THE CREOS APPROACH
Carbon offset advisory
Choose carbon credits with care.
Assess carbon-credit options for climate contributions associated with residual emissions, focusing on quality, purpose and claims.
Assess project quality
Review methods, verification information and traceability, including additionality, durability and risks.
Match the purpose
Distinguish voluntary climate contributions from project development and other uses. Credit mechanisms are not interchangeable.
Communicate accurately
Credit purchases do not replace operational reductions. Explain the inventory, reduction actions and use of credits.
Define the purpose of the contribution
Before considering credits, a business needs to explain its intended use, emissions boundary and operational reduction work. Climate contributions associated with an event, product or company require different records and communication. Carbonstop's CREOS offsetting work considers credit portfolios in the context of those needs. Procurement should be based on evidence about a specific project, rather than assuming that a familiar mechanism name, low price or appealing project image establishes quality.
Turn quality into questions that can be checked
A review can organize evidence on methodology, additionality, monitoring, verification, project rights and environmental or social effects. Projects involving long-term storage also need attention to durability risks and the arrangements addressing them. Project stage matters: projected reductions from a development project differ from issued credits. Screening should explain the available evidence, unanswered questions and risks relevant to the intended use, allowing the buyer to compare understandable project conditions.
Match a portfolio to the business context
Project type, geography, environmental and social benefits, and budget can inform a portfolio discussion. Different mechanisms and uses are not interchangeable. A brand communication project needs evidence that supports the intended description of its contribution. Use associated with residual emissions needs an appropriate quantity and period, along with the relevant records. Procurement also needs a clear handover to the company's approval, finance and reporting teams so the documentation remains accessible.
Retain evidence after procurement
The scope can include a screening checklist, due-diligence questions, candidate-portfolio notes and a use-evidence register. Depending on the mechanism, teams should review purchase records, credit identifiers, registry information and retirement evidence. Buying credits does not establish that they have already been used. Keeping purchase, holding and retirement stages separate makes later reporting easier and provides a clearer answer when a customer asks for the evidence behind a statement.
Explain credits within the wider reduction effort
Communication should identify the accounting object, period, reduction measures, remaining emissions and credit purpose. A contribution supported by credits does not remove the fact that operational or value-chain emissions remain. Product-label projects also need the relevant certification protocol and independence arrangements. Explaining reductions and credit use separately helps customers understand the work completed and which conclusions still depend on verification or a certification decision by the responsible body.
PREPARE THE CONVERSATION
A useful starting point
for the discussion.
Start with available records and a list of gaps. Agree on scope and outputs after reviewing the actual situation.
- Inventory and reduction baseline
- Purpose of credit use
- Project preferences and verification requirements
FAQ
Questions before you decide.
Why is a mechanism name insufficient for selecting credits?
Projects within the same mechanism can differ in methodology, stage, verification evidence and risk management. Review the actual project and credit records before assessing suitability. The name of the mechanism does not replace due diligence on the credits being considered.
How does buying differ from retiring credits?
A purchase establishes the relevant rights; retirement records use under the applicable mechanism. Teams should check registry and retirement evidence and identify the purpose. A purchase invoice alone should not be described as evidence that the credits have already been used.
Can credits count as our operational reductions?
Record changes in your own emissions separately from credit use. Procurement does not demonstrate that a factory, material or supplier has reduced emissions. Treatment within targets and public claims depends on the applicable accounting approach and project protocol.
Connect the next part of the work
Carbon project advisory
Help project owners assess mechanisms, methods and evidence requirements for carbon-credit development.
View detailsCONSULTINGNet-zero transition planning
Bring the emissions baseline, targets and business changes into one planning framework for reduction measures and implementation.
View detailsCONSULTINGCarbon labels & review preparation
Product Carbon Footprint and Product Carbon Reduction labels connect accounting and reduction evidence with product communication.
View detailsMAKE THE NEXT STEP CLEAR
Bring your business question.
Leave with a clearer starting point.
Describe the accounting object, customer request and records you have. Discuss a demonstration or define the project scope.