Data as of Sep 19, 2026 · Based on 50 AI responses from ChatGPT Search and Google AI Mode · See how Parse measures this
Your brand can be here too.
Source | Citation share |
|---|---|
 The Best Carbon Offsets for Businesses' Net Zero Goalshttps://www.givinggreen.earth/post/the-best-carbon-offsets-for-businesses | 2.1% |
 Frontierhttps://frontierclimate.com/ | 1.8% |
Stripe, Alphabet, Shopify, Meta, and McKinsey launch advance market commitment to buy $1B of carbon removal by 2030https://frontierclimate.com/writing/launch | 1.4% |
 SBTi Corporate Net-Zero Standard June 2026 Versionhttps://files.sciencebasedtargets.org/production/files/Corporate-Net-Zero-Standard-version-2.pdf | 1.3% |
How Climate Orders work | Stripe Documentationhttps://docs.stripe.com/climate/orders/how-it-works | 1.1% |
 Supercritical | Permanent carbon removal you can’t get anywhere else.https://gosupercritical.com/ | 1.1% |
 Beyond ton-for-ton: How early investment in carbon removal is the ...https://www.ceezer.earth/insights/early-investment-in-carbon-removal-is-the-beyond-value-chain-lever | 1.1% |
Supercriticalhttps://gosupercritical.com/ | 0.9% |
 The Core Carbon Principles | ICVCMhttps://icvcm.org/core-carbon-principles/ | 0.9% |
 Carbon offsets: What they are and how they work - Climeworkshttps://climeworks.com/blog/carbon-removal-offsets | 0.7% |
Yes—but the key is **buying the right kind of removal for the claim you want to make**, not simply buying a “carbon credit.” For a company pursuing a credible net-zero pathway, I’d use this procurement hierarchy: - **First, reduce your Scope 1–3 emissions.** Carbon removals are intended to deal with residual…
Yes—but the key is buying the right kind of removal for the claim you want to make, not simply buying a “carbon credit.”
For a company pursuing a credible net-zero pathway, I’d use this procurement hierarchy:
Rather than treating a particular marketplace as automatically legitimate, I'd procure directly from a CDR developer or specialist buyer/marketplace and require the contract to specify the project, methodology, registry/serial numbers, permanence, retirement mechanism, and claims rights.
For a corporate buyer, technologies worth investigating include:
The ICVCM currently lists CCP-Approved methodologies in several of these areas, including direct air capture, biomass geological storage, bio-oil geological storage and accelerated carbonation of concrete aggregate.
One important distinction: “CCP-approved methodology” doesn't mean every individual credit is automatically suitable for your net-zero claim. You still need to check the specific project, issuance, permanence, retirement and accounting treatment.
If you're sending an RFP to suppliers, I'd make these requirements non-negotiable:
| Requirement | What to require |
|---|---|
| Removal, not avoidance | CO₂ physically removed from atmosphere |
| Durability | Preferably centuries-to-millennia for long-lived residual emissions |
| Third-party verification | Independent validation/verification |
| No double counting | Unique serial numbers + permanent retirement |
| Additionality | Evidence the removal wouldn't happen without the revenue |
| Quantification | Conservative, independently verified measurement |
| Chain of custody | Clear project → issuance → ownership → retirement |
| Claims rights | Contract explicitly gives your company the right to claim the retired removal |
| Host-country accounting | Check authorization/corresponding-adjustment status where applicable |
| Disclosure | Project, methodology, vintage, quantity, permanence and retirement records |
The ICVCM specifically treats robust quantification and no double counting as core integrity requirements.
One wrinkle in 2026: SBTi has published V2.0, but validation under V2.0 begins in 2027; companies setting targets during 2026 are still directed to the current V1.3.1 framework. Science Based Targets Initiative Science Based Targets Initiative So your procurement language should be aligned with the SBTi version actually governing your company's target, rather than assuming every new CDR rule already applies to your target.
If you tell me your annual residual emissions (e.g. 10,000 tCO₂e), industry, target year, and whether you want removals for SBTi net-zero neutralization or for an additional climate claim, I can give you a concrete shortlist of procurement routes and the due-diligence questions I'd put into the RFP.
