OCE-B.03.E - Circular Plastic Solutions Adoption
Does the company demonstrate it has adopted circular solutions for plastics?
About the data
The WBA Ocean Benchmark measures and ranks the world's most influential companies on their efforts to halt and reverse nature loss in marine ecosystems, tracking how companies manage their impacts on ocean biodiversity, marine habitats, and the communities and workers dependent on healthy seas. The 2026 edition is WBA's first Ocean Benchmark, assessing 125 companies across key sectors dependent on oceans, including seafood, maritime transport, offshore wind energy, shipbuilding, port operations, apparel, and chemicals. Companies are assessed on 47 indicators across four measurement areas: governance, ecosystems and biodiversity, social responsibility, and core social indicators. The benchmark builds on WBA's Nature Benchmark and the former Seafood Stewardship Index, and its methodology was developed with input from more than 50 stakeholders including ocean communities, companies, scientists and civil society, with human rights and social impacts kept at its core alongside nature-specific concerns. More information can be found here.
Methodology
Plastics constitute the most significant, detrimental and enduring portion of marine litter,
making up at least 85% of all marine waste (UNEP, 2021). There is a growing threat from plastic
pollution in all ecosystems, from source to sea, causing impacts on marine life, posing risks to
ecosystems and human health, and incurring social and economic costs. Over 400 million metric tons
of plastic are produced annually, with less than 0.5% ending up in the ocean. However, this still
amounts to over 1 million metric tons of pollution (UNEP, 2021).
Data indicates that plastic pollution has risen dramatically since the 1980s (IPBES, 2018). Forecasts
project global plastic production will double by 2050, with around 8 million metric tonnes entering
marine ecosystems annually (UNEP, BRS Conventions and Minamata Convention, 2021). Notably,
approximately half of all plastic is manufactured for single-use applications, significantly exacerbating
this growing problem. This highlights the critical need for companies to implement comprehensive
strategies to address plastic waste.
Research Guidance:
This element is met if the company demonstrates the adoption of circular solutions to minimise plastic use or recycle plastics.
Note: these solutions have to be adopted before the plastic becomes waste.
For example:
The company measures microplastics in wastewater, then it has to demonstrate itmanages them sustainably
Organize activities to recover plastics from beach ocean to recycle
Types of circular solutions for plastics, according to Ellen Macarthur Foundation,
Elimination of Unnecessary Plastics
Reusable Packaging Systems
Replace Plastics with Alternatives
Innovation in Recycling
Closed-Loop Recycling
Compostable Plastics for Specific Applications
Product-as-a-Service Models
Digital Technologies for Plastic Management
Multi-Stakeholder Collaboration
Policy Alignment and Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR)
Modular Design for Durability
making up at least 85% of all marine waste (UNEP, 2021). There is a growing threat from plastic
pollution in all ecosystems, from source to sea, causing impacts on marine life, posing risks to
ecosystems and human health, and incurring social and economic costs. Over 400 million metric tons
of plastic are produced annually, with less than 0.5% ending up in the ocean. However, this still
amounts to over 1 million metric tons of pollution (UNEP, 2021).
Data indicates that plastic pollution has risen dramatically since the 1980s (IPBES, 2018). Forecasts
project global plastic production will double by 2050, with around 8 million metric tonnes entering
marine ecosystems annually (UNEP, BRS Conventions and Minamata Convention, 2021). Notably,
approximately half of all plastic is manufactured for single-use applications, significantly exacerbating
this growing problem. This highlights the critical need for companies to implement comprehensive
strategies to address plastic waste.
Research Guidance:
This element is met if the company demonstrates the adoption of circular solutions to minimise plastic use or recycle plastics.
Note: these solutions have to be adopted before the plastic becomes waste.
For example:
The company measures microplastics in wastewater, then it has to demonstrate itmanages them sustainably
Organize activities to recover plastics from beach ocean to recycle
Types of circular solutions for plastics, according to Ellen Macarthur Foundation,
Elimination of Unnecessary Plastics
Reusable Packaging Systems
Replace Plastics with Alternatives
Innovation in Recycling
Closed-Loop Recycling
Compostable Plastics for Specific Applications
Product-as-a-Service Models
Digital Technologies for Plastic Management
Multi-Stakeholder Collaboration
Policy Alignment and Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR)
Modular Design for Durability
License
Topics
Framework Mappings
Value Type
Category
Options
Yes
No
Assessment
Steward Assessed
Report Type
Aggregate Data Report