Offsetting your company's carbon footprint is not just buying credits: it is an orderly process that adds to your ESG strategy and your decarbonization goals. Here are the four steps.
Step 1: Measure your footprint
Calculate your emissions in tonnes of CO₂ equivalent (tCO₂e), separating scopes 1, 2 and 3: direct emissions, those from the energy you buy and the indirect ones in your value chain. Without a clear measurement there is no possible strategy.
Step 2: Reduce what you can
Before offsetting, reduce. Energy efficiency, renewable energy, logistics and supply chain are the most common levers. Offsetting covers what you cannot yet eliminate, not what you could actually reduce.
Step 3: Offset the remainder
Buy and retire verified carbon credits for the unavoidable remainder. Look at integrity: recognized standards (Verra, BioCarbon Registry), unique serial, independent verification and social and biodiversity co-benefits. REDD+ and mangrove blue-carbon projects meet these criteria.
Step 4: Certify and communicate
When you retire the credits in your company's name you receive a retirement certificate and the evidence of the serials. With that you can communicate your offset transparently and back up your ESG and sustainability reports.
Start today
At Biotrade we support companies with a tailored portfolio, invoicing, per-batch certificates and impact reporting. Explore the projects or request information to take the first step.