How Microplastic-Free Certification Works

Steps

1. Submit initial application

   Provide basic product and company information so we can confirm that your products are in scope. There is no fee at this stage.

2. Preliminary eligibility screening

   We review the initial application to confirm that the product category and materials appear suitable for a full documentation review.

3. Review fee and documentation intake

   If your products are preliminarily eligible, we request the per-product review fee and tell you which documents we need. That varies by product: a single-material item may need only a one-line bill of materials, while a multi-component product needs a breakdown and supplier attestations for each part. See Documentation Requirements.

4. Technical review

   We evaluate materials against the Certified Microplastic-Free standard, score risk factors, and request clarifications where needed.

5. Decision

   We issue a written determination: approve, approve with conditions, or decline with feedback that identifies disqualifying components or gaps.

6. Licensing and renewal

   For approved products, you sign a licensing agreement, pay the licensing fee, and begin using the seal for 12 months. Ongoing use requires annual renewal and confirmation that materials and suppliers remain compliant.

Timelines and fees

Initial applications are usually reviewed within 3 to 5 business days so we can confirm whether your products are in scope for a full review. There is no fee for this preliminary screening.

Once we accept a product into full review and receive the per-product review fee, typical review time is 2 to 4 weeks after documentation is complete. The review fee covers the technical evaluation and written determination and is nonrefundable once the review begins. Certification is not guaranteed.

Licensing and renewal fees apply only for products that are approved and choose to use the seal. For a detailed breakdown, see the Pricing page.

How this fits the wider landscape

Microplastic programmes generally verify one of three things: what is in a formulation, what happens to a product after disposal, or what a finished product is made of. Ours is the third kind. We review the materials at the surfaces a person actually touches, eats from, or drinks from.

That focus is narrow on purpose. The seal is meant to sit alongside broader safety and sustainability labels rather than replace them, and we stay explicit about what it does not cover. For the reasoning behind reviewing materials rather than testing finished units, see Testing vs Documentation.