# How To Substantiate Plastic-Free Claims: Scoping First

> Learn to substantiate plastic-free claims the right way. The Wellness Quality Institute offers scope-locked, independent verification you can defend.

**Published:** 2026-10-22 | **Updated:** 2026-10-31 | **Author:** mihir
**URL:** https://www.wellnessqualityinstitute.com/articles/substantiate-plastic-free-claims
**Type:** post

**Categories:** Certification

![How To Substantiate Plastic-Free Claims: Scoping First](https://wellnessquality.sites.aigrowthagent.co/wp-content/uploads/sites/93/2026/10/1792580047315-dbf34ebf187f-1024x572.webp)

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## Content

*Written by: Scott Steveson, Specialist, Wellness Quality Institute*

## Key Takeaways

- Substantiation of plastic-free claims starts with scoping. Narrow the claim to a specific product, component, or ingredient before gathering evidence.
- Absolute plastic-free claims are indefensible because no method can prove complete absence across every particle size, polymer type, and production lot.
- Lab reports stating “no microplastics detected” only cover the tested detection floor, polymer panel, and sampled lot.
- FTC Green Guides at 16 CFR 260.9 require competent scientific evidence, trace-level compliance, and no intentional addition before a free-of claim can be published.
- The Wellness Quality Institute converts existing lab data into defensible, scope-locked Plastic-Free Pathway Verification claims backed by a public registry.

[Explore Plastic-Free Pathway Verification With The Wellness Quality Institute](https://www.wellnessqualityinstitute.com/?utm_term=substantiate-plastic-free-claims&utm_campaign=ai_growth_agent)

## Why Absolute Plastic-Free Is Indefensible: The Measurement Gap

One state defines microplastics in drinking water as solid polymeric material with particles between 1 nanometer and 5,000 micrometers in at least three dimensions. That definition is deliberately broad, and it extends beyond what any current analytical method can reliably measure.

The two published analytical methods each cover a validated range that falls short of the definition’s lower bound. [SWB-MP2-rev1](https://www.waterboards.ca.gov/drinking_water/certlic/drinkingwater/microplastics.html), which uses Raman spectroscopy, applies to particles greater than 20 µm through 5,000 µm. [SWB-MP1-rev1](https://www.waterboards.ca.gov/drinking_water/certlic/drinkingwater/microplastics.html), which uses infrared spectroscopy, applies to particles greater than 50 µm through 5,000 µm. The 1–20 µm fraction is not validated under either method. Everything below 1 µm, the entire nanoplastic range, currently sits beyond reliable commercial measurement. A [2026 systematic review in Archives of Toxicology](https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00204-026-04392-1) confirms that missing standardized protocols for extraction, purification, and quality verification of micro- and nanoplastic samples increases result variability and makes accurate exposure assessment difficult.

![Fragments of plastic suspended in blue water below the surface.](https://cdn.aigrowthmarketer.co/1784829388732-c6255482b477.webp)**Plastic doesn’t disappear — it fragments. These secondary microplastics are the breakdown products of everyday objects, and independent research now detects them across the water supply. Detection, though, establishes presence, not absence.**

Detection can establish presence, but it cannot establish absence. Finding a particle requires one confirmed result, while proving no plastic is present would require ruling out everything the method cannot see. That includes every particle below the detection floor, every polymer outside the tested panel, and every production lot that was not sampled. This gap reflects a hard technical limit rather than a lack of diligence.

The action this section calls for is clear. Treat plastic-free as a scoping problem first, then as a wording and evidence problem.

## How To Substantiate Plastic-Free Claims By Scoping The Claim First (The Decision Tree)

Scoping is the fix for that measurement gap. Most brands fail the substantiation test because they claim too broadly, even when they hold real data. The scoping decision needs to happen before anyone writes a claim. Here are the five scoping questions a brand should answer before publishing anything.

