Carbon Neutral Certification is the recognition of a company or product's commitment to achieving carbon neutrality, in accordance with the internationally recognized PAS 2060 standard. This certification demonstrates the organization's dedication to reducing its carbon footprint and neutralizing the remaining emissions through support of environmental projects.
PAS 2060 certification can apply to activities, products, services, buildings, projects, towns, cities, or even events. This specification establishes requirements for demonstrating carbon neutrality, ensuring the integrity of the concept.
A carbon neutral footprint is one where the total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions (CO2e) produced are balanced with natural carbon sinks and/or carbon credits.
PAS 2060 is an internationally recognized specification for carbon neutrality, based on the existing PAS 2050 environmental standard. It outlines the requirements for measuring, reducing, and balancing GHG emissions for organizations, products, and events. PAS 2060 is aligned with other environmental standards, such as the ISO 14000 series and PAS 2050, which evaluates the lifecycle GHG emissions of goods and services.
Carbon neutral certification is granted by certification bodies authorized by ISO. If you want to obtain PAS 2060 Carbon Neutral Certification and enjoy its benefits, you need to contact a recognized provider to proceed with the certification process.
For Organizations, Sites, and Events: The certification is provided based on a well-measured footprint, a proven annual emission reduction plan, and balancing of remaining emissions with verified carbon sinks or carbon credits.
For Products: Products that have achieved carbon neutrality through natural carbon sinks or by purchasing offsets equivalent to their annual emissions can also be certified. A proven commitment to reducing emissions in a plan is necessary for certification. These products can carry labels that convey sustainability information.
Carbon Neutrality means that the total GHG emissions related to a topic do not result in a net increase in global GHG emissions over a specific period, with emissions balanced by natural carbon sinks or offsets.
Net Zero means that the net increase in global GHG emissions related to a topic is zero. To achieve Net Zero, emissions in Scope 1, 2, and 3 must be reduced in alignment with a 1.5°C trajectory. For Carbon Neutrality, Scope 1 and 2 emissions are required, with Scope 3 encouraged but not mandatory.
Self-Verification involves the organization verifying its own carbon footprint and reductions. It must confirm and demonstrate that actions taken align with PAS 2060 standards using the EN ISO 14064-1 framework.
Third-Party Verification provides independent validation and is highly recommended for organizations marketing their carbon neutrality. This approach strengthens the credibility of the carbon neutral claim and protects the organization from criticisms regarding the lack of robustness.
Independent Third-Party Verification is only provided by certification bodies, offering the highest level of trust for carbon neutral claims.
The process of carbon neutrality and the distinction between net-zero and carbon neutral standards emphasizes the importance of transparency, credible reductions, and offsetting practices in line with PAS 2060.