# OBP Recycling Organization Standard (Ocean Bound Plastic) - Certification body: ETKO Ecological Agriculture Control Organization - Category: Plastic Certification - Canonical page: https://www.etko.com.tr/certifications/plastic/obp-recycling-organization-standard-ocean-bound-plastic - Markdown: https://www.etko.com.tr/certifications/plastic/obp-recycling-organization-standard-ocean-bound-plastic.md ## Summary The OBP Recycling Organization Standard audits the recycling processes and chain of custody of ocean-bound plastics, transparently verifying the OBP content… ## Does ETKO provide OBP Recycling Organization Standard (Ocean Bound Plastic) certification? Yes. ETKO certifies OBP Recycling Organization Standard (Ocean Bound Plastic) within its Plastic Certification program. This page covers the standard, the application process, and related documents. ## What is OBP Recycling Organization Standard (Ocean Bound Plastic)? The OBP Recycling Organization Standard audits the recycling processes and chain of custody of ocean-bound plastics, transparently verifying the OBP content… ## Details # **What is the OBP Recycling Organization Standard?** Representing the manufacturing and processing leg of the OBP (Ocean Bound Plastic) Certification Program developed by Zero Plastic Oceans (ZPO), this standard focuses on the process of transforming collected plastic waste into recycled raw materials (pellets, flakes, yarn, etc.) or final products. Its primary objective is to guarantee that products marketed with "ocean-friendly recycled plastic" claims are genuinely made from abandoned waste that was at risk of entering the oceans. By establishing a robust chain of custody within recycling facilities, the standard completely eliminates the risk of "greenwashing" in the supply chain. ## **Key Technical Criteria of the OBP Recycling Standard** The system audits both the physical flow of the plastic from entry to exit and the sustainability performance of the facility itself. The technical framework can be summarized as follows: - **Traceability and Chain of Custody:** OBP waste received from certified collection organizations must be fully traceable throughout all stages within the facility: shredding, washing, melting, and molding. - To prevent the mixing of OBP with conventional plastics, facilities must implement either a **Segregation** model or a strictly mathematically tracked **Mass Balance** model. - **Transaction Certificates (TCs) and OBP Content Claims:** Every batch of recycled product sold must be accompanied by Transaction Certificates (TCs) documenting the exact percentage of OBP content. The use of OBP logos on consumer-facing packaging relies entirely on these documents. - **Environmental Management and Facility Compliance:** While saving plastic from nature, the recycling process itself must not pollute the environment. The facility must fully comply with national/international regulations regarding wastewater treatment, air emissions, energy use, and solid waste management. - **Social Responsibility and Occupational Health:** Working conditions within the facility must meet ILO (International Labour Organization) standards; a safe working environment, fair wages, and workers' rights must be guaranteed. ## Who this standard is for The OBP Recycling Organization Standard is for plants that turn collected ocean-bound plastic into recyclate (flakes, pellets, or similar). Incoming material must come from certified collection (or another accepted OBP source) with chain documents. ## What is certified - Mechanical (or otherwise in-scope) recycling of documented OBP lots - Yield, contamination, and output lot records - Chain of custody from certified collection into recyclate sales - Sales of OBP recyclate to certified producers/users or brands ## What this standard does not cover - Collection in the field (Collection Organization) - A finished consumer brand claim without the Brand standard - NEU offset services ## Questions buyers and operators usually ask ### Can we recycle conventional PET and OBP PET on the same line? Yes if identity and mass-balance/segregation rules of the standard are met. Undocumented mixing that inflates OBP output is a core non-conformity. ### Do we need GRS as well as OBP? GRS is a Textile Exchange recycled-content standard. OBP is origin (ocean-bound) plus the OBP scheme rules. A yarn mill may be asked for both; one TC does not replace the other. ### What if collection documents are missing for a truck? That truck cannot enter the OBP claimed volume. Parking it as conventional recyclate — if the process allows — is safer than forcing it into OBP. ### Can we sell OBP pellets to a non-certified converter? The converter cannot pass an OBP product claim without being in the relevant OBP standard. You can sell material, but the claim stops unless they are certified. ## What to have ready before the audit - Incoming collection TCs / delivery documents for every OBP load - Process flow and yield calculations - Laboratory or quality records for contamination - Outgoing invoices matching OBP recyclate lots - Subcontracted washing/extrusion listed in scope ## Frequent findings - OBP output kilos above documented OBP input after yield - Accepting collection from a non-certified collector as OBP - GRS hangtag used as OBP evidence - Tolling lines not in the certificate scope ## How do I apply for OBP Recycling Organization Standard (Ocean Bound Plastic) certification with ETKO? Apply through the ETKO Ecoport portal: https://ecoport.etko.com.tr/apply ## Application Process At ETKO, we manage your application process transparently, quickly, and clearly. Our process consists of the following steps: 1. **Application and Information Exchange** — We gather preliminary information about your company's structure and production processes. 2. **Proposal and Contract** — We present a detailed proposal for the inspection process and sign a contract upon your approval. 3. **Pre-Audit Preparation** — This is the process of preparing the necessary documentation (chemical inventory, social compliance documents, etc.). 4. **On-Site Audit** — Expert ETKO auditors visit your facility and examine your compliance with the criteria on-site. 5. **Reporting and Certification** — After non-conformities are resolved (if any), the audit report is approved and your certificate is issued. ## Accreditations - GOTS: International Organic Accreditation Service - accreditation for certification programs worldwide. - National Organic Program (NOP): United States Department of Agriculture — NOP accredited certifying agent. - TR Organik & GLOBALGAP & İTU: Turkish Accreditation Agency (TURKAK) — Turkey's national accreditation body for conformity assessment. - COSMOS: International Organic Accreditation Service — accreditation for certification programs worldwide. - Textile Exchange Standards: International Organic Accreditation Service — accreditation for certification programs worldwide. - ISO/IEC 17065:2012: International Organic Accreditation Service — accreditation for certification programs worldwide. ## Countries of operation Bangladesh, Pakistan, Ukraine, Korea, China, Denmark, Germany, Syria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kyrgyzstan, Serbia, Romania, Sweden, Bulgaria, Russia, United Arab Emirates, Qatar ## Where can I find OBP Recycling Organization Standard (Ocean Bound Plastic) regulations and forms? ETKO's document center lists regulations, application forms, and current guidelines for this standard: https://ecoport.etko.com.tr/apply ## Related pages - HTML: https://www.etko.com.tr/certifications/plastic/obp-recycling-organization-standard-ocean-bound-plastic - About ETKO: https://www.etko.com.tr/about - Contact: https://www.etko.com.tr/contact - Document center: https://www.etko.com.tr/documents?category=plastic&standard=obp-recycling-organization-standard-ocean-bound-plastic