EcoEx is an industry-first electronic marketplace that is creating a sustainable digital ecosystem for the stakeholders of the plastic waste management value chain to undertake secure & mutually beneficial plastic-EPR credit certificate transactions from anywhere, anytime. EcoEx is the first Indian organization to facilitate the exchange of plastic-EPR credit certificates and strengthen the plastic recycling infrastructure. As per the Uniform Framework for Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR, under Plastic Waste Management Rules 2016) released by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, plastic producers, importers and brand owners (PIBOs) that use plastic for packaging are accountable for managing the end waste. We at EcoEx aim to make manufacturers aware of the EPR obligation as mandated by PWM rules: disposal of plastic waste ethically.

How Extended Producer Responsibility is related to Ecoex?

Ecoex works at Extended Producer Responsibility or EPR business work model. Extended Producer Responsibility is shifting the responsibility to plastic manufacturers, importers and exporters of plastic, producers and owners of FMCG (Fast Moving Consumer Goods) companies to collect the post consuming plastic waste products. Ecoex delivers a digital B2B (Business to Business) platform to the producers where they can meet with recyclers and sell and purchase the plastic debris through online bidding. EPR certificate will be provided after transparent transactions are made. Extended Producer Responsibility policy impacts rely on the implementation and recycling of plastic. Ecoex makes the procedure more trouble-free for everyone who is affiliated with Extended Producer Responsibility.

HOW DOES THE PLASTIC -EPR CREDIT MODEL WORK?

Plastic Credit Certificate is a bonafide set of documents (proof of execution of a project) that authenticates a PIBO’s conformity with the recycling standards set under the Extended Producer Responsibility policy of Plastic Waste Management Rules 2016 (updated 2018). EcoEx will facilitate a seamless transfer of such credits between recyclers/processors & PIBOs.

A plastic- EPR credit model is envisaged where a producer is not required to recycle their own packaging, but to ensure that an equivalent amount of packaging waste has been recovered and recycled to meet their obligation. However, producers are mandated to acquire evidence of recycling or recovery [PLASTIC- EPR CREDIT] from properly accredited processors [recyclers, W2E plant operators, cement co-processors, users utilizing plastic in road] or exporters.

Producers and processors/ exporters affiliated with Extended Producer Responsibility may exchange plastic- EPR credits for a financial transaction at a price and other terms as negotiated between them. The producers can exchange credits from processors that have been specifically accredited for this purpose. The accredited processors, therefore, receive additional funding for every tonne of packaging waste they reprocess and have an incentive to acquire further tonnage, thereby driving up recovery rates.

The system is designed to ensure that funding may be directed to remove bottlenecks in the material recovery chain through market corrections. The market would correct itself and guide funding to sources such as material collection, sorting, reprocessing or supporting end-user markets. Hence, businesses will have incentives to support long-term investments to support their efforts.

The accreditation and registration of the recycler/processor shall form a very important part of the plastic- EPR credit system. The evidence of recycling in each case shall be foolproof and there shall not be any evidence of resale of credits in the market. EPR portal shall be used for registering the traceability of the plastic waste such that no plastic waste re-enter the value chain. Waste traceability is important to ensure no duplication and actual work on the ground.

Why Choose EcoEx?

• First-ever digital platform for Plastic- EPR Credit Certificate
• Helps implement Extended Producer Responsibility policies
• All members are CPCB/SPCB registered
• All transactions are transparent and equitable
• All transactions are traceable for members
• The one-on-One direct contract between members
• Complete and secure documentation digital

Interaction with ULBs

The system is designed to ensure that market forces dictate the interaction between producers and Urban Local Bodies which are mandated under Extended Producer Responsibility of the Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016 for segregation, collection, storage, transportation, processing and disposal of plastic waste.