What goals can businesses set in 2024 to get one step closer to net-zero?

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What goals can businesses set in 2024 to get closer to net-zero

In this guide about climate targets and goals on the journey to net-zero, we’ll cover:
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><a href="#difference">The difference between science-based targets and emission reduction goals</a></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><a href="#examples">Examples of effective reduction targets and goals your business can set</a></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><a href="#effective">How to set effective targets and goals</a></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><a href="#communicate">How to communicate your goals</a></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><a href="#ecologi">How Ecologi can help your business on its net-zero journey</a></li>
</ul>
<h2>Introduction</h2>
At the start of 2024, business leaders are energetically crafting their annual strategies with a fresh focus on implementing climate action initiatives.
The way goal-setting and target-setting are approached by businesses depends on their maturity on their climate action journey. For businesses that are just starting on their goal-setting journey, there are multiple starter actions such as switching energy providers as well as pension providers to help kickstart momentum, however, as businesses mature on their climate action journey, more robust goal and target-setting must be pursued, alongside reporting their emissions inventories.
<h2>Different types of net-zero targets and goals you can set</h2>
When it comes to setting goals for your business on its route to net-zero, there are two types of goals that are relevant: science-based targets, and emissions reduction goals.
Science-based targets (SBTs) are quantitative commitments set via the <a href="https://sciencebasedtargets.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">SBTi Corporate Net-zero standard</a> to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by an amount aligned with what the latest climate science deems necessary to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement – limiting global warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. SBTs are specific, quantified intended outcomes – which will vary for each company depending on what your company does and how ambitious your goals are.
Emissions reduction goals refer to a commitment to implement an action or initiative to achieve a reduction in Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions. These usually relate to inputs, and are typically achieved through a decrease in consumption, improvement in efficiency, or reduction in emissions intensity of an activity or good.

The difference between emissions reduction goals and science-based targets

The way these two types of goals interact is important, as emissions reduction goals tend to support science-based targets. A good analogy to help depict the interaction between the two can be represented by the Strategy &amp; Tactics relationship where the science-based targets represent the overarching strategy and the emission reduction goals represent the tactics used to achieve that strategy.
<h2>Why are different net-zero targets and goals used? </h2>
<h3>Science-based targets</h3>
Science-based targets are essential in declaring a long-term commitment to emissions reductions. One of the Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi)’s core requirements for a business (in most sectors) to achieve net-zero is to achieve a minimum 90% reduction in emissions. This emissions-reduction journey will not be easy, since that’s a BIG task! Imagine having to reduce your financial budget by 90% &#8211; it would require a lot of planning, researching, and implementation, over a long period. The SBTi framework ensures that targets are set to a level of ambition sufficient to mitigate the worst effects of climate change, in line with the latest science. 
The SBTi reveals that while a growing number of companies have pledged to achieve net-zero emissions, the rate of action and the alignment of these commitments with scientific targets fall short.
<h3>Emissions reduction goals </h3>
While aligning with climate science, targets set against 2030 to 2050 may feel a long way away. As such, there is often a need for more urgency to initiate immediate action.
Setting interim commitments to action through the drag &amp; drop &#8220;emissions reduction goals&#8221; function within <a href="https://x.ecologi.com/business/zero" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ecologi Zero</a> can help engage employees and elevate the net-zero journey on the agenda. Achieving more shorter term goals can be a good mechanism for generating momentum whilst prioritising initiatives that will contribute to achieving science-based targets.