Buying carbon removal that "actually counts" means shifting your strategy away from cheap, traditional avoided-emissions offsets and toward **durable, scientifically verified carbon dioxide removal (CDR)** . To ensure your purchases withstand scrutiny and align with rigorous frameworks like the [Oxford Offsetting…
Buying carbon removal that "actually counts" means shifting your strategy away from cheap, traditional avoided-emissions offsets and toward durable, scientifically verified carbon dioxide removal (CDR) . To ensure your purchases withstand scrutiny and align with rigorous frameworks like the Oxford Offsetting Principles , look for permanent storage, strict additionality, and transparent registries.
A practical roadmap and sourcing guide details how to buy credible carbon removal:
If you don't have an internal team of geochemists or climate scientists to vet suppliers, purchase through trusted aggregators and advance market commitments that do rigorous vetting for you:
Avoid legacy registries that were originally built for cheap avoidance credits. Instead, source credits certified by registries purpose-built for the removal era:
To ensure a credit represents a real ton of removed carbon, evaluate every purchase against these criteria:
To help narrow down where you should buy, tell me:
If you mean **“count” toward a credible corporate net-zero claim**, the key distinction is this: - **Carbon removal is not a substitute for cutting your own emissions.** Most net-zero frameworks expect companies to reduce Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions first, then use removals to neutralize the residual emissions that…
If you mean “count” toward a credible corporate net-zero claim, the key distinction is this:
Best when you want long-term offtake agreements and traceability.
Examples of removal types:
Many large corporate buyers use multi-year purchase agreements to help emerging suppliers scale.
Useful if you need a portfolio rather than managing supplier diligence yourself. Look for providers that disclose:
A procurement checklist:
| Requirement | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Actual removal, not avoidance | A removal should take CO₂ out of the atmosphere; avoided emissions are a different category. |
| Third-party verification | Reduces risk of unsupported claims. |
| Permanent or durable storage | Important if you are using removals to neutralize long-lived emissions. Science Based Targets |
| Additionality | The purchase should cause removals that would not otherwise happen. |
| No double counting | The same tonne should not be claimed by multiple parties. |
| Retirement in a registry | Creates a record that the credit has been used. Puro Registry Verra Registry |
| Clear climate claim language | Avoid claiming “net zero” from removals alone if your reductions are not on track. |
A common strategy is a portfolio:
If you tell me your industry, annual emissions (rough tonnes CO₂e), net-zero target year, and whether you need removals for SBTi/CDP/SEC/customer reporting, I can suggest a procurement route and diligence checklist tailored to your situation.
To ensure your carbon removal purchases genuinely count toward a credible net-zero goal, **buy permanent, highly durable carbon removal credits through rigorous advance market platforms like Frontier Climate or curated portfolios from science-backed evaluators like Giving Green** . Avoid cheap, avoidance-based offsets…
To ensure your carbon removal purchases genuinely count toward a credible net-zero goal, buy permanent, highly durable carbon removal credits through rigorous advance market platforms like Frontier Climate or curated portfolios from science-backed evaluators like Giving Green . Avoid cheap, avoidance-based offsets (like protecting existing forests) that fail to remove new carbon or guarantee long-term storage.
For a credit to "count" under strict accounting standards, it must represent physical removal of CO 2 CO sub 2 C O 2 from the atmosphere with permanent storage (ideally 1,000+ years), additionality (the removal wouldn't have happened without your funding), and low risk of reversal.
| Quality Metric | What to Look For | What to Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Durability | Storage lasting 1,000+ years (e.g., mineralization, deep geological storage) | Short-term or temporary storage (e.g., standard tree planting vulnerable to fires/logging) |
| Additionality | Projects that only exist because of carbon market financing | Projects that would have happened anyway under business-as-usual economics |
| Verification | Rigorous third-party scientific measurement, reporting, and verification (MRV) | Unverified registry claims or self-reported project milestones |
| Type | True atmospheric carbon removal | Emission avoidance (paying not to cut down a tree or buying standard green energy credits) |
If you can share your company's estimated annual emissions volume (in tons) and budget range , I can help you decide whether to join an advance market commitment or build a direct procurement portfolio.
