Zero Plastic Oceans (ZPO), the Monaco-based ocean plastic certification body, has published the first version of its Enterprise Certification Standard — a framework designed for corporate buyers who wish to certify plastic neutrality at company or brand level rather than at individual product SKU level. The publication fills a gap in ZPO's existing certification architecture, which has until now focused primarily on product-level material claims: certifying that a specific product's packaging incorporates plastic collected from qualifying ocean-adjacent communities. The new enterprise standard enables a company to certify that its total plastic footprint — measured across all products and markets in scope — is offset by an equivalent volume of credits sourced from ZPO-certified projects.
What the enterprise standard requires
The enterprise standard requires four elements from applicant companies. First, a documented plastic footprint measurement covering the reporting entity's Scope 1 and Scope 3 downstream plastic packaging, measured using a recognised methodology such as the Plastic Disclosure Project framework or Verra PWRS guidance, with an uncertainty range disclosed alongside the central estimate. Second, a reduction plan demonstrating active packaging redesign or recycled content substitution efforts, with progress metrics reported annually — ZPO has taken the deliberate decision to require a reduction plan as a condition of certification, not merely as a recommended best practice. Third, a volume of ZPO-certified credits retired equal to or greater than the disclosed plastic footprint for the reporting period, with retirement records publicly accessible through ZPO's project registry. Fourth, an annual disclosure report covering footprint methodology, reduction actions, credit volume and project attribution, and an independent assurance statement from an approved auditor. The enterprise certification will carry an enterprise-tier ZPO mark distinguishable from the product-level mark, enabling corporate communications teams to make company-level plastic neutral claims with a disclosed standard and third-party auditor backing.
Market positioning
ZPO's enterprise standard enters a market where rePurpose Global's Plastic Neutral Certified programme and Verra PWRS-based direct procurement are the dominant options for corporate-level claims. ZPO's differentiation is its emphasis on social co-benefits and community impact measurement as mandatory disclosure elements, positioning it for buyers whose ESG strategy places social impact alongside environmental metrics.