Who is rePurpose Global?
rePurpose Global is a New York and Mumbai-based plastic action platform founded in 2016 by Svanika Balasubramanian and Peter Wang Hjemdahl. It operates as a curated marketplace and managed-service intermediary between corporate buyers seeking plastic credit programmes and verified plastic collection and recycling projects across the developing world. As of 2025, rePurpose has issued programmes to over 250 brands across more than 80 certified impact projects, making it the largest single-provider plastic credit programme manager by client count.
rePurpose's model is distinct from a standard credit registry or standard body. Unlike Verra, which sets standards and operates a registry but does not sell credits itself, rePurpose is a commercial operator that both sources credits from its project portfolio and sells programme services to brands, packaging them with impact reporting, communications support, and certification marks. This commercial structure gives rePurpose a different risk profile than Verra-accredited projects: it is operationally integrated across the market and deeply knowledgeable about project selection, but introduces an intermediary layer between buyers and the underlying verification data that sophisticated buyers should understand and account for.
How the model works
rePurpose's model operates in three integrated layers.
Project development and vetting: rePurpose conducts an internal due diligence process for projects seeking entry into its portfolio. The assessment covers additionality (does the project divert plastic that would otherwise be mismanaged?), monitoring system quality, social impact infrastructure, and the project operator's track record. Projects passing the assessment are contracted into the rePurpose network and assigned to specific buyer programmes.
MRV and third-party verification: rePurpose has developed its own MRV protocol — a monitoring, reporting, and verification methodology that governs how collection volumes are measured and documented across its project network. This proprietary protocol is audited annually by Bureau Veritas, one of the world's largest testing and certification companies. Bureau Veritas's audit covers a sample of projects from the rePurpose portfolio each year, reviewing weight records, chain-of-custody documentation, and operational conditions. This is not Verra PWRS registration — there is no public Verra registry record — but Bureau Veritas's accreditation provides a meaningful level of independent assurance.
Brand programme delivery: For corporate buyers, rePurpose provides an end-to-end service that includes: plastic footprint measurement support (using a proprietary assessment tool), credit sourcing matched to the buyer's footprint, the 'Plastic Neutral Certified' certification mark licensed for use on packaging and marketing materials, a buyer-facing impact dashboard with project-level data, and an annual impact report tailored for corporate sustainability disclosures. The certification mark is rePurpose's own brand and is not independently accredited by a third-party body — though Bureau Veritas's annual audit provides an external verification element.
Project portfolio and geography
rePurpose's active project portfolio as of 2025 covers over 80 certified projects across 18 countries. The geographic breakdown reflects the distribution of high-mismanagement plastic waste streams: approximately 60 percent of volume originates from South and Southeast Asia, with India (25%), Indonesia (20%), and the Philippines (15%) representing the largest individual country contributions. Sub-Saharan Africa — Kenya, Ghana, Ethiopia, Cameroon — accounts for roughly 20 percent of portfolio volume, with Latin America (Brazil, Colombia, Peru) contributing the remaining 20 percent.
Projects range from informal waste picker cooperatives processing post-consumer flexible plastic, to formal mechanical recycling operations handling post-consumer rigid plastic, to ocean-bound coastal collection programmes in high-leakage coastal communities. rePurpose does not disclose the exact composition of credits allocated to specific buyers, meaning brands purchasing 'ocean-bound' credits through rePurpose should confirm this explicitly in their contract rather than assuming portfolio average characteristics apply.
Which brands use rePurpose
rePurpose's client list spans consumer goods, food and beverage, cosmetics, fashion, and digital services. Notable clients include Nespresso (plastic neutral certification for recycling envelope operations), L'Oréal (plastic neutral certification for rinse-off product lines in eight markets), IKEA India (plastic neutral for Indian operations), Danone (selected plastic neutral product ranges), Kiehl's (plastic neutral certification for skincare lines), and Bloomingdale's (plastic neutral for e-commerce packaging). The client base skews toward mid-sized consumer brands for which the managed-service model is attractive because it eliminates the need for internal expertise in MRV, VVB management, and credit procurement. Multinational corporations with dedicated sustainability teams sometimes prefer to access Verra-registered projects directly to retain independent registry access.
Pricing model
rePurpose charges a programme fee that covers the cost of credits (passed through from project developers) plus a service and overhead margin. For small and mid-sized brands, rePurpose's subscription starts at approximately $200 to $500 per month for modest footprint programmes. Larger corporate programmes with annual credit volumes in the hundreds of tonnes are typically priced through bespoke contracts negotiated directly with rePurpose's enterprise sales team. The effective all-in cost per tonne, including rePurpose's service margin, is typically 20 to 40 percent above the cost of purchasing equivalent credits directly from a Verra-registered project developer — a premium that buyers either willingly pay for the managed-service value, or can eliminate by developing direct project relationships.
Limitations and criticism
rePurpose's commercial model generates two principal criticisms. First, the intermediary layer limits buyer access to raw verification data. Buyers do not have a direct contractual relationship with Bureau Veritas and cannot independently access the full audit report without rePurpose's cooperation. For buyers subject to investor scrutiny or requiring independent registry access for regulatory disclosures, this is a structural limitation. Second, rePurpose's 'Plastic Neutral Certified' mark is proprietary and not independently accredited — its credibility rests on rePurpose's reputation and the Bureau Veritas annual audit, rather than on a third-party standard body's governance and dispute resolution processes. As green claims regulation tightens, this certification architecture may face scrutiny from regulators applying the EU Green Claims Directive's substantiation requirements.
The case for rePurpose remains strong for buyers who value managed services, speed to market (rePurpose can have a brand operational in 30 to 60 days versus 12 to 18 months for Verra PWRS direct), and the communications infrastructure that the rePurpose platform provides. The case for direct Verra PWRS access is stronger for large buyers with internal sustainability expertise, investor-facing reporting obligations that require independent registry access, and the operational bandwidth to manage VVB relationships and project monitoring directly.
About the author
PlasticUnits Editorial
Editorial Team
The PlasticUnits editorial team comprises analysts, scientists, and journalists covering the plastic credits market, recycling economics, and global plastic policy.