The Role of Plastic Credit Finance in the Global Plastic Treaty

In 2022, United Nations Member States formed an Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) to begin drafting the terms of an international, legally binding instrument to end plastic pollution, referred to as the Global Plastic Treaty.

Reaching the goals of the Global Plastic Treaty will require a variety of approaches across the life cycle of plastics to address plastic pollution.

Plastic Credits issued by high-integrity plastic crediting programs, such as Verra’s Plastic Waste Reduction Program (Plastic Program), complement other solutions to meet the priorities of the treaty and should be a part of the treaty discourse.

Investment in plastic waste collection and recycling infrastructure ensures that plastic waste downstream is recovered and recirculated, repurposed, or appropriately managed.

Through the issuance of Plastic Credits to certified plastic waste collection and recycling projects, Verra’s Plastic Program drives finance toward activities that establish and scale this waste management infrastructure.

The INC currently plans to complete its negotiation of a Global Plastic Treaty by 2024. Verra attends INC sessions and participates in the INC process as an accredited observer.