Best 10 Carbon Offsetting Companies

Since climate change became a topic of concern, many strategies have been invented to mitigate its effects on the planet. According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, industries accounted for 24% of greenhouse gases in the United States in 2020.

To slow down global warming, it is important for industries and businesses to cut their emissions. Offsetting carbon emissions is one way to do this, but there are so many groups that offer offsets that it can be hard to choose which one to work with.

In this article, we will reveal 10 of the best carbon offsetting companies that you should know. It is, however, important that we first discuss what carbon offset means. 

What is carbon offsetting?

Simply put, carbon offsetting is any action that reduces greenhouse gas (GHG)emissions to make up for the GHG emissions that happen somewhere else. Carbon offset credits show that a person or organization has cut their emissions.

Individuals or businesses can purchase carbon offset to lessen their footprint. A business is considered to be carbon-neutral when the quantity of carbon offset credits earned is equivalent to its carbon footprint (total amount of greenhouse gases (GHGs) that come from their actions). 

Although it’s not always done, money made from the sale of carbon offsets is frequently placed into green initiatives like the development of green computer technologies.

Also read: What is Carbon Capture Technology? The big idea of the 21st century

How does carbon offset work?

Carbon offset works by reducing carbon elsewhere instead of reducing yours. Does that sound complicated? Well, it isn’t. Let’s say your company emits 1 ton of carbon annually. Your company can decide to offset the carbon they emit by paying for a project elsewhere that reduces carbon emissions.

Various programs work towards reducing carbon emissions. These programs help to reduce emissions through various activities like reforestation, renewable energy, clean water access, and other emission reduction projects.

10 best carbon offsetting companies

Here is a list of the best companies offering carbon offsets that you should know. 

1. Native energy

Since its start in 2000, Native Energy has worked with hundreds of organizations to find solutions to sustainability problems. The Native Energy team is made up of many different types of experts, such as scientists, engineers, and lawyers.

The company became a Certified B Corp in 2016, which means it met strict social and environmental performance standards, accountability, and transparency.

Native energy has a lot of different project options for businesses and people. It also has carbon calculators that small businesses and people can use. 

Small businesses can use its facility, travel, event, and freight calculators to figure out their emissions, how much money they need to pay to offset them, or how much CO2 they need to pay off.

Additionally, all of Native Energy’s carbon offsets are verified using independent standards such as Gold standards and Verified carbon standards.

2. Sustainable travel international

Sustainable Travel International tries to get people to travel in ways that are good for the environment, protect natural resources, and make society fairer. 

The company, which was established in 2002, cares more about how tourism affects the environment and people in the long run than about how many tourists come and how much money they make in the short term.

Sustainable Travel International offers carbon-offsetting projects to both businesses and individuals. Businesses can ask for an assessment of their carbon footprint or make their carbon offset program. 

Its projects focus on forests and biodiversity, clean and more efficient energy, blue carbon, and helping local communities worldwide.

3. Climate works

Clime works is a DAC company in Zurich, Switzerland that specializes in the direct removal of CO2 using specialized machines. The company was started in 2009 by Jan and Christoph, who were engineering students shocked by the Swiss Alps’ melting glaciers.

Specialized machines at Climeworks pull CO2 out of the air, mix it with water, and pump the mixture deep underground.

The CO2 is turned into stone through a natural process called “mineralization.” Since its establishment in 2017, Climeworks has built 15 DAC machines and turned on the world’s first large-scale plant in 2021.

4. Carbon checkout

Carbon Checkout started as a company in 2007, and in 2015, it released its Shopify app. It has experienced growth and has become one of the best retail distribution networks for carbon offsets in the world. 

It is currently used in more than 37 countries and has teamed up with more than 2,000 online stores to give millions of customers an easy way to support carbon offset projects.

Customers can balance the carbon footprint of their orders with just one click if they want to take part. Customers’ donations are added to their shopping carts and taken when they check out. 

Those who signed up will then get an email with a unique link verification code that can be used on the Carbon Checkout website to access their personal Carbon Portfolio.

5. 3degrees

With the conviction that businesses must play a crucial part in resolving the global climate catastrophe, 3Degrees was established in 2007 in the U.S. 

Since then, 3Degrees has helped to develop the country’s first voluntary community solar initiatives, completed the country’s first voluntary renewable energy certificate option trade, and started some of the country’s first renewable natural gas transactions.

Decarbonization, consultation, carbon credits, renewable and green energy, and green tariffs are among the many services that 3degrees provides. Additionally, 3Degrees is also BCertified, implying that its performance in social and environmental issues must meet strict criteria.

