market, currently valued at $150 billion with a 25% annual growth rate.
What types of plastic credits does NCRB support?
| Sub-type | Description |
|---|---|
| Ocean Plastic Removal | Plastic collected from oceans, coastlines, and waterways |
| Landfill Diversion | Plastic intercepted before reaching landfill |
| Recycling Credits | Verified post-consumer or post-industrial recycled plastic |
| Plastic-Neutral Certifications | Certified neutralisation of a company's plastic output |
Which registries and standards are supported?
| Registry | Notes |
|---|---|
| rePurpose Global | Leading plastic action platform |
| Plastic Bank | Ocean-bound plastic collection in coastal communities |
| Verra PWRS | Plastic Waste Reduction Standard |
| CleanHub | Verified plastic recovery |
How is quality rated?
Every plastic credit receives a programmatic quality score (0–100) across six weighted dimensions (Technical Quality, Additionality, Permanence, Certification Level, Social Impact, Vintage/Condition) — the same framework used across all NCRB asset classes.
| Band | Score |
|---|---|
| AAA | 85–100 |
| AA | 75–84 |
| A | 65–74 |
| BBB | 50–64 |
| Not Eligible | < 50 |
What are typical price ranges?
| Quality Tier | Type | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Premium | Plastic Negative (above and beyond neutral) | $600–$800 / tonne |
| High Quality | Ocean-Bound Plastic | $400–$600 / tonne |
| Standard | Plastic Neutral certified | $200–$400 / tonne |
| Basic | Recycling Credits | $100–$200 / tonne |
Ocean-bound plastic commands a significant premium due to the additional social and environmental co-benefits of coastal community employment.
What are the minimum requirements to tokenize a plastic credit?
- Minimum Plastic Neutral certification from a supported registry
- Third-party verification by an accredited auditor
- Geographic tracking of collection location
- Token issued as
NC-PLASTIC-{ID}(ERC-7943 uRWA)
Why does plastic credit provenance matter?
Where plastic is collected determines its environmental and social value. Ocean-bound plastic (collected within 50 km of a coastline or waterway before entering the ocean) commands the highest premiums because:
- It prevents the most damaging form of plastic pollution
- Collection programmes employ coastal communities in developing regions
- It is traceable to specific collection events and locations
NCRB's quality scoring captures this through the Social Impact (12%) and Technical Quality (25%) dimensions.
How is token revenue distributed?
| Recipient | Share |
|---|---|
| Asset Owner | 70% |
| Registry Partner | 10% |
| NCRB Platform | 10% |
| Third Party (aggregator / referrer) | 10% |
What fees apply?
- Trading fee: 2.5% per transaction
- AUM fee: 1.5% annually
- BaaS licensing: $50,000–$200,000 for registry partners