Cercarbono has opened the public comment period for the Carbon X Bolivia Circular Plastics Program, developed by Empacar S.A. in Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia. The project is being assessed under Cercarbono’s Circular Economy Programme, delivered in partnership with Global Zero Waste, and applies the M/CE-R01 methodology for encouraging plastic recycling.
Empacar has operated a PET recycling plant in Santa Cruz de la Sierra since 2009. The Carbon X Bolivia Circular Plastics Program covers the recent expansion of that plant, which increases its mechanical recycling capacity for PET, HDPE and LDPE plastic waste from around 7,300 tonnes a year to approximately 29,200 tonnes a year. Over its ten-year crediting period, from January 2024 to January 2034, the project is projected to recirculate close to 98,000 additional tonnes of plastic that would otherwise be lost to landfill, open dumping sites or uncontrolled disposal across Bolivia.
The project also documents improvements for the base recyclers and collector associations who supply material to the plant. These include written purchase agreements with transparent, stable pricing, personal protective equipment, life and accident insurance covering more than 1,000 collectors a season, and a commitment not to source material from minors. Around 85% of Bolivia’s base recyclers are women, and the project aims to formalise and strengthen their role in the recycling chain.
Submitting a Project Design Document (PDD) for public comment is an early, standard step in Cercarbono’s certification process, not a certification itself. During this period, Cercarbono invites stakeholders, including recyclers, community members, local authorities and other interested parties, to review the project documentation and submit comments or concerns before the project is assessed for validation.
The Carbon X Bolivia Circular Plastics Program is not yet a certified project. It is at the start of its certification journey, and the outcome of this consultation, together with the subsequent validation and verification stages, will determine whether it goes on to receive Circular Economy Credits under Cercarbono’s standard.
The public comment period is open until 8 August 2026. Stakeholders wishing to review the project documentation or submit comments can do so through Cercarbono’s website.