To buy carbon removal (CDR) that "actually counts" toward a credible net-zero goal, you have to move away from traditional, cheap avoidance offsets (like paying someone not to cut down a tree) and toward **durable, highly verifiable permanent removal**. Buying high-integrity carbon removal involves navigating specific…
To buy carbon removal (CDR) that "actually counts" toward a credible net-zero goal, you have to move away from traditional, cheap avoidance offsets (like paying someone not to cut down a tree) and toward durable, highly verifiable permanent removal.
Buying high-integrity carbon removal involves navigating specific procurement pathways, vetting frameworks, and marketplaces.
If you want to bypass the headache of vetting individual startups and guarantee your money scales real technology, buying through a trusted coalition is the gold standard for corporate buyers.
If you prefer to build your own portfolio of issued credits (like CORCs) or pre-purchase agreements, look for registries with rigorous, science-backed protocols:
To avoid greenwashing accusations and ensure your accounting holds up to strict scrutiny (like the SBTi Corporate Net-Zero Standard):
To help tailor this strategy, could you tell me:
Yes—but the key is to buy **carbon removals that satisfy the accounting/claims framework you intend to use**, not simply “carbon credits.” For a company pursuing a science-based net-zero target, I’d use this hierarchy: 1. **Reduce your Scope 1–3 emissions first.** Carbon removals don't substitute for decarbonization.…
Yes—but the key is to buy carbon removals that satisfy the accounting/claims framework you intend to use, not simply “carbon credits.”
For a company pursuing a science-based net-zero target, I’d use this hierarchy:
For a corporate procurement program, I'd look at high-quality CDR suppliers and specialist procurement platforms, rather than buying generic offsets from a marketplace.
The most defensible procurement categories today are:
I'd also use the Integrity Council for the Voluntary Carbon Market (ICVCM) as a quality screen. Its Core Carbon Principles cover additionality, permanence, quantification, independent verification, transparency and double-counting, among other criteria.
If by “actually count” you mean “will this let us say we're net zero?”, that's substantially stricter than “is this a legitimate carbon removal?”
I would structure procurement as:
near-term emissions reductions → long-term removal purchasing commitments → eventual retirement of qualifying permanent removals against residual emissions.
Don't buy 100,000 tonnes of inexpensive forestry credits and assume you've neutralized 100,000 tonnes of corporate emissions.
If you tell me your annual Scope 1/2/3 emissions, target year, geography, and roughly what you're willing to pay per tonne, I can give you a shortlist of actual CDR suppliers/projects to buy from, with price ranges, permanence, verification, and whether each is suitable for SBTi net-zero accounting.
To buy carbon removal that genuinely counts toward net-zero, companies must purchase **permanent, verified carbon dioxide removal (CDR)** through `reputable marketplaces, aggregators, or direct procurement initiatives` rather than cheap avoidance…
To buy carbon removal that genuinely counts toward net-zero, companies must purchase permanent, verified carbon dioxide removal (CDR) through reputable marketplaces, aggregators, or direct procurement initiatives rather than cheap avoidance offsets.
High-integrity carbon removal means the carbon is physically pulled from the air and stored durably for centuries or millennia (such as through mineralization or bio-oil injection), rather than just avoiding future emissions (like planting trees that might burn down or protecting a forest).
If you share your company's industry, annual emissions footprint , and budget , I can help you design a tailored portfolio mixing durable engineered removals and near-term solutions.
If by “actually count” you mean **count toward a credible corporate net-zero claim**, don’t simply buy the cheapest carbon credits. The key is matching the purchase to the accounting framework your company uses. ### What to buy For **net-zero neutralization**, prioritize **carbon dioxide removals (CDR)**—not…
If by “actually count” you mean count toward a credible corporate net-zero claim, don’t simply buy the cheapest carbon credits. The key is matching the purchase to the accounting framework your company uses.
For net-zero neutralization, prioritize carbon dioxide removals (CDR)—not avoided-emissions offsets—with durable storage. The Oxford Principles specifically recommend shifting toward removals and, for residual emissions at net zero, toward durable storage with low reversal risk.
A good hierarchy is:
The newly released SBTi Corporate Net-Zero Standard V2.0 is particularly important here: it requires companies to neutralize residual Scope 1 emissions and residual Scope 3 emissions at net zero, using removals, with explicit requirements around double counting and reporting whether credits have host-country authorization/corresponding adjustments.
