TÜV SÜD Verification and OBP Certification: A First for Plastic Credits

Removing plastic waste from waterways is only the first step. What truly matters is knowing exactly what happens to the collected material and whether the resulting impact can be transparently traced and substantiated. Our Plastic Credit System is now independently verified by TÜV SÜD.

Together with our Ocean Bound Plastic (OBP) Certification, this creates a dual level of independent assurance.

From Collection to Plastic Credit

At everwave, our mission is clear: we remove plastic waste from rivers and waterways before it reaches the ocean. However, collecting the waste is only the beginning. To create credible environmental impact, it must be possible to trace where the material comes from, what happens to it and how the resulting impact is represented through Plastic Credits.

The Ocean Bound Plastic (OBP) Standard adds an important layer of independent assurance by certifying our collection sites and assessing responsible collection and processing. This includes fair and safe working conditions, compliance with national laws, qualified staff and internal quality management.

Together, TÜV SÜD verification and OBP certification strengthen the credibility of environmental claims and provide a robust foundation for communication in an evolving regulatory environment, including the EU’s EmpCo Directive.

What Does TÜV SÜD Verification Mean?

The TÜV SÜD verification independently assesses key processes and statements within our Plastic Credit System and whether they are supported by reliable data and documented evidence.

Four core areas were verified:

  • Own Operational Control: everwave develops, operates and manages its own projects and maintains operational control over the key process steps. 

  • End-to-End Track & Trace System: everwave maintains an end-to-end traceability system that enables the complete tracking of collected material from collection to final recovery through comprehensive data capture and supporting evidence.  

  • Responsible End-of-Life Management: Collected plastic waste is demonstrably directed to qualified recycling or co-processing processes, supported by documented evidence. 

  • Credit Integrity & No Double Counting: Plastic Credits are uniquely assigned and managed through controlled issuance procedures to prevent duplicate issuance, sale or claiming.

The verification was conducted independently in accordance with ISO/IEC 17029:2019 and ISO 14064-3:2019.

1. We Operate Our Own Projects

everwave is not an anonymous marketplace for Plastic Credits. We develop, operate and manage our own projects and work with our own teams on the ground.

This allows us to directly manage key process steps, from organizing and conducting collection activities to documenting and processing the material.

Our own teams and operational infrastructure enable us to manage activities on the ground and collect relevant data ourselves. We deliberately chose to operate our own projects rather than build a marketplace model.

2. Track & Trace: From River to Recovery

We rely on a comprehensive end-to-end Track & Trace system.

Data is recorded during collection and documented throughout every subsequent process step. GPS data, photo documentation, material volumes and additional supporting evidence are consolidated within our proprietary platform, migo.

This ensures that collected material remains traceable from collection through final recovery. The impact represented by our Plastic Credits is therefore backed by documented processes and supporting evidence.

3. Responsible Processing of Collected Plastic Waste

Collected plastic waste is demonstrably directed to qualified recycling or co-processing processes.

All relevant process steps are documented and backed by evidence. Traceability therefore does not end once the material leaves the collection site. It continues through to the final treatment of the collected waste.

4. Credit Integrity & No Double Counting

Every Plastic Credit receives a unique identifier.

Controlled issuance procedures ensure that a credit cannot be issued, sold or claimed more than once. This creates a clear link between the documented environmental impact and the Plastic Credit representing it.

For companies, this provides additional confidence that the impact they support is clearly assigned and protected against double counting.

What Does This Mean for Our Partners?

For our partners, the combination of independent TÜV SÜD verification and Ocean Bound Plastic certification means greater confidence in their impact and how they communicate it: independently verified processes, full traceability from collection to final recovery and measurable environmental impact.

We want our partners to know exactly what happened, where it happened and what stands behind every kilogram of impact they communicate.

Measurable. Traceable. Independently verified.