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<h2>Example net-zero targets and goals you might use </h2>
<h3>Science-based targets (SBTs)</h3>
The SBTi’s Corporate Net-Zero Standard requires businesses to set both Long-term and Near-term Science-based Targets (SBTs) in order to reach net-zero in the long run.
Long-term SBTs. The Standard requires companies to directly reduce absolute emissions across scopes 1, 2 and 3 by at least 90% by 2050 or before, as compared to a base year no earlier than 2022. This means that the overall emissions produced must come down &#8211; rather than just the relative amount of emissions (e.g. by product or by revenue). They must also commit to balancing the impact of any residual emissions (up to 10% of the baseline emissions), by purchasing carbon removal credits in order to reach net-zero.
Near-term SBTs. Here are some examples of Near-term SBTs your business could set:
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">“Our company commits to reduce absolute scope 1 and 2 emissions 42% by 2030 from a 2022 base year, and to measure and reduce its scope 3 emissions.”</li>
</ul>
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<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">“Our company commits to reduce absolute scope 1 emissions 42% by 2030 from a 2022 base year, to maintain zero scope 2 emissions through 2030, and to measure and reduce its scope 3 emissions.”</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">&#8220;Our company commits to maintain zero scope 1 emissions through 2030, to reduce absolute scope 2 GHG emissions 42 % by 2030 from a 2022 base year, and to measure and reduce its scope 3 emissions.”</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">“Our company commits to maintain zero scope 1 and scope 2 emissions through 2030, and to measure and reduce its scope 3 emissions from a 2023 base year&#8221;</li>
</ul>
<h3>Emissions reduction goals</h3>
Emissions reduction goals, which you can set directly through your Ecologi Zero account, tend to be softer or more generalised goals than your Science-based Targets. They can be helpful in setting the direction of your business’s sustainability agenda for the coming year.
It may feel overwhelming to address all environmental aspects simultaneously &#8211; that’s why Ecologi will automatically suggest goals based on your emissions hotspots so you can identify the most significant areas of improvement and focus on them initially. As you achieve success and gain momentum, gradually expand your efforts to address other areas of concern. 
Here are some examples:
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<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">&#8220;We will implement a sustainable procurement strategy that prioritises suppliers who actively track and are working to reduce their emissions.&#8221;</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">&#8220;We will use pension providers that have sustainable investment policies, providing employees the opportunity to invest in pension funds that avoid fossil fuels.&#8221;</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">&#8220;We will install renewable energy sources to generate electricity onsite.&#8221;</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">“We will use server providers who use renewable energy to power their services.”</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">“We will implement smart energy management practices including energy monitoring systems.”</li>
</ul>

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<h2>How to set effective net-zero goals and targets for your business</h2>
Once you have your footprint, you will want your goals to be effective.
<h3>What makes an effective commitment?</h3>
You’re probably familiar with the SMART target-setting process. Here’s what it means for your emissions goals and targets:
Specific: Translate your reduction goals into steps that can be implemented throughout your organisation. Establish a clear action plan with specific initiatives, responsible parties, timelines, and allocated resources. Breaking down goals into smaller tasks not only makes them more manageable but also ensures that progress is continuously monitored and adjustments can be made if needed.
Measurable: It’s important to measure and monitor your progress towards your goals. Implementing an internal monitoring and reporting system will help you track progress towards your reduction goals. You should continuously measure and analyse data, review key performance indicators, and evaluate the effectiveness of your initiatives. Regular reporting to stakeholders demonstrates transparency, fosters accountability, and allows for course corrections if required.
Achievable: Engaging employees, customers and suppliers fosters a sense of shared responsibility and increases the likelihood of achieving your reduction goals. Seek feedback, conduct workshops, and collaborate with stakeholders to ensure a comprehensive and inclusive approach.
Relevant: Ensure your reduction goals align with your business&#8217;s carbon footprint. Goals should address the most significant environmental impacts and support your long-term sustainability vision. To help with this, Ecologi Zero will identify your emission hotspots and advise on actions you can take to reduce emissions from these areas.
Timely: Ecologi Zero will help you set a timeframe for achieving your reduction goals; we advise goals are completed within the upcoming reporting period. You may wish to set your own timeframe and complete goals sooner or stagger your goals throughout the year. Time-bound goals create a sense of urgency and provide a timeline for progress evaluation.
<h2>What are the most frequent goals set by SMEs?</h2>
After calculating their business carbon footprint with Ecologi Zero, businesses get to select emissions reduction goals that are tackling the key emission hotspots of their footprint. While every business will have different emission hotspots and areas of improvement, our Ecologi Zero data shows the following key goals that have been set by businesses:
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">We will conduct our meetings virtually to avoid unnecessary travel.</li>
</ul>
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<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">We will use suppliers who track their own emissions.</li>
</ul>
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<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">We will avoid using single use products where possible.</li>
</ul>
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<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">We will review our supply chain to ensure our suppliers are taking their own actions to reduce their footprint.</li>
</ul>
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<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">We will use environmentally friendly cloud computing services.</li>
</ul>
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<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">When buying office equipment, we will always choose the most energy efficient option.</li>
</ul>
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<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">We will avoid flying for any short duration trips.</li>
</ul>

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<h2>How to communicate your goals in your annual reporting</h2>
Reducing business emissions is the most important step on your journey to net-zero, and once you’ve set achievable goals based on your emissions hotspots, you can start creating your yearly report. With Ecologi Zero, you can create your yearly report that will automatically show the emissions reduction goals you’ve set so you can start sharing your progress transparently (even if you’re not perfect).

