CarbonNeutral Protocol 2023 - Organizations

1. Review the CarbonNeutral Protocol: Download and read the current edition of the CarbonNeutral Protocol (available free at carbonneutral.com) to understand the technical requirements, certification types, and eligible carbon instruments.

1. Define your certification scope: Decide whether you are pursuing full organizational certification (all Scope 1, 2, and relevant Scope 3 categories) or the newer Scope 1 and 2 entity certification, and identify the boundary of your organization's footprint.

1. Measure your carbon footprint: Conduct a comprehensive GHG inventory following the Protocol's technical specifications, accounting for all required emission sources across Scope 1, 2, and the applicable Scope 3 categories using recognized GHG accounting standards (e.g., GHG Protocol).

1. Develop and implement a reduction strategy: Identify and document emission reduction initiatives across your operations. The Protocol requires a credible reduction plan aligned with science-based targets or equivalent ambition.

1. Compensate residual emissions: Purchase and retire approved carbon instruments (verified carbon offsets or equivalent) to neutralize the emissions you cannot yet eliminate. Instruments must meet the Protocol's quality criteria (e.g., Verra VCS, Gold Standard).

1. Engage Climate Impact Partners: Contact Climate Impact Partners to initiate the certification process. They will guide you through documentation requirements, connect you with approved verifiers, and manage the certification award.

1. Submit for third-party verification: An independent verifier reviews your GHG accounting records, reduction plan, and carbon instrument retirement evidence for compliance with the Protocol's technical specifications.

1. Receive CarbonNeutral® certification and maintain annually: Upon successful verification, you receive the CarbonNeutral® mark. Repeat the measurement, reduction, compensation, and verification cycle each year to maintain certification.

The CarbonNeutral Protocol evaluates organizations across three core technical phases — Define, Act, and Certify — each with specific requirements.

Define (Footprint Measurement): Organizations must calculate a complete GHG inventory covering Scope 1 (direct emissions from owned/controlled sources), Scope 2 (indirect emissions from purchased energy), and all 15 Scope 3 categories as defined by the GHG Protocol Corporate Standard. The Protocol specifies which emission sources are required for measurement, which must be compensated with carbon instruments, and which are recommended for compensation. The boundary and methodology must be documented and consistent year-over-year.

Act (Emission Reductions): Organizations must demonstrate a credible emission reduction strategy. This includes setting targets aligned with recognized frameworks (such as Science Based Targets), documenting reduction initiatives already underway, and reporting on progress against prior-year baselines. The Protocol does not prescribe a specific reduction percentage but requires evidence of genuine ambition and action rather than reliance solely on offsetting.

Certify (Carbon Compensation and Verification): Residual emissions must be compensated using approved carbon instruments — typically high-quality verified carbon offsets meeting standards such as Verra's Verified Carbon Standard (VCS), Gold Standard, or equivalent. Evidence of instrument retirement must be provided. All documentation is submitted to an independent third-party verifier who assesses compliance with the Protocol's technical specifications before Climate Impact Partners awards the CarbonNeutral® mark. As of 2025, a new Scope 1 and 2 entity certification pathway has also been introduced for organizations beginning their decarbonization journey.

The CarbonNeutral Protocol is one of the most established corporate carbon neutrality standards globally, having been in continuous operation since 2002 — predating most competing frameworks by a decade or more. Climate Impact Partners (formerly Natural Capital Partners) has certified thousands of organizations and products worldwide, making the CarbonNeutral® mark one of the most widely recognized carbon neutrality labels in the market. High-profile certifications from brands such as Microsoft, Sky, Logitech, and Nespresso have significantly boosted its credibility and visibility among both B2B and consumer audiences.

The protocol occupies a distinct niche: it is more accessible and commercially oriented than ISO 14064 or PAS 2060, yet more rigorous and independently verified than self-declared net-zero claims. Its annual update cycle — unusual among standards — means it stays current with evolving GHG accounting norms, policy developments, and carbon market quality criteria. The 2025 edition's addition of a Scope 1 and 2 entity certification pathway reflects a deliberate effort to lower the barrier to entry for organizations earlier in their decarbonization journey.

However, the protocol faces growing competitive pressure. The Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) has become the dominant framework for corporate climate ambition, and some stakeholders view offset-based carbon neutrality claims with increasing skepticism amid broader debates about offset quality and greenwashing. The EU's Green Claims Directive and similar regulatory developments may affect how carbon neutrality labels can be communicated to consumers. Despite this, the CarbonNeutral Protocol's longevity, annual rigor, and third-party verification process position it as a credible choice for organizations seeking a structured, defensible path to carbon neutrality claims.

The CarbonNeutral Protocol was first developed and published in 2002 by Natural Capital Partners (now Climate Impact Partners), making it one of the earliest formal standards for corporate carbon neutrality. It was created in response to growing business demand for a structured, credible methodology to measure, reduce, and offset organizational carbon emissions at a time when no widely accepted framework existed. The protocol was designed as an open-access standard — freely downloadable and usable by any organization — with the intent of making rigorous carbon management accessible to businesses of all sizes.

Over more than two decades, the Protocol has been revised annually to incorporate advances in climate science, updates to international GHG accounting standards (such as the GHG Protocol Corporate Standard), evolving carbon market quality criteria, and shifts in international climate policy. Key milestones include its expansion to cover product-level certifications, the integration of all 15 Scope 3 categories into organizational measurement requirements, and the 2025 addition of a Scope 1 and 2 entity certification pathway. Natural Capital Partners rebranded as Climate Impact Partners in 2022, reflecting a broader strategic evolution. The protocol now underpins CarbonNeutral® certifications for thousands of organizations and products globally and is recognized as one of the most rigorous and long-standing carbon neutrality standards in the market.