Plastic credits are a bit of a double-edged sword — there's a lot to take into consideration. Our journey with Plastic Credits began in Indonesia in 2019, while we were living there. When our initial plan to finance operations through plastic bottle collection proved unfeasible—we found primarily non-recyclable materials like plastic bags and multi-layer plastics—we pioneered a new approach: measurable impact funding through Plastic Credits.
We thought: Let’s give others the opportunity to fund our measurable impact and commit to a certain amount of plastic collection in return. This system creates accountability: in exchange for funding, we commit to removing specific amounts of plastic waste. Unlike donations, which require no tangible returns, our service-based model delivers verifiable results. We call it Impact-as-a-Service, or simply impact-sponsoring. For a donation, you get a tax-beneficial receipt, by hiring Plastic Fischer, you get proven impact.
It doesn’t matter what you call it, but back in 2019, we called it Plastic Fischer Credits.
Since then, many organizations have started selling Plastic Credits, modeling them after carbon credits. When Verra began developing their Plastic Credit standard in 2021, the market expanded significantly. Unfortunately, instead of learning from the pitfalls of the carbon credit market, many repeated the same mistakes.
Today's Plastic Credit market resembles the Wild West. Among legitimate operators and scammers, the key differentiator is additionality—creating impact that wouldn't exist otherwise. Our TrashBooms exemplify this: without them, River Plastic would flow unimpeded into oceans. Contrast this with organizations that double-dip by claiming credits for government-funded waste collection. And then, of course, the decisive factor is how a company uses them.
Our position is unequivocal: Plastic Credits cannot justify or offset plastic in supply chains. They represent a beyond-compliance contribution, separate from an organization's responsibility to reduce their environmental footprint. Unfortunately, some providers offer cheap credits as offsetting opportunities, enabling companies to sidestep their environmental responsibilities.
Our commitment goes beyond just cleaning up rivers. We create quality, stable jobs rather than relying on precarious day labor. Our goal is to build lasting infrastructure and drive systemic change that will eventually make our work unnecessary — though we recognize there's still a long way to go. We believe in transparency and fact-based communication, which is why we don't offer labels like 'plastic neutral'.
In 2025, we'll share more about our distinctive approach and the principles behind it, helping partners and supporters understand why we do things differently. To the Media: We urge more nuanced coverage distinguishing between responsible and irresponsible practices, rather than sensationalized reporting that undermines this emerging market.
We invite you to dive deeper into the details of the Plastic Credits market, where responsible practices are making a real difference. Only thorough, balanced reporting can help distinguish effective approaches from questionable ones, ultimately strengthening public trust in legitimate environmental initiatives. Let's work together to build understanding of solutions that truly benefit our environment and communities.
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