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<h2>Ready to start setting emission reduction goals? </h2>
If this article has inspired your business to start its climate journey and set emissions reduction goals, then why not get started today? 
Fewer than 250 employees? <a href="https://x.ecologi.com/business/zero" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sign up to Ecologi Zero.</a>
250 or more employees? Schedule a call with our team to discuss a bespoke solution using the form below.

Speak to our team. We're here to help find your perfect climate solution.

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Carbon Compensation vs. Contribution - What’s the difference?

Climate change is a topic that many of us are discussing at work each day. You may have heard terms such as ‘carbon compensation’ or ‘contribution’ being used in conversations about how to take meaningful action against climate change, but what do they actually mean, and how do they differ from one another? 
We regularly speak to businesses who have similar questions and in this guide, we’ll break it all down. Here’s a quick run-through of what we will cover:
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">What are the definitions of carbon compensation and contribution?</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">What is the purpose of each approach?</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">What mechanisms do both approaches utilise? </li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">What types of projects do they involve?</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">What types of certification are associated with each approach?</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">What kind of costs are associated with each approach?</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">What role do they play in achieving net zero?</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">What are examples of each?</li>
</ul>

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<h2>Definitions of carbon compensation and contribution</h2>
 
Carbon Compensation
Carbon compensation refers to the idea of balancing out a certain amount of carbon emissions by investing in projects that prevent or remove an equivalent amount of carbon dioxide elsewhere. This tonne-for-tonne ‘balancing’ or ‘offsetting’ is compensatory.
 
Contribution
This approach focuses on separating financial contributions from any compensatory claims. Instead, it involves directing funding to projects that will support global net-zero and nature restoration – but crucially without making compensatory claims. <a href="https://www.onepercentfortheplanet.org/join?utm_feeditemid=&amp;utm_device=c&amp;utm_term=one%20percent%20for%20the%20planet&amp;utm_source=google&amp;utm_medium=ppc&amp;utm_campaign=&amp;hsa_cam=20766754741&amp;hsa_grp=155667469859&amp;hsa_mt=b&amp;hsa_src=g&amp;hsa_ad=680329727495&amp;hsa_acc=%7B8900384824%7D&amp;hsa_net=adwords&amp;hsa_kw=one%20percent%20for%20the%20planet&amp;hsa_tgt=kwd-299092657918&amp;hsa_ver=3&amp;gad_source=1&amp;gclid=CjwKCAjwooq3BhB3EiwAYqYoEs0haU6oWnJZze5_b4QrYSQvdqPvXRSRdMCOrjloCv_URVN-RaIXIBoChu8QAvD_BwE" target="_blank" rel="noopener">1% Percent For the Planet </a>is an example of this kind of scheme.

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<h2>What is the purpose of carbon compensation and contribution</h2>
 
Carbon Compensation
Compensation is aimed at achieving a ‘carbon-neutral’ status by offsetting specific emissions through equivalent carbon reduction elsewhere.
 
Contribution
Contribution focuses on supporting and financing sustainability projects and initiatives to encourage environmental stewardship, without associating this with compensation for emissions.

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<h2>What mechanisms do carbon compensation and contribution utilise?</h2>
Carbon Compensation
Compensation is carbon-centric and relies on detailed measurement and verification processes to ensure that the projects avoid or remove the claimed amount of CO2. Whilst projects may have ‘co-benefits’, project quality and credit utility is predicated on whether the carbon dioxide benefit is being delivered.
 
Contribution
Contribution is not predicated on carbon dioxide. It involves making donations to strategic funds which are designed to produce a range of benefits for net-zero and nature restoration – but may not require rigorous CO2 measurement or verification, but other kinds of monitoring and reporting are essential to ensure benefits are being realised.

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<h2>What types of projects do carbon compensation and contribution involve?</h2>
 
Carbon Compensation
Compensation is limited to projects which generate carbon credits,  typically those that are issued to an ICROA-endorsed carbon standard like Verra, Gold Standard or Puro. It includes projects such as afforestation, blue carbon removal, landfill gas, cleaner water systems and enhanced rock weathering.
 
Contribution
Contribution can include carbon credit-issuing projects but is not limited to them. Other projects that can be financed include funding for environmental research, habitat restoration, conservation programs, reforestation projects, educational initiatives, and donations to NGOs working on climate action.

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<h2>What type of certification is associated with carbon compensation and contribution?</h2>
 
Carbon Compensation: 
Carbon compensation requires third-party verification and certification by bodies such as the Gold Standard, Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) and Puro to ensure the credibility of carbon credits. 
 
