What is the OBP Plastic Producers and Users Standard?

Forming the industrial manufacturing leg of the Ocean Bound Plastic (OBP) Certification Program developed by Zero Plastic Oceans (ZPO), this standard is designed for manufacturers who purchase recycled OBP raw materials (such as pellets, flakes, yarn, or fiber) and transform them into semi-finished or finished goods—like packaging, textiles, automotive parts, or consumer products. Acting as the critical bridge between recycling facilities and retail brands, this module ensures that "ocean plastic" claims are not lost on the assembly line and guarantees that conventional plastics are not fraudulently mixed into the process to achieve unearned sustainability credentials (greenwashing).

Key Technical Criteria of the OBP Producers and Users Standard

Rather than focusing on the broader environmental or social compliance of the facility, this standard is hyper-focused on the mathematical and physical flow of materials within the plant. The technical framework can be summarized as follows:

• Traceability and Chain of Custody:

  • Strict procedures are enforced to prevent the unauthorized mixing of incoming OBP raw materials with conventional plastics throughout product formulations (recipes) and the manufacturing line.

  • Depending on the facility's production capabilities, it must implement either a Segregation model (keeping materials physically separated at all times) or a Mass Balance model (strictly accounting for the ratio of OBP volume entering versus leaving the facility).

• Transaction Certificates (TCs):

  • Manufacturers must source OBP raw materials exclusively from certified suppliers accompanied by TCs. When selling their semi-finished/finished goods to brands or other buyers, they must issue outgoing TCs detailing the exact OBP content percentage. This transparent paper trail is the backbone of the OBP supply chain.

• Production Records and Conversion Rates:

  • Material losses (waste) that occur during melting, molding, or spinning, along with exact material conversion rates, must be meticulously recorded. This allows auditors to mathematically verify exactly "how much OBP-containing product was generated from 1 ton of OBP raw material input."

Why Choose OBP Producers and Users Certification with ETKO?

Global brands require all manufacturers within their supply chain to be certified before they can legally claim the use of ocean plastic on their packaging or products. The certification process, conducted by ETKO’s internationally competent expert auditors, proves the transparency and chain-of-custody accuracy of your production processes to the entire world. Obtaining this certificate with ETKO's assurance elevates your facility, integrating you into the approved, reliable, and sustainable "premium" supplier networks of prestigious global brands.