What is the OBP NEU Services Provider Standard?
This specific module of the OBP (Ocean Bound Plastic) Certification Program, developed by Zero Plastic Oceans (ZPO), establishes a reliable bridge between brands aiming to achieve a "Plastic Neutral" status and the organizations collecting and treating waste on the ground. This standard is designed explicitly for the managers (Services Providers) of the "Plastic Credit" system, which finances the collection and safe disposal of low-value, non-commercially recyclable plastic waste—waste that is otherwise ignored by collectors and left to pollute the environment. The primary goal of the standard is to ensure that these ocean-protection efforts are financially and physically transparent, traceable, and completely free from fraud.
Key Technical Criteria of the OBP NEU Standard
Rather than focusing on physical recycling, this standard enforces strict rules regarding the documentation and "crediting" of the process from the collection of plastic waste to its final disposal:
Scope and Low-Value Plastics:
The system strictly covers the collection of low-value plastics with no economic value, which have the highest risk of ending up in the ocean (e.g., multi-layered packaging, snack wrappers, degraded plastic bags).
Plastic Credit Generation and Prevention of Double Counting:
Every 1 ton of OBP collected from nature and safely disposed of is converted into 1 "OBP Credit."
It is mandatory that these credits and their trading transactions are recorded with unique serial numbers in ZPO’s global OBP Credit Registry. This rigorous tracking absolutely prevents the same batch of plastic or credit from being sold to multiple brands (double counting).
End-of-Life Verification:
The service provider must prove with official documents, weighbridge tickets, and analyses that the collected waste has been ultimately disposed of without harming the environment (e.g., used as alternative fuel in cement kilns via co-processing with strict emission filters, or through advanced thermal treatments).
Social Compliance and Ethical Labor:
To prevent the exploitation of waste pickers (often working in the informal sector), rules regarding fair compensation, the prohibition of child labor, and occupational health and safety are meticulously audited.
Why Choose OBP NEU Services Provider Certification with ETKO?
If you are a waste management company, NGO, or environmental initiative looking to finance your projects by selling "Plastic Credits" to global brands, the credits you sell must be internationally verified. ETKO’s internationally accredited auditing experts independently verify your entire process, from on-the-ground collection activities to your financial database records. The OBP NEU certificate, backed by ETKO’s assurance, transforms the plastic credits you generate into legal, transparent, and "purchasable" environmental impact certificates for global luxury, food, and cosmetic brands.