Carbon Care Certification

1. Assess your readiness: Determine whether your organization has already begun tracking GHG emissions or has an existing GHG inventory. If not, engage a GHG consultant (Enviro-access or its partner MNP) to help establish one in line with ISO 14064-1.

1. Choose your certification tier: Decide between the basic Carbon Care level (GHG inventory + reduction commitment) or the carbon-neutral level (full quantification, reduction, and offset of remaining emissions).

1. Compile your GHG inventory: Document your organization's Scope 1, 2, and where applicable Scope 3 emissions using a methodology consistent with ISO 14064-1. Ensure records cover at least one full reporting year.

1. Develop a reduction plan: Prepare documented evidence of your emissions reduction initiatives and targets. For the carbon-neutral tier, also identify and procure verified carbon offsets sufficient to cover remaining emissions.

1. Submit your application: Contact Enviro-access (or MNP, which has taken over GHG consulting services) to initiate the certification application. Submit your GHG inventory, supporting documentation, and reduction evidence.

1. Undergo second-party review: Enviro-access or its designated reviewer will assess your documentation for conformity with the Carbon Care Certification standard and ISO 14064. This is a documentation-based review, not an on-site audit.

1. Receive certification and display the mark: Upon successful review, your organization is awarded the Carbon Care mark and listed in the online registry. You may use the mark in communications, marketing materials, and reports.

1. Plan for renewal: Update your GHG inventory annually and prepare for the renewal review to maintain certification status.

The Carbon Care Certification evaluates organizations across several key dimensions aligned with ISO 14064-1 and the Carbon Care standard:

GHG Inventory Quality: Reviewers assess whether the organization has established a complete and credible GHG inventory covering relevant emission sources (Scope 1 direct emissions, Scope 2 energy-related emissions, and applicable Scope 3 value chain emissions). The inventory must follow recognized quantification methodologies and cover at least one full reporting year.

Reduction Commitment and Evidence: Organizations must demonstrate active efforts to reduce their GHG emissions. This includes documented reduction targets, implemented measures, and evidence of progress over time. A credible reduction plan is required even at the basic certification tier.

Offset Activities (Carbon-Neutral Tier Only): For organizations pursuing the carbon-neutral designation, the review also evaluates whether remaining emissions have been fully offset through verified, high-quality carbon credits. The offsets must be credible, additional, and verifiable.

Conformity with ISO 14064: The overall GHG management approach is assessed for alignment with ISO 14064-1 (organizational-level GHG quantification and reporting) and the Carbon Care Certification standard. The review is conducted by Enviro-access as an ISO 14065-accredited body, ensuring the assessment meets international standards for GHG validation and verification.

Carbon Care Certification occupies a niche but meaningful position in the Canadian GHG certification landscape, particularly in Quebec where Enviro-access (now operating in partnership with MNP) has been active since 1993. It is one of the few Canadian-developed organizational GHG certifications that explicitly aligns with ISO 14064 and ISO 14065, giving it credibility in a market where international standards are increasingly expected by regulators and institutional buyers.

The program is relatively small in scale compared to global alternatives like the Carbon Trust Standard or PAS 2060, and its market reach is primarily concentrated in Canada — especially Quebec — with some presence in the United States. The transition of Enviro-access's GHG consulting services to MNP (a major Canadian professional services firm) signals a shift in the program's operational structure, which may affect its visibility and accessibility going forward. Organizations seeking certification should verify current program availability directly with Enviro-access or MNP.

Demand for organizational GHG certifications is growing across Canada, driven by federal and provincial climate disclosure requirements, supply chain ESG pressures, and the increasing importance of credible carbon-neutral claims. However, Carbon Care faces competition from internationally recognized frameworks such as ISO 14064 verification statements, Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) commitments, and the B Corp certification, which may be preferred by organizations with global operations or stakeholders. For Canadian organizations — particularly SMEs — seeking a structured, standards-aligned, and locally supported pathway to GHG recognition, Carbon Care remains a practical and credible option.

Carbon Care Certification was developed by Enviro-access, a Quebec-based nonprofit organization founded in 1993 with support from Environment Canada. Enviro-access built its expertise in environmental consulting and GHG management over two decades, and launched the Carbon Care Certification in 2013 as a formal recognition program for organizations committed to measuring and reducing their greenhouse gas emissions. The program was designed to fill a gap in the Canadian market for an accessible, standards-aligned GHG certification that smaller and mid-sized organizations could realistically pursue.

The certification was built in accordance with ISO 14064 (GHG quantification and reporting) and ISO 14065 (requirements for GHG validation and verification bodies), lending it international credibility. Over time, Enviro-access expanded the program to include a two-tier structure — a basic GHG management level and a carbon-neutral level — to accommodate organizations at different stages of their climate journey. As of 2025, Enviro-access has transitioned its GHG consulting and auditing services to MNP LLP, a major Canadian professional services firm, reflecting the growing institutionalization of GHG advisory services in Canada. The Carbon Care Certification program continues to operate, with Enviro-access maintaining its role in the certification process.