1. **What exactly is the claim about?** Decide whether the claim covers the product itself, the primary packaging, a secondary component, or a single ingredient. Each option creates a different claim with a different evidence burden. A bottled-water brand might have strong data on the outer carton but no validated data on the liquid inside. The claim must match the evidence and stay within that boundary.
2. **What matrix and production period does it cover?** The matrix is the physical substance being tested, such as drinking water, a beverage, a supplement powder, or a packaging material. The production period is the specific manufacturing run the tested samples came from. A result from one lot in one quarter does not automatically cover a different lot or a different quarter. Scope lock means binding the claim to the specific matrix and production period the data represents.
3. **What would a skeptical reviewer need to see?** Think about a retailer, journalist, or litigator who does not know your brand. If the answer is “a lab report,” then that report needs to identify the detection floor, the polymer panel, the lot sampled, the method used, and the chain of custody. A report that omits any of these elements does not function as a complete evidence file.
4. **Does the available evidence cover that scope, or a narrower one?** A lab report reading “no microplastics detected” means none were found above that method’s floor, for the polymers screened, in the lot tested. If the method started at 50 µm, the result says nothing about particles between 1 nm and 50 µm. If the polymer panel covered six types, the result says nothing about other polymer types. The evidence covers a specific, bounded scope, and the claim must remain inside it.
5. **How should you shrink the claim if the evidence is narrower?** This discipline protects the brand. A claim scoped to “plastic-free outer carton” can be defensible when the outer carton was tested with an appropriate method and the data supports a non-detect result within the tested range. A claim scoped to “plastic-free product” where only the carton was tested cannot be defended.

Scope lock, which binds the claim to a specific product, matrix, production period, tested particle-size range, and polymer panel, makes a claim true and checkable. It also makes the claim more likely to survive retailer substantiation requests and legal review.

For the full evidence checklist, including document lists, method requirements, and data-quality criteria, see WQI’s [Plastic Claim Substantiation: The Evidence Checklist](https://www.wellnessqualityinstitute.com/articles/plastic-claim-substantiation-checklist/?utm_term=substantiate-plastic-free-claims&utm_campaign=ai_growth_agent).

[See If Your Lab Data Qualifies For Plastic-Free Pathway Verification](https://www.wellnessqualityinstitute.com/?utm_term=substantiate-plastic-free-claims&utm_campaign=ai_growth_agent)

## The FTC Free-Of Framework At 16 CFR 260.9, In Plain Language

The [FTC Green Guides at 16 CFR Part 260](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-16/chapter-I/subchapter-B/part-260) are the main federal reference for environmental marketing claims. They function as [administrative interpretations of law](https://fedlaws.org/ftc-green-guides-rules-substantiation-and-enforcement), so they do not operate as stand-alone regulations, but the FTC can still pursue unfair or deceptive claims under Section 5 of the FTC Act. The Green Guides were last revised in 2012, and [an update process that began in 2022 remained incomplete as of late 2025](https://fedlaws.org/ftc-green-guides-rules-substantiation-and-enforcement).

[Section 16 CFR 260.9](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-16/chapter-I/subchapter-B/part-260/section-260.9) explains how free-of claims should work in practice. Three operational tests apply.

First, the claim needs competent and reliable scientific evidence. That means tests, research, or studies conducted objectively by qualified professionals using methods that peers in the field generally accept. Under [16 CFR 260.2](https://fedlaws.org/ftc-green-guides-rules-substantiation-and-enforcement), that substantiation must exist before the claim appears in public.

Second, the substance must not be present above a trace or background level that causes the kind of harm consumers associate with it. A trace amount that does not exceed acknowledged background contamination and does not cause the associated harm can still support a free-of claim, but only when the substance was not intentionally added.

Third, “not intentionally added” describes a narrower situation than “free of.” A brand can truthfully say a substance was not intentionally added even when trace levels from background contamination are detectable. Saying the product is free of that substance is a broader statement and requires meeting all three conditions at once.

Section 16 CFR 260.9 also warns against claiming a product is free of a substance that was never associated with that category, because that wording implies competitors’ products contain it. It also warns against claiming freedom from one substance while substituting another that poses similar risks.

