APX Launches Recycled Material Standard (RMS) ARC Registry
NEW YORK, SAN JOSE, January 11, 2022 – APX, the preeminent environmental commodities infrastructure provider, announces the launch of the Recycled Material Standard (RMS) ARC Registry. APX partner GreenBlue developed the RMS, a voluntary standard that enables consistent labeling of products and packaging that contain or support certified recycled material. RMS offers average recycled content and mass balance allocation claims in addition to a certificate trading system (Attributes of Recycled Content, or ARC) that channels investments to recyclers.
The ARC system provides a finance mechanism to advance technology investment in both mechanical and chemical recycling facilities, and includes a robust set of criteria modeled after carbon trading additionality tests. Each ARC represents the environmental attributes of producing one metric ton of recycled plastic. Companies will be able to purchase ARCs to demonstrate their support for the advancement of recycling technology, making targeted investments to help grow the supply of available recycled materials.
“With the launch of the ARC Registry, we are enabling issuance and trading of a new environmental commodity that has the potential to bring much needed capital to the North American recycling industry.” says Laura Thompson, RMS Program Director for GreenBlue. “In order to establish trust in the system, we knew we needed a reliable and proven technology partner and we are thrilled to be working with APX.”
The ARC Registry provides a secure electronic interface to track the life cycle of every ARC from issuance, through trading, to retirement. It assigns a unique serial number to every ARC enabling full traceability of transactions and assuring no double counting.
The RMS enables a full and accurate accounting of the use of all types of recycled plastics, as well as multi-site certification for larger companies operating multiple locations in North America. The ultimate objective of the registry is to empower brands and suppliers in the plastics recycling value chain to advance the use of recycled materials, helping producers reduce their reliance on virgin plastics.
About APX
APX is the leading provider of innovative technology and dynamic end-to-end service solutions for environmental commodity and power markets. The company’s 25-year history and expertise spans carbon and renewable energy credit markets, sustainable commodity markets, power generation asset management, physical power markets, and demand response program administration. In this capacity, APX serves a diverse set of clients globally, including standards bodies, regulators, government entities, and NGOs. Headquartered in San Jose, California, APX is dedicated to providing leading-edge market solutions on a foundation of trust, integrity, and experience.
About the Recycled Material Standard
The Recycled Material Standard (RMS) is a project of GreenBlue, an environmental nonprofit dedicated to the sustainable use of materials in society. The standard establishes requirements necessary to assure the accuracy and transparency of claims with the support of a robust third-party certification system. The RMS serves as a voluntary, market-based tool to address the challenges that brands, their suppliers and the recycling industry face in trying to incorporate higher amounts of recycled content into packaging or finished products. In addition to average content claims, the RMS defines rules for mass balance accounting and also introduces a new environmental commodity, the Attributes of Recycled Content (ARCs). The RMS also supports a labeling system, enabling participating brands and suppliers to convey their collective efforts to advance the use of recycled materials.