Offset Types and Standards
Are there any standards?
There is currently no single standard that applies to the whole voluntary offset market.
The most important feature of any carbon project is that it wouldn't have occurred without the additional incentive provided by carbon credits. The integrity and reputation of those involved is vital. Reduce My Footprint is committed to making sure that appropriate standards are in place, in order to safeguard the interests of those who purchase offsets.
Are there any standards planned?
Relevant standards are under development. Reduce My Footprint welcomes the work being done to develop these standards and we intend that our projects will meet those standards. We'll keep our customers informed through our website.
The scope of these standards varies. For example, there are differences in the methodologies that are used to account for emission reductions, and the extent to which broader sustainability issues are taken into account. Some also use a verification process that ensures that a unit of emissions reduction isn't counted twice.
Reduce My Footprint will work to develop appropriate standards and codes of practice for the provision of VERs and CERs for the voluntary market, while seeking to offer a range of projects to suit different market needs.
Why do different companies give different prices to offset emissions from the same activity?
There are three main reasons for this:
1. The choice of conversion factor for converting between the activity and the resulting carbon dioxide emissions. There are many different published sources of information on which to base conversion factors. Wherever possible RMF uses UK Government figures for conversion. Where this isn't possible, reliable sources are used and documented.
2. Variations in the price of offset credits. Variations arise from differences in the type of project supported, the scale of the project, and the administration fee paid to the service provider.
3. Different companies charge different amounts for their internal costs.
What is the guarantee that the emission reductions actually take place?
In some cases emission reductions will already have been achieved. In these cases, Reduce My Footprint ( or where relevant Carbon Offsets Ltd) guarantees that such reductions will not be sold to any other party.
Most projects, however, depend on investment to achieve new reductions. For these kinds of offsets we examine the project closely and make it a requirement that reductions are delivered and verified by a reputable and independent third party.
Carbon Offsets Ltd and This Converging World (for The Travel Foundation), have a high level of technical expertise which enables Reduce My Footprint to audit the systems that are in place.
How is double counting avoided?
There is a central registry for all CERS and an individual registry for each VER project offered by Reduce My Footprint, including offsets through the Travel Foundation.
Carbon Offsets Ltd will ensure that when offsets are sold they are removed from the registry of the project, thus avoiding any possibility of them being sold again.
Certificates provided to purchasers will state clearly that the offsets have been removed from the relevant registry.
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