A 2026 Harvard University audit of 160 consumer products found that [free-of claims made up 48.6% of all environmental marketing claims reviewed](https://dash.harvard.edu/entities/publication/7fe2e0e4-1428-4a4f-a438-f84007558ff6). The overall noncompliance rate across claim types reached 30.5%, so roughly one in three claims failed to meet Green Guides criteria. Third-party certifications achieved 90.0% compliance, which was substantially higher than self-attested claims, showing that independent review improves accuracy.

The action this section calls for is to map your draft wording against these three tests before publishing. Claims that do not pass all three tests need to be rewritten or scoped down.

For a detailed treatment of FTC thresholds and evidence requirements, see [Plastic Claim Substantiation: Evidence Thresholds Under FTC](https://www.wellnessqualityinstitute.com/articles/plastic-claim-substantiation-requirements/?utm_term=substantiate-plastic-free-claims&utm_campaign=ai_growth_agent).

## What A Lab Report Actually Proves

A laboratory report reading “no microplastics detected” is a bounded statement. It means none were found above that instrument’s detection floor, for the polymer types screened, in the lot tested. It does not confirm that no microplastics are present.

Three boundaries define every non-detect result. The **detection floor** sets the lower size limit, so a method validated at 50 µm cannot see anything smaller. Particles between 1 nm and 50 µm remain invisible to that method and therefore untested. The **polymer panel** sets the chemical boundary, so a result only applies to the specific polymer types the method screened, while polymers outside the panel remain untested. The **lot sampled** sets the time and production boundary, so a clean result on one production run does not guarantee the next run will match it.

![Colorful plastic fragments in water inside a laboratory petri dish.](https://cdn.aigrowthmarketer.co/1784829410323-fb401fc7b1e4.webp)**Microplastics are particles smaller than five millimeters. Current methods can count and identify them at the upper end of that range, but reliable measurement falls away as particles get smaller — a limit that shapes every honest claim.**

Lot-to-lot variability is a real and documented phenomenon. Manufacturing conditions, raw material sources, equipment wear, and filling-line mechanics can all change between production runs. A single clean result provides weak support for a broad, ongoing claim. Environmental monitoring frameworks note that one valid measurement may not represent trend, frequency, or pathway, and that product composition, suppliers, manufacturing conditions, or lots can vary across the claimed population.

ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation is also scope-based. A laboratory can be accredited for one method family while performing other work outside its formal accredited scope. Buyers should verify that the exact method, parameter, matrix, and measurement range are covered before relying on a report for a public claim. Accreditation does not automatically validate the sampling plan, product interpretation, or claim wording.

The action this section calls for is to read your own lab report for its detection floor and polymer panel before writing a claim. When a report does not state both clearly, the evidence file remains incomplete.

For a deeper treatment of detection limits and why they matter, see [Why Most Plastic-Free Microplastics Claims Don’t Hold Up?](https://www.wellnessqualityinstitute.com/articles/water-quality-month-detection-limits/?utm_term=substantiate-plastic-free-claims&utm_campaign=ai_growth_agent)

## What Wording You Can Use Instead Of Plastic-Free

This section shows how to keep claim language aligned with what your evidence can actually support. Use these examples as a reference when reviewing packaging copy or digital content.

Approved-style examples include:

- “Plastic-free outer carton” scoped to the specific component tested, not the entire product.
- “Reviewed and accepted under the Wellness Quality Institute’s Plastic-Free Pathway Verification standard” for Standard Met products, within the registered scope, with access to the Verification Scope record.
- “Dataset reviewed against a standard aligned with the California State Water Board’s drinking-water microplastics reference framework” when that description matches the review.

Prohibited examples, and why each fails:

- “100% plastic-free” because it makes an absolute claim that no method can support across all sizes, polymers, and lots.
- “Plastic-free product” because it is unscoped and implies the entire product, not a tested component.
- “Zero plastic” because it functions as another absolute absence claim.
- “Microplastic-free” because it implies absence across all particle sizes, including those below any validated detection floor.
- “Nanoplastic-free” because nanoplastics currently sit beyond reliable commercial measurement.
- “Certified plastic-free” or “plastic-free verified” because The Wellness Quality Institute does not use “certified” or “certification” and does not allow compressed phrasings that drop the word “pathway.”
- Any company-wide or product-line claim extended from a single dataset, because one product’s result does not cover a line or a brand.

