Knowledge Bank | Plastic Units

Guides

How to measure your plastic footprint

Accurate plastic footprint measurement is the foundation of any credible reduction or offset strategy — and increasingly a regulatory requirement under CSRD and EPR frameworks. This guide covers scope definitions, methodologies, tools, and common mistakes to avoid.

5 min · 20 Jun 2025Read →

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Verra's Plastic Waste Reduction Standard (PWRS)

A technical guide to Verra's PWRS — the first comprehensive plastic credit standard — covering eligible project types, approved methodologies, additionality requirements, the verification cycle, and how project developers enter the pipeline.

5 min · 28 May 2025Read →

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How plastic credit verification works

Plastic credit verification follows the Monitoring, Reporting, and Verification (MRV) framework borrowed from carbon markets — three sequential phases that transform operational collection data into an independently audited credit with a public registry record.

4 min · 25 Apr 2025Read →

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How to evaluate a plastic credit project: a buyer's due diligence checklist

Not all plastic credits are created equal. This step-by-step due diligence checklist covers the seven questions every procurement team must answer before committing capital — with the specific documents to request and the red flags that should stop a purchase.

6 min · 1 Oct 2025Read →

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Plastic-free packaging alternatives: a material-by-material comparison

Glass, aluminium, paper, and bioplastics are the most commonly cited alternatives to plastic packaging — but each carries life-cycle trade-offs that make universal substitution impossible. This guide compares the materials buyers actually have to choose between.

7 min · 1 Sept 2025Read →

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Corporate plastic credit strategies: a practical buyer's guide

For corporate sustainability teams, plastic credits are a complex procurement category requiring footprint measurement, supplier due diligence, claims management, and regulatory awareness. This guide covers the full buyer journey from assessment to credit retirement.

7 min · 1 Oct 2025Read →

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Comparing plastic credit standards: Verra, rePurpose, and Zero Plastic Oceans

Three frameworks dominate the voluntary plastic credit market: Verra's Plastic Waste Reduction Standard, rePurpose Global's managed certification, and Zero Plastic Oceans. This guide compares their rigour, transparency, use cases, and what buyers actually receive from each.

6 min · 20 Oct 2025Read →

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Measuring your corporate plastic footprint: three methodologies compared

A plastic footprint measurement is the prerequisite for any credible offset or reduction claim. Three methodologies — Bill of Materials, Material Flow Analysis, and spend-based estimation — each suit different data environments, reporting obligations, and assurance requirements.

5 min · 1 Nov 2025Read →

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Retiring plastic credits: registries, serial numbers and making defensible claims

Buying a plastic credit is not the same as retiring it. This guide explains what retirement means, how registries record it, the steps buyers should follow, and the mistakes that weaken environmental claims.

5 min · 21 Oct 2026Read →

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Plastic credits for small businesses: where to start and what to avoid

Plastic credits are an optional step for small businesses, not a starting point. This guide explains how to measure your plastic footprint, reduce first, choose between a managed provider and direct purchase, and word claims accurately.

6 min · 27 Oct 2026Read →

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How to account for plastic credits: asset, expense or disclosure?

There is no dedicated accounting standard for voluntary plastic credits, so companies must choose a treatment and explain it. This guide sets out the questions to settle before the first purchase and how to disclose credits without blurring the plastic footprint.

6 min · 30 Oct 2026Read →