Carbon neutral verification

From September 2023 we are no longer offering carbon neutral verification. You may still see products in the market with the Carbon Neutral label, until the point of reverification, as we work with existing label holders to transition to our new range of label offers.

Find out about the new label offer

The Carbon Trust has offered carbon neutral verification since 2012.

This verification enabled organisations to demonstrate their commitment to decarbonisation, verified against PAS 2060, the internationally recognised standard for Carbon Neutrality, and played an important role in setting businesses on the path to Net Zero.

As consumer engagement and regulatory frameworks around sustainability evolve, our label claims portfolio is evolving in response.

We are now making changes to our label portfolio, and the claims that accompany the labels, to ensure transparency and clarity of environmental claims with an expectation of high ambition.

We are transitioning the carbon neutral verification and label to have a greater emphasis on reduction, more rigorous and ambitious requirements and language to enhance clarity of meaning.

There is a need for more rapid climate action than ever before. Our labels support our partners to increase their ambition and accelerate the move to a decarbonised future.

Products with carbon neutral verification will still be in the market for some time, until required to reverify, and products found in the market will have met these rigorous standards.

What is a carbon neutral footprint?

To achieve a carbon neutral footprint verification, for a product or an organisation, businesses must have:

a verified footprint which shows a reduction on the previous footprint calculation
a reduction plan, which details how further reductions in the carbon footprint will be achieved
carbon offsets equivalent to emissions that could not be reduced

The verification is for the ‘cradle to grave’ footprint, which means the entire lifecycle of the product, right the way through to disposal.

What are 'offsets'?

Offsets’ are projects which either reduce carbon going into the atmosphere, such as renewable energy projects, prevent depletion of nature, or remove greenhouse gases.

What is PAS 2060?

PAS 2060 is the internationally recognised specification for carbon neutrality published by BSI. It sets out the requirements for quantifying, reducing and offsetting greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions for organisations and products.

In order to achieve the verification, a company must have:

* such as Gold Standard, VCS and Woodland Code UK to compensate for all remaining emissions.

A transition plan fosters transparency and accountability, establishing a blueprint for how an organisation will achieve its climate goals and ambitions. In addition to clearly communicating it, organisations should embed their transition plans within their operations, management, and strategy, tailoring them to the specific realities and challenges of the Latin American region.

Marta Iglesias

Associate Director, The Carbon Trust

We see countless examples where investment managers need to get a deal approved by an investment committee in less than one week. Climate due diligence is essential, but it shouldn’t be a blocker. It’s important non-sustainability experts have the tools and confidence to check climate credentials and prevent unnecessary delays that may result in financial institutions passing on qualified sustainability investments.

Tom McKeith

Consultant, Corporate Sustainability, The Carbon Trust