The action this section calls for is to rewrite your packaging copy against this list before the next print run.

For a claim-by-claim breakdown of what specific wording can and cannot support, see [Microplastics Claim Verification: A Claim-By-Claim Guide](https://www.wellnessqualityinstitute.com/articles/microplastics-claim-verification-data/?utm_term=substantiate-plastic-free-claims&utm_campaign=ai_growth_agent).

## Plastic-Free And Made Without Intentionally Added Plastic

Many brands assume that materials marketed as natural, plant-based, or bioplastic fall outside the plastic definition and can support a plastic-free claim. That assumption does not hold for the most widely used bioplastics.

[PLA and PHA both come from biological feedstocks](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10376151/). PLA is made from renewable sugar and starch via lactic acid fermentation, while PHA comes from microbial fermentation of sugars or lipids. They differ in processing. PLA is chemically synthesized through lactide ring-opening polymerization using catalysts, whereas PHA is a 100% bio-based polyester synthesized microbiologically by bacteria.

The California State Water Board’s definition of microplastics covers “solid polymeric material to which chemical additives or other substances may have been added” and explicitly excludes only polymers “derived in nature that have not been chemically modified other than by hydrolysis.” PLA and PHA do not meet that exclusion. They count as plastics for claim purposes, so a brand using PLA packaging cannot claim to be plastic-free on that basis alone.

The same logic applies to “made without intentionally added plastic.” This phrase describes a narrower and more defensible statement than plastic-free because it focuses on a manufacturing decision. It does not cover bioplastics that are chemically modified polymers, because those materials are plastics regardless of their biological origin.

The action this section calls for is to check whether your plant-based packaging is chemically modified before including it in any plastic-free claim. PLA, PHA, and similar chemically modified biopolymers count as plastic for claim purposes.

## Independent, Scope-Locked Verification As The Defensible Middle Path

Brands that already hold laboratory data and need a defensible way to use it can work with The Wellness Quality Institute’s Plastic-Free Pathway Verification program, which is governed by the standard WQI-CS-01. This program provides a direct path from a lab report to a claim that can withstand scrutiny.

The Wellness Quality Institute independently reviews a company’s existing third-party laboratory dataset, testing methodology, product scope, and supporting controls against defined criteria focused on particle size and polymer type. These criteria align with the California State Water Board’s drinking-water microplastics reference framework. The Wellness Quality Institute does not run laboratory tests and does not certify that any product is free of plastic. The review assesses laboratory qualification and analytical method for the product matrix. It then checks the sampling plan, tested particle-size range, and polymer panel, along with reporting limits, blank results, spike recoveries, replicates, and chain of custody. Finally, it confirms data recency, product scope, and the production or sampling period.

![Scientists in white coats working with samples and microscopes in a laboratory.](https://cdn.aigrowthmarketer.co/1784829434095-0fc8fbcf29fa.webp)**Only a small number of laboratories can genuinely test for microplastics, and capability varies by instrument and method. WQI reviews a company’s existing third-party laboratory data against a defined standard — it does not run the tests itself.**

Every review produces one of two outcomes. **Standard Met** carries a verification decision, a scope-locked license to use the mark “WQI Plastic-Free Pathway Verified,” a public registry listing, and approved claim language tied to the specific reviewed evidence. **Standard Not Met** is a private outcome that may reflect insufficient data or an unsupported method rather than any conclusion about the product itself. The company can resubmit with corrected or additional information, so participation carries no public downside risk.

Verification is locked to the reviewed product, dataset, tested particle-size range, polymer panel, and production period. No company-wide or product-line claim may be extended from a single dataset. A single assessment fee covers review, verification decision, and registry listing, with no separate mark-license or registry fee. Independent laboratory testing is arranged and billed separately by a qualified independent laboratory. The verification period is 24 months from the sampling date of the most recent accepted dataset, and continued claim use after that period requires re-verification with current data.