Contribution:
Contribution typically does not require certification as it is focused on voluntary financial support for environmental causes. However, reputable organisations receiving contributions may provide transparency reports or impact statements.

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<h2>What kind of costs are associated with carbon compensation and contribution?</h2>
 
Carbon Compensation: 
Costs for carbon compensation vary depending on the project type and verification costs. The price per tonne of CO2 offset can differ significantly with some being much more expensive than others.
 
Contribution: 
Contribution is usually more flexible when it comes to costs. This is because the focus is on voluntary contributions towards environmental outcomes,  rather than compensating for a specific amount of emissions.

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<h2>What role do carbon compensation and contribution play in achieving net zero?</h2>
 
Carbon Compensation:
The <a href="https://sciencebasedtargets.org/net-zero" target="_blank" rel="noopener">SBTi’s Net-Zero Standard</a> specifies that businesses must achieve a minimum 90% reduction in emissions on their path to net-zero &#8211; at which point a compensatory approach can be applied for the remaining &lt;10% of emissions which cannot be reduced directly. In this case, compensation is limited to carbon removals only, not carbon avoidance credits. To understand the difference between carbon avoidance and removal credits, <a href="https://x.ecologi.com/articles/blog/carbon-removals-vs-carbon-avoidance" target="_blank" rel="noopener">read our blog post here.</a>
 
Contribution:
The SBTi also promotes ‘beyond value chain mitigation’ known as BVCM. This involves a company funding climate action to support global net-zero efforts. BVCM does not count towards the organisation’s own corporate net-zero goals, however, the SBTi considers it “urgent and essential” that businesses contribute to global climate action outside of their value chain.

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<h2>Examples of carbon compensation and contribution</h2>
 
Carbon Compensation:
A company offsets its annual carbon emissions by investing in carbon credits from a landfill methane capture project that prevents an equivalent volume of emissions.
Contribution: 
A company contributes to an environmental project that works on biodiversity conservation, without claiming an offset of its own emissions. Instead, the company reports on how much it contributed, and the outcomes intended, and monitors the project’s progress over time.

<h2>Conclusion</h2>
In summary, Carbon Compensation focuses on the idea of ‘balancing’ or ‘offsetting’ emissions through purchasing carbon credits. The credits purchased are often used to offset emissions generated by businesses.  Contribution focuses on funding projects that support global net-zero goals without compensatory claims. Through supporting a contribution model, you can support a wide range of projects all offering crucial co-benefits, and in some cases, credit-issuing projects too. 
Both approaches play a critical role in supporting climate action. The Oxford Principles for Aligned Net Zero recommend a combination of carbon compensation (durable removals only)  and contribution to help maximise impact. At Ecologi, we believe that while both have their merits, prioritising high-quality, holistic climate action through a contribution-based approach is the best way to support global net-zero efforts and future-proof your sustainability strategy. This is why we created <a href="https://x.ecologi.com/business/ecologi-impact-funds" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Impact Funds</a> &#8211; to allow our customers to support a wide range of projects that contribute to a particular climate goal.

<h2>Why did you create Impact Funds?</h2>
Our industry is moving and evolving all the time in an effort to reach global Net Zero goals and at Ecologi we witnessed the challenges firsthand through our Impact Partners, below is a quote from our Impact Partnerships Manager, Katie; 
<blockquote>At Ecologi, our partners were extracting tree-planting costs from a wider landscape restoration project because that’s what the market wanted. We need to change this &#8211; and educate the market on the solutions our planet needs.</blockquote>
Contribution models are increasingly focused on outcomes rather than inputs and go beyond metrics such as carbon credits purchased, or the number of trees planted. These projects produce a host of diverse impacts that aren’t being captured by single metrics. Supporting projects such as landscape restoration focused on the wider strategy &#8211; in addition to tree planting, landscape restoration captures co-benefits such as increased biodiversity, improved soil health, and reduced pollution.
Interested to learn more? <a href="https://info.ecologi.com/ecologi-impact-funds/get-started" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Get in touch to find out more about our Impact Funds</a>.

Speak to our team. We're here to help you find your perfect climate solution.

