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The Science of Climate Change

Climate change is no longer a distant threat or just a possibility, it is now a reality for all of us. In this pathway, Kevin Trenberth, a renowned climatologist, delves into the science behind climate change. He first introduces the climate system, its main components and forces.

Tackling the Plastic Crisis

Plastic pollution is by far the biggest threat to our oceans and this remains an incredibly tough problem to solve. Plastic credits could potentially serve as one of the much needed solutions for this crisis.

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The Scale of the Net Zero Challenge

The price of meeting net zero is estimated to be between $100-150 trillion over the next 30 years. Regardless of this cost, we need to reach net zero before climate change does irreversible damage to the environment and the economy.

ESG, Sustainability and Impact Jargon Buster

ESG, sustainability, impact… they all just mean green, right? Not quite. Despite being used often interchangeably, there are distinct differences between these terms.

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Featured Pathways

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The Science of Climate Change

Climate change is no longer a distant threat or just a possibility, it is now a reality for all of us. In this pathway, Kevin Trenberth, a renowned climatologist, delves into the science behind climate change. He first introduces the climate system, its main components and forces.

Tackling the Plastic Crisis

Plastic pollution is by far the biggest threat to our oceans and this remains an incredibly tough problem to solve. Plastic credits could potentially serve as one of the much needed solutions for this crisis.

More pathways

Book a demo

Pricing

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Plans & Membership

Our Platform

Expert led content

+1,000 expert presented, on-demand video modules

Learning analytics

Keep track of learning progress with our comprehensive data

Interactive learning

Engage with our video hotspots and knowledge check-ins

Testing & certification

Gain CPD / CPE credits and professional certification

Managed learning

Build, scale and manage your organisation’s learning

Integrations

Connect Sustainability Unlocked to your current platform

Featured Content

More featured content

The Scale of the Net Zero Challenge

The price of meeting net zero is estimated to be between $100-150 trillion over the next 30 years. Regardless of this cost, we need to reach net zero before climate change does irreversible damage to the environment and the economy.

ESG, Sustainability and Impact Jargon Buster

ESG, sustainability, impact… they all just mean green, right? Not quite. Despite being used often interchangeably, there are distinct differences between these terms.

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Introduction to Plastic Credits

Introduction to Plastic Credits

Vincent Kneefel

15 years: Ocean conservationist

You’ve heard of carbon credits – now prepare yourself for plastic credits. Join Vincent Kneefel as he walks us through what plastic credits are, how they work, their impact and lastly a real-world case study.

You’ve heard of carbon credits – now prepare yourself for plastic credits. Join Vincent Kneefel as he walks us through what plastic credits are, how they work, their impact and lastly a real-world case study.

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Introduction to Plastic Credits

9 mins 41 secs

Key learning objectives:

  • Define plastic credits

  • Understand how plastic credits work

  • Outline the potential impact of plastic credits

Overview:

Plastic credits are quantifiable, verifiable, and transferable units that indicate a certain amount of plastic has been collected or recovered from the environment. The aim is to incentivise the removal of plastic from the environment, as well as its recycling into new products and packaging. A plastic credit program could encompass activities such as: plastic waste collection, new municipal infrastructure development, collection and sorting of recyclable plastic waste, and the development and/or scaling up of innovative recycling technologies. In order to be accredited by a plastic credit standard however, projects must go through the following rigorous examination process, starting with adoption of a standard, independent auditing, accounting methodology and transparency and accountability.

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Summary

What are plastic credits?

Plastic credits are a system for incentivising the removal of plastic from the environment, as well as its recycling into new products and packaging. Plastic credits are quantifiable, verifiable, and transferable units that indicate a certain amount of plastic has been collected or recovered from the environment. 

Companies can purchase plastic credits to invest in regional collection and recycling infrastructure and support livelihoods at the same time. Purchasing verified plastic credits enables companies to reduce their plastic waste leakage to the environment.

How do plastic credits work?

Credits are issued based on how much plastic is collected and recycled over baseline rates; this must be supplemented by what would have happened if the initiative had not taken place. A plastic credit program could encompass a wide range of activities, such as plastic waste collection, new municipal infrastructure development, collection and sorting of recyclable plastic waste, and the development and/or scaling up of innovative recycling technologies. 

In order to be accredited by a plastic credit standard however, projects must go through the following rigorous examination process:

1. Adoption of a standard 

A standard lays out the rules and regulations that must be followed by all projects in order to be certified. 

2. Independent auditing 

To guarantee that standards are followed and techniques appropriately applied, all plastic program projects are subjected to desk and field audits by qualified independent third parties.

3. Accounting methodology 

Projects are evaluated utilising a plastic waste collection or recycling quantification approach, one that is appropriate for that unique project type. 

4. Transparency and accountability 

A registry will track the generation, retirement, and cancellation of all plastic credits and will be the core repository of data on all registered projects in a way that is accessible to the public. 

What are the impacts of plastic credits?

For the Aling Tindera program in the Philippines, the goal of the project is to incentivise local communities to engage in waste management. The project involves funding female micro-entrepreneurs who manage their own collection points where used plastic waste can be deposited in exchange for cash. The program facilitates the effective aggregation, storage and transport of waste to a processing facility. 

The benefits of the project are multiple. 

1. The socioeconomic benefit that women entrepreneurs have increased income opportunities in areas where they may not have many economic opportunities. 

2. Cleaner environments help both the local community and their health. 

3. The collection and sorting of plastic waste contributes to solving the global plastic crisis, ensuring harmful plastics do not end up in the environment. 

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Vincent Kneefel

Vincent Kneefel

Vincent Kneefel is an underwater photographer, ocean conservationist and circular economy expert. He has worked for organizations such as WWF, United Nations and Accenture on strategic sustainability and ocean conservation initiatives. His photographs show some of the most iconic and endangered creatures of our ocean.

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