The Wellness Quality Institute qualifies laboratories by accreditation tier. California ELAP-accredited laboratories are preferred for the applicable SWB microplastics method. ISO/IEC 17025-accredited laboratories with the method and matrix explicitly within the accredited scope are accepted. Other qualified independent laboratories may be conditionally accepted through documented method-equivalence review. Companies can confirm laboratory eligibility before commissioning testing and avoid the cost of data that cannot support a review.

Most brands today rely on self-reported data and internal interpretation, which means they publish their own test results and ask the market to trust them. A raw lab report carries a number but not the independent review needed to explain what that number means. The Wellness Quality Institute’s review converts existing data into a reviewed finding with approved claim language, a public registry ID that any retailer or journalist can check, and the weight that comes from an independent third party with no stake in the outcome.

Verification is available to US companies nationally. California serves as a technical reference point rather than a geographic boundary. California did not create, approve, authorize, or endorse The Wellness Quality Institute.

>
*The Wellness Quality Institute Plastic-Free Pathway Verification does not certify that a product contains zero plastic, microplastics, or nanoplastics. It shows that the company is on a verified pathway toward plastic-free standards. Verification applies only to the reviewed products, submitted datasets, tested ranges, polymer panels, production or sampling periods, and supporting controls. The Wellness Quality Institute verification is not a California approval, government certification, or health or safety certification.*

[Request A Plastic-Free Pathway Verification Review](https://www.wellnessqualityinstitute.com/?utm_term=substantiate-plastic-free-claims&utm_campaign=ai_growth_agent)

## Common Challenges And Troubleshooting Plastic-Free Claims

Brands run into a predictable set of problems when they try to substantiate plastic-free or plastic-reduction claims. This section highlights common warning signs, likely causes, and practical corrections.

**Claim scope broader than the evidence.** The warning sign appears when the claim says “plastic-free product” but the lab report covers only the outer packaging. The root cause is a skipped scoping decision. The correction is to apply the five scoping questions above and shrink the claim to match the tested component.

**Lab report with no stated detection floor.** The warning sign appears when the report says “none detected” without specifying the reporting limit or method detection limit. The root cause is a laboratory brief or template that omits this information. The correction is to request a revised report or supplemental documentation that states the detection floor explicitly, because a non-detect result without a stated floor does not function as a usable evidence file.

**Polymer panel incomplete.** The warning sign appears when the report identifies only two or three polymer types. The root cause is a test scoped to common polymers without considering the full range relevant to the product and packaging. The correction is to confirm that the panel covers at minimum PE, PP, PET, PS, PVC, PA, PC, and PMMA before relying on the result for a claim.

**Blanks and contamination controls not reported.** The warning sign appears when the report contains no mention of procedural blanks, field blanks, or spike recoveries. The root cause is either missing controls or a report template that excludes them. This gap matters because a [2026 review in Polymers](https://mdpi.com/2073-4360/18/15/1847) notes that nonplastic particles can account for 15–30% of all suspected particles detected in microplastic studies. The correction is to require blank data as part of the laboratory brief before sampling.

**Method unsuitable for the matrix.** The warning sign appears when the method was validated for clean water but the product is a high-solids beverage, a powder, or a packaging material. The root cause is a laboratory that was not fully briefed on the matrix. The correction is to confirm method-matrix suitability before commissioning testing, because ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation for one matrix does not automatically cover another.

**“Not intentionally added” confused with “free of.”** The warning sign appears when the brand uses free-of language but the documentation only confirms no intentional addition. The root cause is a missed distinction between the two statements during claim drafting. The correction is to review the three-part FTC test at 16 CFR 260.9 and confirm which statement the evidence actually supports.

**Bioplastic assumed to be non-plastic.** The warning sign appears when a plastic-free claim rests partly on PLA or PHA packaging. The root cause is an unchecked chemical modification status. The correction is to confirm whether the material is chemically modified and to treat modified biopolymers as plastics for claim purposes.