6. Climate vault

Climate Vault collaborates with supporters, groups, and people to lessen and get rid of carbon footprints. Their goal is to dramatically lower CO2 emissions while continuing to encourage technology that can remove CO2 from the environment.

Climate Vault has adopted a unique strategy to cut CO2 emissions. In the beginning, they buy carbon permits sold to companies in the cap-and-trade compliance market. After that, they keep them in their vault to prevent emitters from using them. 

The total amount of CO2 that emitters are permitted to emit is reduced as a result of this since the number of carbon permits is limited. Since one permit equals one metric ton (1,000 kg) of CO2 vaulted, their strategy is simple to measure and verify.

7. My Climate

myclimate is a non-profit carbon offset program that has been around since 2002 and has its headquarters in Zurich, Switzerland. myclimate has done 174 projects in 45 countries globally since it began.

Through its project work, MyClimate has also given thousands of people jobs and made the lives of thousands of people better.

One of the most important things that Myclimate does is educate people and give them hands-on learning programs. Myclimate has a wide range of customers, including private people, non-profits, and businesses of all sizes.

Myclimate only puts money into projects that can be measured with the potential of success in the long run. It only gives offset payments to projects that it has helped after the cuts have been made. All myclimate projects meet third-party quality standards.

8. Clear

In 2005, Clear was established. The company gives people and companies a chance to offset expenses like hotel stays, commutes, public transportation, shipping goods by boat, skydiving, and hot air balloon rides.

Their goal is to enable people and smaller businesses to easily take immediate environmental action by utilizing technology and innovation.

They provide you the choice of making a carbon-neutral purchase; i.e, 50%, 100%, or 200% carbon-negative. Purchases support initiatives that involve methane collection, landfill gas capture, efficient cookstoves, renewable energy, and reforestation.

9. Terrapass

Terrapass was established in 2004 by Dr. Karl Ulrich to help regular people decrease their carbon footprint while driving. Soon after, Terrapass added greenhouse gas emissions from other areas, such as air travel and energy use, to its list of services. 

Since it started, TerraPass has helped more than 1,000 businesses, institutions, and hundreds of people take responsibility for how they affect the environment.

Terrapass makes it easy for its customers and potential customers by offering bundles and monthly subscription services. 

Terrapass takes the average amount of carbon dioxide each employee produces and multiplies it by the number of employees in a company to come up with a monthly subscription fee. This fee is then invested in programs that reduce carbon dioxide emissions.

Additionally, Terrapass educates the public on climate change and the importance of mitigating climate change.

10. Ecologi

Ecologi began in 2019 in Bristol, United Kingdom. Through Ecologi, you can use verified carbon offsets to reduce your carbon footprint or your business’s carbon footprint.

A certain number of trees are also planted so that they can store carbon when they grow up. So far, they have helped 11,878 businesses figure out how to take action on climate change.

The Climate Positive Workforce is Ecologi’s business plan for companies. This means that if your business works with Ecologi, you’ll be able to offset all of your employees’ carbon footprints and business travel by planting trees for each of them.

Ecologi uses the Verified Carbon Standard and the Gold Standard to help make sure that offset projects are made, measured, and checked in a transparent and high-quality way.

Steps to offset carbon emissions

1. Calculate your carbon footprint

Companies can calculate their footprint by employing the services of a standard company that helps to measure GHG and by following certain rules. For example, the GHG Protocol is an accounting standard recognized worldwide and helps organizations measure and control GHG emissions.

These emissions are measured in tons and comprise emissions from direct sources, indirect sources and other 3rd parts sources within the chain. These numbers are usually included in a company’s sustainability report. 

Calculate your carbon footprint here.

2. Make efforts to reduce emissions

Once a company evaluates its emissions and figures out where they come from, it can create a strategy for sustainability that can adhere to the strategies in the Paris Agreement. 

Each person can make carbon reductions in smaller ways, like switching to a more environmentally friendly diet or using greener transportation like electric cars or trains with hybrid locomotives.

3. Offset the rest of the emissions

Offsets can be used to make up for emissions that can’t be cut outright. Projects that reduce carbon dioxide are those that absorb or get rid of it. A project must be approved for carbon credits to be given out. 

Final words

In the short term, carbon offsets can assist you in lowering your carbon footprint and combat climate change. Direct techniques for reducing carbon footprints are far more beneficial over the long term.

It can be more effective to reduce your household’s carbon footprint but if you are not able to, you can choose one of the companies listed in this article