Whether in the deep sea, tropical regions, or the North and Baltic Seas, plastic waste can be found on every coast and in every ocean of the world. Even in the Mariana Trench, the deepest point in the world's oceans at 11,000 meters and close to the summit of Mount Everest at 8,440 metres high, microplastics has been found. Since its commercial development in the 1930s and 1940s, plastic has become increasingly dominant in the consumer market. The amount produced has increased exponentially for decades, further compounded by the Covid-19 pandemic. Therefore, nowadays, every living species throughout every ecosystem on the planet is detrimentally affected by plastic pollution. The problem of plastic waste leaking into the environment is particularly severe in countries where no adequate and sufficient waste management system is in place.
In order to address the issue, more and more efforts and strategies to combat the plastic crisis developed in recent years, including plastic credits. A plastic credit is a transferable unit representing a specific quantity of plastic that has been collected and possibly recycled from the environment. Usually, the system is based on a one-for-one basis, meaning one plastic credit represents one tonne of collected and/or recycled plastic waste.
For example, if a company has a plastic footprint (the amount of plastic waste it generates) of 200 tonnes, it must purchase 200 plastic credits to offset all its plastic consumption. The money spent on plastic credits is allocated to a project that collects and/or recycles plastic waste in exchange for receiving this funding. As a result, the plastic credit system creates benefits for both parties. The company that bought the credit can claim that they assume responsibility for the plastic they release into the environment and that they make a significant contribution towards reducing plastic pollution. Correspondingly, the project generating the credit secures funding for the collection and recycling of plastic in a sustainable manner, which would not have been possible otherwise.
The funding through the credits intends to support organizations that not only fight against plastic pollution to preserve the environment but also focus on social aspects by supporting local communities, improving the livelihood of waste pickers, and increasing job opportunities. Ideally, the award of credits would lead to investments and improvements in local waste management infrastructure and strengthen the ability of waste management systems to keep plastic in the system rather than in nature.
However, the weaknesses and risks of the system must also be considered. As more and more organizations offer plastic credits, the risks and weaknesses of the system are becoming more apparent and evident. Critics say that plastic credits are only meant to address the symptoms of the plastic crisis (collecting the waste that has already entered the environment) rather than the roots of the problem, which is the continuous manufacture and consumption of single-use plastic. As a result, the plastic credit system includes a contradiction: businesses might continue to generate more plastic while also benefiting from the green image related to credit schemes. Companies might claim to be "plastic neutral" by simply acquiring plastic credits while resuming to pollute from their supply chain and conducting business as usual. Consequently, the system could be used for greenwashing. Responsible companies require comprehensive solutions to address their plastic footprint, which is impossible without changing their operations or products.
Humankind needs immense biodiversity to survive. The synergy of every tiny mechanism and species in the oceans and the natural environment ensures that the Earth is habitable. However, due to human activity, the planet's biodiversity is in decline. Science has shown and proven this more and more clearly in recent years. Therefore, it is time to make a decision. We could consciously ignore the imminent disaster. Or we could change our behavior. Plastic credits can support this transition by financing the collection of plastic waste, which already pollutes the environment, but in the end, the best waste is the one not generated. Every piece of plastic that is avoided is a success and contributes to protecting the oceans and nature from further pollution.