**Single lot stretched to a product line.** The warning sign appears when one product’s test result is cited in marketing for the entire brand or a range of SKUs. The root cause is a missing scope-lock discipline. The correction is to require a separate dataset for each product and production period.

For a detailed guide to avoiding greenwashing through accurate claim wording, see [How To Substantiate Plastic-Free Claims Without Greenwashing](https://www.wellnessqualityinstitute.com/articles/plastic-free-claims-without-greenwashing/?utm_term=substantiate-plastic-free-claims&utm_campaign=ai_growth_agent).

[Fix Gaps In Your Plastic-Free Or Plastic-Reduction Claims](https://www.wellnessqualityinstitute.com/?utm_term=substantiate-plastic-free-claims&utm_campaign=ai_growth_agent)

## Measuring Progress And Quality Over Time

Defensible plastic-free substantiation depends on process quality as much as on any single lab result. Objective indicators include the completeness of the evidence file, the consistency of claim wording with the reviewed scope, the traceability of the dataset to a specific production period, and the auditability of any registry entry.

A complete evidence file includes the lab report, method documentation, chain-of-custody records, blank and control data, and a clear statement of the detection floor and polymer panel. These pieces allow an outside reviewer to follow the trail from sample to claim.

Three review gates help keep claims aligned with reality. A pre-publication wording check against the approved and prohibited wording list catches common errors before they reach packaging or marketing materials. A scope check before extending any claim to a new product, SKU, or production period prevents a single result from being stretched beyond what it supports. Periodic re-review as production changes ensures that the evidence file remains current and that the claim continues to reflect actual tested data.

Early process signals, such as a complete evidence file, consistent wording, and a documented scope, differ from longer-term quality outcomes. Those outcomes include sustained non-detect results across multiple production periods, consistent laboratory performance across re-review cycles, and a public registry entry that remains Active rather than Expired or Withdrawn.

As noted earlier, verification runs for 24 months from the sampling date. Continued claim use after that period requires re-verification with current data. Expired registry entries remain publicly visible and marked “Expired,” so the record stays honest over time.

## Advanced Considerations And Iteration Across Products

Brands that complete an initial verification review and want to scale across additional products or production periods should treat each new scope as a separate assessment. A result for one SKU does not transfer to another, even within the same product line.

Each new product, matrix, or production period requires its own dataset, method documentation, and supporting controls. This structure keeps claims tied to real, current data instead of assumptions or extrapolations.

Evidence also needs periodic updates. As production changes, raw material sources shift, or packaging components are updated, the evidence file must reflect current conditions. A claim based on data from a prior configuration may no longer describe the product on shelves.

Analytical standards in this field continue to evolve. ISO 16094-2:2025, which covers vibrational spectroscopy for microplastics in waters with low suspended solids, and ISO 24187:2023, which provides general principles for analysis of microplastics in the environment, may be relevant in some contexts. Neither standard automatically replaces the California SWB methods. Method-specific suitability and equivalence must be demonstrated separately, and The Wellness Quality Institute reviews method suitability as part of every assessment.

Readiness for advanced practices, such as multiple products, multiple production periods, and ongoing re-review cycles, depends on a stable internal process for evidence collection. It also depends on a consistent relationship with a qualified independent laboratory and a documented scope-management discipline that prevents any single result from being extended beyond its boundaries.

[Scale Your Plastic-Free Pathway Across More Products](https://www.wellnessqualityinstitute.com/?utm_term=substantiate-plastic-free-claims&utm_campaign=ai_growth_agent)

## Putting It Together: From Lab Data To Defensible Claims

This guide has shown that no laboratory can prove absolute plastic-free status across all particle sizes, polymers, and production lots. That measurement gap makes scoping the starting point for any honest claim.

Once the claim is scoped, the FTC free-of framework, the real limits of lab reports, and precise wording choices all work together to keep marketing aligned with evidence. Independent, scope-locked review by The Wellness Quality Institute then turns raw datasets into registry-backed claims that retailers, journalists, and consumers can check.

