The Carbon Stamp provides verified carbon offsetting and ISO 14068-aligned carbon neutral certification for UK SMEs and small businesses. We source carbon credits exclusively from Gold Standard, Verra (VCS), and Plan Vivo-verified projects, providing transparent retirement documentation and a formal statement of carbon neutrality.
Carbon offsetting compensates for unavoidable greenhouse gas emissions by funding verified projects that remove or reduce CO2 elsewhere. These include renewable energy installations, reforestation and afforestation, methane capture, and community clean-energy initiatives. Each tonne of CO2e offset represents one verified carbon credit retired from an internationally recognised registry.
Offsetting is the final step in a credible carbon neutrality strategy — after measuring your footprint and implementing feasible reductions. The Carbon Stamp ensures all offsets meet Gold Standard, Verra (VCS), or Plan Vivo standards.
ISO 14068 is the international standard for carbon neutrality. It replaces PAS 2060 and provides a rigorous framework for organisations to make credible, documented carbon neutral claims. Requirements include:
The Carbon Stamp guides UK SMEs through every stage, producing ISO 14068-aligned documentation that is credible for stakeholders, clients, and procurement submissions.
These terms are frequently confused. Understanding the distinction helps you make credible claims and choose the right pathway for your business.
Carbon neutral means that your total annual greenhouse gas emissions are balanced by an equivalent quantity of verified carbon credits retired in the same reporting period. It is documented under ISO 14068 (formerly PAS 2060) and is a credible, achievable near-term position for UK SMEs. Carbon neutrality does not require deep emission reductions first — but a credible claim does require you to implement all feasible reduction measures before offsetting the rest.
Net zero is a longer-term commitment. Under the GHG Protocol Net Zero Standard and SBTi frameworks, net zero requires organisations to reduce emissions by at least 90% from baseline before neutralising residual emissions with permanent carbon removals (not just offsets). For most SMEs, net zero is a 2040–2050 target. Carbon neutrality is the credible near-term position while you build towards it.
Which should I claim? For UK SMEs, ISO 14068 carbon neutrality is the credible, defensible, near-term claim. It requires genuine measurement, reduction, and verified offsetting — making it robust against greenwashing allegations. Net zero claims without SBTi validation or deep actual reductions risk reputational exposure under the UK's Green Claims Code. Read more: Carbon neutral vs net zero — which is right for your business? →
Not all carbon offsets are equal. The Carbon Stamp only sources credits from projects verified by Gold Standard, Verra (VCS), or Plan Vivo — but within those standards, quality varies. Key criteria to evaluate:
The Carbon Stamp advises clients on project selection based on their sector, stakeholder expectations, and certification requirements. Read more: ISO 14068 certification guide →
Carbon credit prices typically range from £10–30 per tonne of CO2e. A small UK business with 50–100 tonnes of annual emissions can expect offsetting costs of £500–3,000 per year. Full ISO 14068 carbon neutral certification (including footprint assessment, credit sourcing, and documentation) typically ranges from £2,000–£8,000. Free initial consultation available.
Carbon offsetting compensates for unavoidable emissions by funding verified projects that remove or reduce CO2 elsewhere. It is the final step in a credible carbon neutrality strategy, used after measuring your footprint and implementing feasible reductions.
ISO 14068 is the international standard for carbon neutrality, replacing PAS 2060. It requires quantification of Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions, a reduction plan, verified offsetting, and transparent documentation. ISO 14068 is more rigorous and internationally recognised than PAS 2060.
Gold Standard, Verra (VCS), and Plan Vivo — all requiring independent third-party verification, additionality testing, and ongoing monitoring. All credits retired with serial numbers and retirement certificates.
Yes. ISO 14068 is designed for organisations of all sizes. The Carbon Stamp specialises in UK SME carbon neutrality.
£10–30 per tonne of CO2e for credits. Full ISO 14068 certification £2,000–£8,000 including measurement and documentation.
Carbon neutrality balances emissions with verified offsets, documented under ISO 14068 — achievable now. Net zero requires deep emission reductions (90%+) under SBTi or GHG Protocol frameworks — a longer-term commitment. Carbon neutrality is the credible near-term position for UK SMEs; net zero is the long-term destination. Read more: Carbon neutral vs net zero →
Additionality means the carbon credit project would not have happened without carbon finance — the emission reduction is "additional" to what would have occurred anyway. A reforestation project that would have been funded regardless is not additional. Gold Standard, Verra (VCS), and Plan Vivo all require rigorous additionality testing before verification. Non-additional credits are the primary source of greenwashing risk in carbon offsetting. The Carbon Stamp only sources credits from verified, additional projects.
Carbon offsetting done properly — with verified credits, full emission measurement, genuine reduction efforts, and transparent documentation — is not greenwashing. The risk arises when businesses offset without measuring their full footprint, use unverified or low-quality credits, or claim "carbon neutral" without ISO 14068 documentation. The Carbon Stamp's approach — measure first, reduce what's feasible, offset the rest with verified Gold Standard or Verra credits, document under ISO 14068 — is designed to produce claims that are defensible under the UK's Green Claims Code and CMA guidance.
PAS 2060 was the previous UK standard for carbon neutrality, published by BSI. ISO 14068 is the international standard that replaced PAS 2060, published in 2023. ISO 14068 is more rigorous — requiring Scope 3 coverage, a documented carbon management plan, and more detailed verification requirements. Organisations certified under PAS 2060 should transition to ISO 14068. The Carbon Stamp produces ISO 14068-aligned documentation, not PAS 2060, ensuring your certification meets the current international standard.
The full process — from initial scoping call to formal carbon neutrality statement — typically takes 6–10 weeks. This includes the carbon footprint assessment (4–6 weeks), credit sourcing and retirement (1–2 weeks), and documentation production. For clients who already have a recent carbon footprint assessment, the offsetting and documentation stage can be completed in 2–3 weeks. Annual recertification for existing clients is typically faster, usually 3–4 weeks.