# Empower - Ocean Plastic Certificates

> Ocean plastic collection is complex and expensive, often lacking transparency and trust in the origin of collected materials. Empower collaborates with Inframar and DNV to use blockchain technology for tamper-proof certification of ocean plastic. The solution captures time, location and properties of collected plastic in the blockchain and creates trustworthy certificates, enabling the collection of up to 30,000 tons of plastic per year with one vessel.

**Sector:** Tertiary sector · **Industry:** Cleaning and caretaker services · **Organisation:** Empower, Inframar, DNV · **Maturity level:** Production

Canonical URL: https://www.sapientblock.com/en/use-cases/empower-meeresplastik-zertifiziert-beseitigen

## Documentation status

- **Project status:** Production
- **Evidence:** Evidence medium
- **Editorial review:** Ufuk Avci, 15 April 2026

## Description

Tide Ocean SA (Switzerland) issues blockchain-verified Ocean Plastic Certificates. Empower (Norway) is an app-based platform where collectors worldwide document plastic collections and receive rewards. Tide Ocean and Empower have formed a partnership to jointly offer verifiable ocean plastic tracking solutions.

The problem with ocean plastic claims: companies claim to have removed X tonnes of ocean plastic — but the proof is often unreliable or unverifiable. Greenwashing is widespread. Tide Ocean solves this: plastic collections are documented with GPS coordinates, photos, and weight measurements; third-party auditors verify the collection; a blockchain-secured certificate is issued that precisely represents this collection. Brands purchase these certificates as verified proof of sustainability. Empower partnership: Empower is an app where plastic collectors worldwide (beaches, waters, urban areas) document their collections and receive token rewards. The Empower blockchain infrastructure provides traceability data; Tide Ocean issues the corporate certificates. Business Norway reported on the approach as an innovative model for combating ocean plastic. Tide Ocean’s corporate partners include HP, Procter & Gamble, Flex.

## Benefits

- Verified proof of origin enables premium prices for demonstrably sustainable ocean plastic.
- Consumers receive transparent information about the origin of sustainable products.
- Blockchain certification prevents fraud with fake ocean plastic and builds trust throughout the supply chain.
- Companies can credibly document their sustainability goals and differentiate themselves from competitors.
- The solution promotes the circular economy and contributes to reducing marine pollution.
- New specialised jobs are created in ocean plastic collection and certification.

## Challenges

- Industry-wide acceptance of blockchain certificates still needs to be established.
- Integrating blockchain technology into existing collection processes requires significant technical adjustments and training.
- Scaling the solution to global collection operations places high demands on the technical infrastructure.
- Collection teams must be trained in new digital skills for blockchain data capture.

## Technology foundation

Blockchain technology enables immutable storage of data about the time, place, and characteristics of collected ocean plastic. This decentralised database builds trust among all supply chain participants, as the material’s origin can be tracked tamper-proof.

## Sources

- [Cleaning Up Plastic in the Ocean with Blockchain Technology and Ocean Plastic Certificates](https://businessnorway.com/articles/cleaning-up-plastic-in-the-ocean-with-blockchain-technology-and-ocean-plastic-certificates)
- [Traceability: Tide is Partnering Up with Empower](https://www.tide.earth/de/news/traceability-tide-is-partnering-up-with-empower/)