Methodology for the Displacement of Virgin Petroleum-Based Plastic Production

The draft methodology applies to project activities that displace the production of virgin petroleum-based plastic. Eligible project activities include:

• The production of plastic materials and products using recycled plastic waste. Eligible projects will be able to generate VCUs under the VCS Program, and Plastic Credits under Verra’s Plastic Program using the latest version of the Plastic Waste Recycling Methodology (PWRM0002). Please note: VMR0007 Revision to AMS-III.AJ.: Recovery and Recycling of Materials from Solid Wastes is currently active and available for certain plastic recycling projects.
• The production of plastic materials using alternative feedstocks, such as biogenic feedstocks (sugarcane, algae, seaweed, or other plant starches or agricultural inputs) or captured industrial waste (e.g., CO2 or CH4).
• The production of non-polymer-based plastic alternatives, such as products made partially or fully from calcium carbonate. This activity is included in the draft methodology CN0103, Methodology for the Use of Alternative Materials that Displace the Production of Plastics. Verra will determine whether to consolidate CN0103 with this methodology, M0173, as part of the development process.

Verra received several requests to broaden the applicability of plastic-related methodologies and decided to fund and manage the development and assessment process for a new, consolidated methodology. In July 2022, Verra released a Request for Proposals and selected ClimeCo (opens on external site) to draft the methodology.

In June 2024, Verra decided to put the development of the draft on hold for the following reasons:

• Consolidating multiple scopes of project activities into one methodology has proved to be complex and requires significant time, resources, and expertise.
• The consultant hired to support the development of the methodology was no longer available to complete the contracted scope of work.
• Verra currently has limited availability of staff for reviews.
• The proposed new methodology is not given priority due to the lower climate change mitigation potential compared to other methodologies under development.

Verra will consider resuming the development of this methodology in June 2025.

Stakeholders interested in developing projects that this methodology might enable are encouraged to contact methodologies@verra.org, and we can add you to the list of interested stakeholders. Please include the Methodology Development ID# M0173 in the subject line.