For a serious corporate program, I'd look at two channels rather than just a conventional offset marketplace:
When evaluating a seller, insist on project-level documentation, not merely a marketing claim that the portfolio is “high quality.” At minimum, you want clear evidence of additionality, quantification, permanence, independent verification, registry tracking, and no double counting. Those are core elements of the ICVCM's Core Carbon Principles.
There are actually three different things a company might mean by “count”:
| Goal | What you need |
|---|---|
| Reduce your reported Scope 1–3 footprint | Internal/value-chain reductions, not offsets |
| Support climate action beyond your value chain | High-integrity carbon credits/removals, reported separately |
| Neutralize residual emissions at net zero | Qualifying carbon removals, with appropriate durability and accounting |
SBTi is explicit that external offsets don't substitute for the emissions reductions needed to meet science-based targets.
Also, VCMI's current claims framework is useful if your marketing/communications team wants to make public claims about purchased credits: it calls for high-quality credits and, as they become available, ICVCM Core Carbon Principles-labelled credits or qualifying Article 6.4 credits.
If you tell me your company’s approximate annual emissions (e.g. 10k, 100k, or 1M tCO₂e), target year, and whether you need removals for SBTi/CSRD/SEC/customer claims, I can give you a concrete shortlist of reputable CDR suppliers and procurement platforms to approach—and what I'd buy from each.
When navigating the carbon removal market with net-zero goals, "what actually counts" comes down to a strict adherence to durability, additionality, and rigorous measurement. Under modern benchmarks like the [Oxford Offsetting Principles](https://www.smithschool.ox.ac.uk/research/oxford-offsetting-principles) ,…
When navigating the carbon removal market with net-zero goals, "what actually counts" comes down to a strict adherence to durability, additionality, and rigorous measurement. Under modern benchmarks like the Oxford Offsetting Principles , credible net-zero alignment means shifting away from cheap, temporary avoidance credits and prioritizing permanent carbon dioxide removal (CDR).
To ensure your purchases count, look for high-integrity procurement channels categorized by storage durability and verified technology types.
If you want to buy pre-certified or emerging permanent removal without vetting individual startups yourself, use trusted advance-market buyers and registries:
To make a defensible "removal claim" rather than a vague offsetting claim, your portfolio should target these mechanisms based on durability:
To avoid greenwashing risks and pass upcoming regulatory audits (such as the CSRD or EU Green Claims frameworks), structure your procurement around three internal rules:
If you'd like to narrow this down, tell me:
Yes—but **“buying carbon removal” and “having it count toward a corporate net-zero claim” are not the same thing.** The safest approach is to buy removals that satisfy your target-setting framework, are independently verified, traceable in a registry, and are **retired on your company’s behalf**. ### Where I’d start…
Yes—but “buying carbon removal” and “having it count toward a corporate net-zero claim” are not the same thing. The safest approach is to buy removals that satisfy your target-setting framework, are independently verified, traceable in a registry, and are retired on your company’s behalf.
puro.earth is one of the most straightforward places to source durable removals. Its CORCs represent one tonne of independently verified carbon removed, and its registry records issuance and retirement. You can buy directly from certified suppliers or through marketplace partners, including through forward/offtake contracts.
Puro is particularly relevant if you're looking for durable engineered CDR such as biochar, enhanced rock weathering, mineralization, or geological storage. Puro says its certified methodologies generally target 100+ to 1,000+ years of durability.
If your company follows the sciencebasedtargets.org, the important distinction is:
So don't simply ask a seller, “Is this a carbon removal?” Ask:
“Can this specific credit be retired in our company's name and used to substantiate residual-emissions neutralization under the framework we're following?”
For each removal, require documentation of:
The icvcm.org are a useful additional quality filter: they specifically address robust quantification, registry tracking, no double counting, safeguards and compatibility with the net-zero transition.
I wouldn't buy a generic “carbon-neutral package” from a sustainability vendor and assume it counts. The underlying credit/project is what matters. You want to know exactly which tonnes you're buying and ultimately retiring.
If you're a company actually preparing a procurement, I can also give you a shortlist of 5–10 reputable carbon-removal suppliers/marketplaces, with typical $/ton, permanence, technology, registry, and whether I'd consider them suitable for an SBTi-aligned net-zero claim.
