Author: Charlotte Stalder
The Plastic Footprint Network (PFN), convened by Earth Action, brings together companies, researchers, and practitioners to develop a science-based and actionable approach to measuring and reducing plastic pollution. Building on its work to standardize plastic footprinting, PFN is now introducing the Plastic Pollution Mitigation Action Framework (PAF).
This marks an important step forward in bringing clarity, consistency, and credibility to corporate plastic mitigation.
At a time when companies are under growing pressure to act, one challenge has remained unresolved: how to credibly account for plastic pollution mitigation efforts. In other words, how to measure what is actually being done to reduce plastic leakage into the environment. The PAF is designed to address this gap.
Built through a rigorous and transparent consultation process
The PAF has been developed through a multi-stage, collaborative process designed to ensure both scientific robustness and practical relevance.
An initial version of the framework was released to support consultation. This enabled stakeholders to engage directly with the methodology and provide detailed feedback. The process then evolved through several structured phases, including public consultation, technical working group input, and Strategic Committee review, followed by full integration of feedback into the final framework.
This approach was designed to ensure transparency and credibility throughout. Consultation summaries from each phase are publicly available on the landing page, providing full visibility on how feedback informed the framework.
As Maïmouna Kanté, Program Manager in Plastic & Carbon at Control Union, notes:
“Control Union supports the PAF framework as an important step in addressing the accounting gap in plastic-related beyond value chain action. We value the collaborative process behind it and believe it will offer practical guidance for companies seeking to take meaningful action.”
Why the PAF matters: closing the accounting gap
Plastic pollution is increasingly a strategic, financial, and regulatory issue for companies.
Many organizations already measure their plastic footprints. However, a key gap has persisted: there has been no consistent way to account for mitigation actions and their impact on plastic leakage.
The PAF addresses this by providing a structured methodology for companies to:
- Categorize mitigation actions
- Quantify their impact
- Track progress over time
- Report results in a consistent and comparable way
This creates a clear link between action and impact, enabling companies to move beyond commitments toward measurable outcomes.
Nicole Schlemmer, Senior Managing Consultant at South Pole, highlights this shift:
“As part of the Plastic Footprint Network secretariat, South Pole is proud to collaborate with Earth Action and over 100 global professionals to unify the framework for measuring corporate plastic footprint and plastic leakage. By providing a single, science-based methodology, we are empowering organizations to accurately assess their environmental impact and drive lasting change in the fight against plastic pollution.”
Importantly, the PAF is not a standalone system. It is designed as a bridging framework that connects and strengthens existing approaches. It complements circularity standards such as EMF, MCI, and CTI. It adopts core accounting logic from climate frameworks, including the distinction between attributional and consequential actions. It also helps companies prepare for alignment with emerging regulatory requirements, including the UN Plastics Treaty and related disclosure standards, while grounding its methodology in established principles from organizations such as Verra, WWF, and the scientific community.
In this sense, the PAF fills a critical blind spot by making plastic leakage reduction measurable and comparable, while aligning closely with existing accounting, circularity, and policy frameworks.
As Sinclair Vincent, Senior Director, Program Development at Verra highlights:
“The PAF framework strengthens transparency and accountability for plastic waste reduction actions in corporate value chains. Through the Verra Plastic Program, we are proud to have contributed to its development and remain committed to supporting its uptake, helping companies direct finance toward independently verified plastic waste reduction outcomes.”
The business case: from risk to opportunity
Plastic leakage is no longer only an environmental concern. It is becoming a core business issue.
Companies face increasing regulatory pressure, growing investor scrutiny, and rising legal risks linked to plastic claims. Expectations around transparency and disclosure are also increasing.
The PAF helps companies respond by:
- Quantifying exposure to plastic-related risks
- Demonstrating credible, science-based action
- Strengthening internal decision-making
- Supporting innovation in materials, design, and delivery models
As Oliver Kade, CTO & UK Country Manager at SevenCleanSeas, explains:
“There is growing pressure on companies to take action on plastic, but far less clarity on how to account for and communicate plastic mitigation in a credible way. This framework is an important step forward, giving organisations a practical, industry-informed structure to shape mitigation programmes, support internal strategy approval, and lower the barriers to investing in more sustainable plastic usage.”
The result is a shift from fragmented initiatives to a structured and defensible approach to plastic mitigation.
What comes next: pilots and continued development
The launch of the PAF marks the beginning of the next phase of work.
The immediate focus is on piloting the framework with corporates. These pilots will help test its application across value chains and strengthen its practical usability.
At the same time, further development will focus on:
- Refining accounting methodologies
- Developing target-setting approaches
- Strengthening guidance on impact communication
Plastic mitigation accounting is still an evolving field. Continued iteration will be essential to ensure the framework remains robust and relevant over time.
Driving forward the PFN mission
The PAF is a key building block in PFN’s broader mission:
Our mission is to continuously advance the Plastic Footprint Methodology, ensuring it remains at the forefront of sustainable practices and promoting its widespread adoption. By empowering companies to rigorously assess, enhance, and transparently report their plastic footprints, we aim to make significant strides in mitigating the plastic pollution crisis.
We invite companies, practitioners, and stakeholders to engage with the next phase of development.
Reach out to us if you’re interested in engaging with the PAF’s further development (contact@plasticfootprint.earth).