OCS certification to prevent the dispersion of plastic granules in the environment

The association of plastics manufacturers in Europe, Plastics Europe, and the association of European plastics converters, EuPC, have launched the Operation Clean Sweep (OCS) harmonised European certification scheme. Adding this new tool to the OCS toolbox is a milestone for the OCS programme in its work towards zero pellet loss in the environment.

The loss of plastics pellets in our ecosystems is unacceptable but can unfortunately occur at all stages along the value chain despite the application of the current standard environmental, safety and quality management controls. The Operation Clean Sweep programme was developed to help companies tackle pellet leakage by providing a series of key recommendations and tools. Operational from February 2023, the first ever European pellet loss prevention certification scheme will further strengthen Operation Clean Sweep by creating harmonised processes and procedures for controlling and documenting pellet loss across the entire plastics supply chain.

The scheme will allow all current OCS signatories, and any other pellet handling entity along the supply chain, to assess and quantify their implementation of the OCS pledge. It will set common minimum requirements (based on the six pillars of the OCS pledge) that will be audited regularly by accredited certification bodies. Certified companies will be listed on an online Public Register and the development of the certification will be reported annually, including pellet loss estimates and performance indicators.

Hervé Millet, Director Climate and Production, Plastics Europe, stated: “The launch of the OCS Europe certification scheme is an important step to further improve the impact of the Operation Clean Sweep programme and support our members and their value chains in preventing pellet loss. Plastics producers are fully committed to deploy the certification among their European facilities and encourage all their value chain partners to do the same.”

Geoffroy Tillieux, Technical Director, European Plastics Converters, added: “We can now tackle the issue of pellet loss with a practical toolbox. Preventing pellet loss is about culture and organisation change and companies in plastics masterbatching, compounding and converting may now demonstrate through concrete and transparent action how they prevent environmental pollution”.

The OCS Europe certification scheme was developed with guidance, and under the supervision, of a multistakeholder committee composed of policymakers, certification bodies, industry, and with additional recommendations provided through a public consultation. The implementation of the scheme will be monitored and further finetuned to ensure it effectively supports the objective of reaching an overall decrease in plastics pellet losses. The Operation Clean Sweep programme currently has more than 1,800 signatories including companies, sites and associations. This includes all Plastics Europe members and a constantly increasing number of converters and transporters.