What is the Social+ OBP Component Standard?

Integrated into the Ocean Bound Plastic (OBP) Certification Program by Zero Plastic Oceans (ZPO), the Social+ OBP Component is an innovative standard focusing on the "human" factor in the plastic waste collection process. It is applied as an add-on module to the OBP Collection Organization and OBP Neutrality Services Provider standards. Its primary goal is to improve the living and working conditions of independent waste collectors—who predominantly work in the informal sector—protect them from exploitation, and help integrate them into the formal societal system. It is designed for organizations that do not just want to protect the environment, but also aim to build a fair, inclusive, and ethical circular economy.

Key Technical Criteria of the Social+ OBP Standard

Going beyond traditional environmental audits, this standard establishes robust social mechanisms that directly benefit waste-picking communities. The technical framework can be summarized as follows:

• Independent Collector (IC) Community Manager:

  • The organization must appoint a dedicated "IC Community Manager" to serve as the primary point of contact between the collectors and the organization, advocating for their rights and addressing their specific needs.

• Child Protection:

  • There is absolute zero tolerance for child labor. However, the standard goes further by mandating that concrete remedial and preventive solutions be provided to keep children out of work and actively support their access to education and childcare facilities.

• Occupational Health, Safety, and Empowerment:

  • Occupational risks faced by collectors must be carefully assessed, and adequate personal protective equipment alongside OHS (Occupational Health and Safety) training must be provided to mitigate these risks.

  • Additionally, actionable empowerment workshops must be organized to support collectors with administrative, financial, and legal tasks (guiding them toward formalization and legal recognition).

• Fair Compensation and Price Premiums:

  • It is mandatory to provide collectors with fair, timely payments and additional "price premiums" that elevate their standard of living beyond basic market rates. For the organization's own formal employees, full compliance with the ETI (Ethical Trading Initiative) base code is required.

Why Choose Social+ OBP Certification with ETKO?

Environmental protection and social justice are now inseparable concepts. Brands in the global market want to prove that their supply chains are not only "green" but also "humane and fair." Obtaining the Social+ OBP Certificate through ETKO’s international expertise in social compliance and environmental auditing transparently proves to the world that your projects do not merely clean the oceans, but actively fight poverty and positively impact human lives. This prestigious label elevates your brand and collection organization to the absolute highest ethical standards in the industry.