The number of carbon offset providers keeps growing by the day. And the right choice of offsets can become a complex affair.
Additionally, with the increased engagement of consumer awareness, sustainability, social responsibility programs, and climate change, it is evident that selecting the carbon company has never been more crucial.
So, how can you identify an offset provider who understands your needs and can provide constructive and meaningful offset projects? Let’s discuss.
- What types of projects do they engage in?
You may want to steer away from offset providers who only promote tree planting projects since it can be a real challenge to ascertain the permanence of newly planted trees. Remember, forestry projects can be impactful but should go beyond tree planting.
The offset provider should engage in other meaningful activities that benefit your business and the community directly. Such include: ensuring that the trees planted will continue to sequester into perpetuity and not get logged, improving socio-economic conditions through creating jobs that will help in the development of the community as a whole, availing additional ecosystem services that promote biodiversity, control erosion, preserve natural habitats, reduce water pollution and so on.
- Are they transparent?
A reliable carbon offset provider will have all the information concerning their projects, quality assurance protocols, engagements, and methodologies readily available and accessible on their website. They should also be willing and ready to respond to varying questions their potential customers might have.
If this is not the case, that’s a sign that their activities and operations are untrustworthy. Ensure to do your due diligence to ascertain that the methodologies in place are outlined on their website. And any questions, inquiries, or concerns are addressed with clarity. Also, confirm that all their tree planting projects supported by the carbon effect provider are held to the highest industry standards.
If you are unsure, you may want to ask for recommendations. That will save you so much time and money and money in the long run while helping you find a reliable, transparent, and reputable organization.
- Do they have relevant experience in carbon offsetting?
A considerable number of carbon offset providers are relatively new to the field of carbon offsetting. That means that they may fail to possess the relevant technical experience and expertise required. And may also not have established relationships when it comes to offsetting.
Check that the carbon offset provider has been in existence for a couple of years. And that they have established and reputable partners. Remember, with experience comes expertise, and the last thing you want is to partner with someone who has little or no experience to do with carbon offsetting.
- Do your internal processes coincide with your external actions?
Finally, you need to assess whether your business’s internal processes match with your external actions. Deciding to buy carbon offsets, allocating a budget for it, and purchasing the offsets is effortless. But you might not reap a lot from your buying decision if there’s a conflict between what your business does internally and what to intend to do externally with the carbon offsets. For this reason, you need to think it through before you can make a final decision.
