Verra has released a position statement to express its support for the development of an international, legally binding instrument on plastic pollution.
Verra affirms that Plastic Credits and the Plastic Waste Reduction Standard (Plastic Standard) can effectively address many of the strategic goals for developing this instrument that the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) secretariat identified in the Plastics Science document. The INC is the entity that is in charge of developing an international, legally binding instrument on plastic pollution.
Verra’s recommendations include:
- A role for Plastic Credits as a mechanism for addressing plastic pollution under the instrument.
- The use of Verra’s Plastic Waste Reduction Standard (Plastic Standard) as a harmonized approach to establish national baselines against which progress toward global and national targets can be measured.
- The inclusion of Verra’s Plastic Standard, Plastic Waste Collection Methodology, and Plastic Waste Recycling Methodology as monitoring initiatives.
In addition to providing a downstream solution for addressing plastic pollution in the environment, Plastic Credits can:
- Bridge investment gaps in plastic waste management by driving finance to collection and recycling activities;
- Jumpstart Extended Producer Responsibility schemes;
- Remediate existing plastic pollution hotspots or legacy pollution;
- Prevent the export of plastic waste; and
- Uplift the informal sector.
The first meeting of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) to negotiate this instrument takes place in Punta del Este, Uruguay, from 28 November to 2 December. Verra will attend as an observer. To schedule a meeting, please contact Kristen Linscott, Senior Program Officer, Plastic Program (klinscott@verra.org).