News and insights

The voluntary carbon market is growing. So is the number of ratings, rankings, and provider comparisons. That is a good thing. More analysis means more transparency and puts providers under pressure to maintain high quality standards.It becomes problematic, however, when complex realities are oversimplified. When individual data points are taken out of context. Or when market analyses are selectively mixed with competitive interests.That is exactly why it is worth putting the current public debate around carbon credits into perspective.

Forest, Land and Agriculture (FLAG) emissions account for a significant share of global GHG emissions (22%, the third highest emitting sector after energy and industry) and are critical to meeting the Paris Agreement and Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) requirements. Even companies not directly linked to the land sector often have FLAG emissions in their supply chains and must consider them when setting science-based targets (SBTs).

Responsibility for packaging emissions is shifting upstream. But meaningful progress does not require reinventing your entire packaging strategy. With the right data and tools, companies can reduce emissions step by step while strengthening customer trust and competitiveness.

By Tyler DiFiore, ClimatePartner USAFrom Climate Week NYC to COP30, the biggest challenge sustainability and procurement leaders identified is decarbonizing the supply chain. Many organizations have already calculated their scope 1 and 2 emissions and started to implement reduction measures. Scope 3 is less straightforward, but more rewarding.

The International Carbon Reduction and Offsetting Alliance (ICROA) has announced that it will wind down its operations by late 2026. Founded in 2008, ICROA was one of the earliest initiatives to define best practices in the voluntary carbon market.

When Austrian Post set out to strengthen the accuracy of its transport emissions data, the requirement was ambitious: an ISO 14083-compliant calculation for every parcel throughout Austria, delivered with full transparency across the entire logistics chain.Transforming this requirement into a system that works in daily operations meant bringing together methodology, data, and real logistics processes. The result is a calculation approach that translates a complex standard into clear, repeatable steps and one that now supports both reporting and emissions management.

COP30 took place in Belém (Brazil) from 10–22 November. In the lead-up, civil society groups raised concerns about limited accommodation raising hotel prices, which would favour lobbyists and other groups. US officials were notably absent, once again playing into concerns over whether international cooperation would stall.

Decarbonising supply chain emissions is critical to reaching net zero and securing a liveable future. Yet for many companies reporting scope 3 emissions, the pace of reduction is slowing as early measures have already been achieved. As a result, market leaders are either reworking their scope 3 strategies or reframing their approach from broad advocacy to practical execution.

Black Friday and end-of-year sales present a massive opportunity for brands to boost visibility and drive revenue. On Black Friday alone, online spend reached over $10.8 billion. During such a competitive period, it’s hard to get your products in front of shoppers.

In June 2025, the EU appeared close to finalising the Green Claims Directive, a binding framework for voluntary environmental claims. However, just before negotiations were due to conclude, the European Commission paused the process.

Today’s shoppers are informed, intentional, and increasingly unwilling to accept vague sustainability claims. A recent survey found that 77% of Millennial and Gen Z consumers prefer sustainable brands, and 65% are willing to pay more for eco-conscious products.

Biodiversity loss has become a reality across Europe. Climate change, land use, and pollution are accelerating species extinction and the collapse of ecosystems. Native forests are dying due to droughts and pest infestations, and agricultural yields are declining.