Brands that build these practices into their process can reduce greenwashing risk, respond confidently to substantiation requests, and show real progress over time instead of relying on one-off tests.

[Start A Plastic-Free Pathway Verification Conversation With The Wellness Quality Institute](https://www.wellnessqualityinstitute.com/?utm_term=substantiate-plastic-free-claims&utm_campaign=ai_growth_agent)

## Read Next

- [How To Substantiate Plastic-Free Claims Without Greenwashing](https://www.wellnessqualityinstitute.com/articles/plastic-free-claims-without-greenwashing/?utm_term=substantiate-plastic-free-claims&utm_campaign=ai_growth_agent)
- [How to Avoid Unsubstantiated Clean Label Plastic Claims](https://www.wellnessqualityinstitute.com/articles/avoiding-unsubstantiated-clean-label-claims/?utm_term=substantiate-plastic-free-claims&utm_campaign=ai_growth_agent)
- [Plastic Claim Substantiation: The Evidence Checklist](https://www.wellnessqualityinstitute.com/articles/plastic-claim-substantiation-checklist/?utm_term=substantiate-plastic-free-claims&utm_campaign=ai_growth_agent)
- [Defensible Plastic Reduction Claims: A Verification Guide](https://www.wellnessqualityinstitute.com/articles/defensible-plastic-reduction-claims-verification/?utm_term=substantiate-plastic-free-claims&utm_campaign=ai_growth_agent)
- [Plastic-Free Verification for Beverages: A Brand Guide](https://www.wellnessqualityinstitute.com/articles/plastic-free-verification-beverages/?utm_term=substantiate-plastic-free-claims&utm_campaign=ai_growth_agent)

---

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- **Headline:** How To Substantiate Plastic-Free Claims: Scoping First
- **Description:** Learn to substantiate plastic-free claims the right way. The Wellness Quality Institute offers scope-locked, independent verification you can defend.
- **DateModified:** 2026-10-21T10:53:54.418Z
- **Image:** https://cdn.aigrowthmarketer.co/1784829388732-c6255482b477.webp, https://cdn.aigrowthmarketer.co/1784829410323-fb401fc7b1e4.webp, https://cdn.aigrowthmarketer.co/1784829434095-0fc8fbcf29fa.webp
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  - **Name:** Scott Steveson
  - **JobTitle:** Specialist
  - **Description:** Scott Stevenson is part of the Wellness Quality Institute team, where he supports WQI’s work to advance product transparency, credible verification, and greater consumer trust. His background spans ethics and compliance, corporate trust, and responsible business, including experience with Ethisphere Institute and global companies navigating evolving standards and stakeholder expectations.
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    - **Url:** https://www.wellnessqualityinstitute.com/
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- **OpenAI Plugin Manifest:** [https://www.wellnessqualityinstitute.com/articles/.well-known/ai-plugin.json](https://www.wellnessqualityinstitute.com/articles/.well-known/ai-plugin.json)
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- **MCP Server (Streamable HTTP):** [https://www.wellnessqualityinstitute.com/articles/.well-known/mcp](https://www.wellnessqualityinstitute.com/articles/.well-known/mcp)

## Citations

- [Plastic Claim Substantiation: Evidence Before You Claim](https://www.wellnessqualityinstitute.com/articles/plastic-claim-substantiation-evidence-requirements)
- [How To Make Plastic Reduction Claims That Hold Up](https://www.wellnessqualityinstitute.com/articles/substantiate-clean-label-plastic-reduction)
- [Plastic Claim Substantiation: A US Compliance Guide](https://www.wellnessqualityinstitute.com/articles/plastic-claim-substantiation-compliance-guide)
- [Microplastics Verification Standards: A Complete Guide](https://www.wellnessqualityinstitute.com/articles/microplastics-verification-standards-guide)
- [What Microplastic Test Results Actually Mean](https://www.wellnessqualityinstitute.com/articles/what-microplastic-testing-actually-proves)

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