Tracking Plastic Recovery Takes a Digital Turn

RecycleGO and Ocean Integrity launch blockchain tracking as demand for verified sustainability data grows

16 Jul 2025

A new blockchain initiative from RecycleGO and Ocean Integrity is drawing attention across the circular plastics sector as companies face growing pressure to report recovery data in a consistent and verifiable way. The partnership offers a system that records each recovery event, including time and location, before securing the information on a tamper proof ledger.

The platform launched its carbon credit functionality in July 2025, allowing authenticated recovery records to be converted into certified credits. The feature provides recyclers with an additional revenue source and gives brands evidence to support environmental claims at a time when carbon markets are expanding and disclosure rules are intensifying.

Industry executives describe the timing as significant. Kevin O’Brien, chief executive of RecycleGO, said the development was a long awaited step for a sector that has struggled to prove its impact. Ocean Integrity said the system brings needed transparency to a part of the supply chain that has lacked reliable data.

Analysts view the partnership as part of a broader shift towards data driven processes in packaging and recycling. State regulators are tightening reporting rules, while global brands face rising targets for recycled content. Other technology providers are also expanding. Plastiks broadened its verification tools in July 2025 through a partnership with Ocean Integrity and certification body ECOTA, increasing competition in a growing market for validated recovery information.

Operational hurdles remain. Smaller recycling facilities may find it difficult to collect detailed data, and the spread of multiple platforms could complicate efforts to build unified reporting frameworks. But observers note that major transitions often involve adjustment periods as systems mature.

If adoption continues, blockchain based tracking could influence how recovered plastics are priced, traded and monitored, creating more consistent oversight across supply chains. Many in the sector expect greater accountability to shape commercial decisions in the years ahead.