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 voluntary plastic credit market was valued at approximately $462 million in 2024 and is projected to reach $1.79 billion by 2031 at a 23.6% CAGR, driven by corporate plastic-neutral commitments and Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) regulations. Under a high-compliance scenario driven by the UN Global Plastic Treaty, the market could reach $4–6 billion by 2050. (Valuates Reports, 2025)
What types of plastic credits does NCRB support?
| Sub-type | Description |
|---|---|
| Ocean-Bound Plastic Collection | Plastic collected within 50 km of a coastline or waterway before reaching the ocean |
| Coastal and Waterway Clean-up | Collection from shorelines, rivers, and estuaries |
| Landfill Diversion | Plastic intercepted before reaching landfill |
| Post-Consumer Recycled Content | Verified post-consumer or post-industrial recycled plastic |
| Plastic-Negative | 2x+ plastic removed vs. company's plastic footprint |
Which registries and standards are supported?
| Registry / Standard | Notes |
|---|---|
| Verra Plastic Program (VPP) | Verra's dedicated plastic credit standard; separate from VCS carbon credits |
| rePurpose Global Standard | Leading plastic action platform; plastic-neutral and plastic-negative certifications |
| Plastic Bank Social Plastic® Standard | Ocean-bound plastic collection with social co-benefits in coastal communities |
| Ocean Bound Plastic (OBP) Certification | Third-party standard for ocean-bound plastic collection and traceability |
| CleanHub Verified Collection | Verified plastic recovery from waste-management-deficient regions |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Social Impact | High-Impact / Waste Picker Livelihood | $700–$1,200+ / tonne |
| Premium | Plastic Negative | $300–$600 / tonne |
| High Quality | Ocean-Bound / Coastal Collection | $150–$400 / tonne |
| Standard | Plastic Neutral | $100–$250 / tonne |
| Basic | Recycled / Diverted | $50–$150 / 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 | Allocation | Vesting |
|---|---|---|
| Project Owner | 99% | Immediate |
| NCRB Asset Treasury | 1% | Permanent (locked collateral) |
What fees apply?
- Trading fees: 2.5% of transaction value
- Insurance fees: 1.5% annually
- NCRB Treasury: 1.0% of asset
- BaaS Licensing: Institutional rates available for quotation