About POP
During the 2000 Formula Windsurfing World Championship in Thailand, riders catapulted as their fins hit floating plastic bags. Following this the Starboard crew began running regular beach cleans at the local test centre.
After 16 years of collections, Starboard launched the official Plastic Offset Program in 2017. The program now supports 4 teams of almost 200 collectors in Thailand in Myanmar and has collected over 900,000 KG of plastic from the tidelines!
Plastic Offset Program (POP) - Starboard's Actions to Limit Our Environmental Impact
Education & Livelihoods Support
The Plastic Offset Program is about more than just cleaning beaches, it is about ensuring that they stay clean. We believe in the power of individuals to drive environmental responsibility and we’re committed to uplifting people with the knowledge and actions they need to unlock new opportunities.
By providing environmental education to schools, we are empowering the next generation to reduce their use of plastics and protect their environment. At the same time, our livelihood support helps the local communities to develop more sustainable practices and introduces them to new skills which they can use to diversify their income.
Discover more about our transformative work here.
VERRA Verification and Plastic Credits
In 2021, The Plastic Offset Program became the first organisation approached by VERRA to become verified under their Plastic Waste Reduction Standard. VERRA is a non-profit organisation that develops and manages standards for sustainable development, climate action, and responsible business practices. Their certification represents the ‘gold stamp’ for environmental initiatives.
From 2024, we will have verified plastic credits available to offset your plastic usage.
What are plastic credits?
Plastic credit represents one tonne of plastic which has been recycled or collected to stop it from otherwise entering the environment. They offer anyone a tangible way of tackling the plastic pollution crisis. Here’s 3 things you should know about them:
- They allow companies to make investments into genuine and effective action for meaningful impact.
- Plastic credits are only issued based on rigorous assessments and reflect quality assurance principles to ensure transparency and integrity.
- The credits fund long-term, sustainable sustainable supports for plastic waste management infrastructure.