To ensure the accurate processing of your Plastic Credit submissions on the Empower.eco platform, please carefully follow the requirements outlined below. These guidelines will help you provide comprehensive and verifiable evidence of your activities.
This guide explains the following documentation steps:
To be eligible to issue Plastic Credits, the following requirements apply.
📌 Photographic Evidence Guidelines
You will need to upload comprehensive photographic evidence per each batch submission. Photographic evidence needs to match your Plastic Credit request. All photos must be named according to their content (e.g., 20250125_scale1_”organizationname”) and include the cleanup activity date that matches the “Receive Date and Time” on your submission. Please upload photos in the following categories:
1. Photos: Scale (required for issuance)
Requirement: Show the scale readings for the waste collected.
Important: The scale reading must match the quantity reported in both the registration sheet and on the platform. If the total weight is calculated from multiple readings, provide photos of all readings.
File Naming: Use consistent names, e.g., 20250125_orgname_material_scale1_organizationname
Example: ensure scale readings are clearly visible and match numbers reported on the platform
2. Photos: Before Activity (Location/Site) (required for issuance/if applicable)
Requirement: Capture the collection site before any activity.
Purpose: Document the initial state of the location.
File Naming: Example: 20250125_before1_organizationname
3. Photos: After Activity (Location/Site) (required for issuance/if applicable)
Requirement: Show the same site after the collection activity is completed.
Purpose: Highlight the impact of the cleanup activity.
File Naming: Example: 20250125_after1_organizationname
An example of before & after. Provide separate photos for before and after from the same angle.
4. Photos: Waste Pickers (required for issuance)
Requirement: Include images of the waste workers involved in the activity. Face not required - can be an action shot.
Purpose: Show the individuals participating in the collection process.
File Naming: Example: 20250125_wasteworkers_organizationname
5. Photos: Material (Close-Up) (required for issuance)
Requirement: Provide close-up photos of the collected material.
Purpose: Ensure the type of waste is clearly visible and identifiable (e.g., PET bottles, HDPE containers, or mixed waste).
File Naming: Example: 20250125_materialtype_organizationname
6. Photos: Material Quantity (Wide View) (required for issuance)
Requirement: Capture wide-angle photos showing the overall volume of collected waste.
Purpose: Verify the reported quantity with visual evidence.
File Naming: Example: 20250125_materialquantity_organizationname
Example photo: showing the material quantity and material type
7. Photos: Screenshot of metadata (required for issuance)
Screenshot Showing Metadata (Date, Time & Location)
To verify your Plastic Credit documentation, you must upload a screenshot showing:
Exact date and time &Exact map location (GPS)
How To:
📱 iOS (iPhone)
Photos app → Tap photo → Swipe up or tap ℹ️ → Screenshot metadata view (📸 Power + Volume Up) → Rename to: YYYYMMDD_map_organizationname.jpg
✅ Example: date_metadata_orgname.jpg
📱 Android
Gallery or Google Photos → Tap photo → Swipe up / tap ⋮ (three dots) → Screenshot metadata view (📸 Power + Volume Down) → Rename to: YYYYMMDD_map_organizationname.jpg
✅ Example: date_metadata_orgname.jpg
8. Photos: High-Quality Media (optional)
Requirement: Provide high-resolution images that can be used for storytelling or marketing purposes.
Purpose: Increase your chances of selling Plastic Credits by making your project stand out to sponsors.
File Naming: Example: 20250125_media1_organizationname
9. Videos (optional)
Requirement: Upload short videos documenting the collection process, material type, or site conditions.
Purpose: Provide additional context or evidence of your activity.
If you are uploading photographic evidence via phone - here is how you can rename the files simply:
📱 How to Rename Photos on iPhone
🔹On Android
Open the Files or Gallery app
If using Google Photos, first download the photo to your device.
Locate the image in Files or Gallery.
Tap & hold the file, then select Rename.
Enter the required name format (e.g., 20250125_scale1_organizationname
Save the changes.
📌 Note: Some built-in Gallery apps don’t support renaming, but renaming is always possible through File Manager apps (e.g., "My Files" on Samsung or "Files by Google").
🔹 On iPhone (iOS)
iPhones do not allow renaming files directly in the Photos app, but there are workarounds:
Option 1: Using the Files App (Best for iPhone)
Open the Photos app.
Select the image and tap Share (⬆️ icon).
Tap Save to Files and choose a folder.
Open the Files app, locate the image.
Tap & hold the file, select Rename.
Enter the new name and save.
📌 Ensuring EXIF Metadata Compliance
To verify that the photographic evidence matches the reported collection date, all photos must retain their EXIF metadata, which contains the original timestamp and location data. Follow these steps to ensure compliance:
Uploading Original Image Files
Do not edit or modify the photos (e.g., using screenshotting, cropping, or compressing) as this can remove metadata.
Upload original image files directly from your device.
❌ What to AVOID (Metadata is STRIPPED)
⚠ Do NOT take screenshots of photos – Screenshots do not retain metadata.
⚠ Avoid sending photos via WhatsApp, Facebook, or Messenger before uploading – These apps remove metadata.
⚠ Do NOT edit and save photos using basic editing apps – Some apps strip metadata when saving a new version.
⚠ Avoid compressing photos before uploading – Compression can strip EXIF data.
✅ What to DO (Metadata is PRESERVED)
1️⃣ Take photos using the phone’s native camera app (not via messaging apps).
2️⃣ Rename files ONLY (renaming does not remove metadata).
3️⃣ Upload the original photo directly from the gallery or file manager.
4️⃣ Use "Files" or "Gallery" apps to manage uploads, avoiding unnecessary editing.
5️⃣ If using Google Drive or iCloud for storage, download the file directly, not a screenshot.
Other Necessary Documentation
📌 Registration document
Uploading a picture of a registration form or a document with similar information is mandatory for Plastic Credit issuance.
In the files attachments field, you can upload one of the following:
✅ A pdf file of a completed Empower registration form template, WITH SIGNATURE
✅ A pdf file of similar data from your own inventory system, WITH SIGNATURE
What the Registration Form Should Include:
The ideal registration form captures the following details:
Names of all individuals who participated in the collection or clean-up, along with the amount they each collected.
Amounts paid to each contributor.
Signature from a staff member of the organization verifying the information.
Download the Registration Form Template from HERE
Find below a link to the registration form template, which you can download and print. Alternatively, you can upload a picture of similar records from your own system or bookkeeping.
📌 Register the “Deliver” step to and upload evidence of your material offtaker
After recording the Receive step in the Empower Tracking App and completing all required fields, you must also record the Deliver step to show where your material goes next.
📚 You can find step-by-step instructions HERE
As part of the Deliver step, it’s important to upload documentation that verifies your material buyer or offtaker.
✅ What You Need to Provide
Please upload at least one of the following documents to confirm the next destination of the material:
Purchase Order (PO) from the buyer/offtaker
Offtaker Contract
Proof of Payment or Invoice
🔒 Privacy Notice
The documentation containing sensitive data (registration sheet & material offtaker documentation) is used strictly for internal verification purposes. It will not be made public or shared outside of Empower.eco.
By keeping your material buyer/offtaker information up to date, you help strengthen the credibility of your Plastic Credits, ensuring faster approval and higher trust in your documented impact.