Case studies

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Case Study: BioPak UK

<h2>About BioPak UK</h2>
A world without waste. That’s the mission of BioPak, and they’re working hard to achieve it. By disrupting the current take, make, waste model, BioPak’s sustainable food packaging solutions are leading the way to a truly circular economy.
Founded in 2006, BioPak has become a globally recognised brand, loved by businesses and consumers across Australia, New Zealand, the UK, the US, Hong Kong and Singapore.
BioPak’s packaging solutions are designed to be better for our planet. They use renewable plant-based materials that are sourced responsibly. To promote responsible disposal of their packaging, BioPak encourages composting through their Compost Connect scheme—a not-for-profit initiative that connects customers to compost pick-up services.

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BioPak is better for people too. The company is B Corp certified and donates 5% of all profits to positive change via their Give Back Fund. BioPak is a business that’s truly committed to the principles of the Triple Bottom Line: People, Planet, and Profit.

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<h2>Issue</h2>
BioPak’s commitment to combating climate change is unwavering. Having been carbon neutral certified for over a decade, in 2022 the team took the strategic decision to shift away from carbon-neutrality, and instead focus on emissions reduction.
This decision wasn’t taken lightly, but they recognised the need to move beyond mere carbon offsetting. They view it as a leap forward rather than a step back, and a move to create a more substantial positive influence on the planet. 
The team believes that understanding their total carbon footprint is vital. They are dedicated to clarifying the sources of their emissions, which span the entire product lifecycle, encompassing offices, product transportation, packaging production, raw material extraction, and end-of-life emissions.
BioPak uses an independent third party to measure their carbon footprint, cost to the environment (including impact on biodiversity, human health, climate change and material scarcity) and lifecycle phases of their products. This is done to enhance transparency, accountability and demonstrate their commitment to combating greenwashing.
BioPak is serious about combating climate change, with reducing carbon emissions being crucial in achieving this goal. A key part of this goal is supporting industrial composting through the Compost Connect scheme. The team is committed to diverting food waste and compostable packaging from landfill and incineration by making compost facilities more accessible across Australia, New Zealand and the UK.
Working together with customers, BioPak truly believes it can pave the way for a more sustainable world for future generations.

<h2>Challenges</h2>
As a B Corp and leader in sustainable food packaging, the team at BioPak feels a keen obligation for environmental stewardship. They describe BioPak as a “profit for purpose business”, and as such are driven to preserve and protect the environment while giving back to the communities in which they operate. 
To honour this obligation, BioPak set up its Give Back Fund in 2012, and since then have dedicated their time and energy to partnering with leading environmental and social charities to bring about positive change. So far they have donated a total of £2,495,352.
In the last decade, BioPak’s commitment to Australian environmental conservation has flourished through a partnership with Rainforest Rescue, which has planted and safeguarded 95,720 trees and reclaimed eight hectares of endangered Daintree Rainforest.

<h2>Solution </h2>
BioPak donates 1% of all profits to community and environmental projects, and here in the UK we’re proud that Ecologi has been chosen to support that commitment through tree planting. The team firmly believes that tree planting is a powerful solution that produces oxygen, stores carbon, and helps tackle climate change.
BioPak’s reforestation work with Ecologi underpins a global commitment to ecological restoration. This ambitious initiative is a cornerstone of BioPak’s corporate responsibility ethos, aiming to not only mitigate the impacts of climate change but also foster local biodiversity, enhance soil health, and support local communities in achieving sustainable development goals.
Working with Ecologi proves BioPak’s cast iron commitment to the environment, and in turn boosts its credibility, enhances its brand reputation and helps its customers make a positive impact. The team regularly communicates their sustainability milestones with customers and colleagues alike, through impact certificate, emails and internal communications.

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<h2>Outcome</h2>
Since 2021 BioPak has planted 102,479 trees with Ecologi, and the team plans to continue to regularly donate to increase this figure as much as they can. 
As a profit-for-purpose business, BioPak’s commitment to protecting the environment is vital in retaining current customers and attracting new customers, who are looking to make a positive impact through their supply chain. The Give Back Fund, and the work with partners like Ecologi, remains a fundamental part of BioPak’s brand messaging and ethos.
Sam Walker, Technical Director at BioPak UK, said:
<blockquote>It&#8217;s great to partner with Ecologi and support both the large scale reforestation projects they do and the more grass roots initiatives which really make a difference locally&#8230; Reforestation and habitat restoration are the foundations of reversing biodiversity loss and critical in the fight against climate change. We&#8217;re proud to work with Ecologi and share the impact data with our customers.</blockquote>

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<h2>Is your business ready to take climate action?</h2>
If this article has inspired your business to start its climate journey, talk to our team today.

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At Ecologi we believe in transparency, which is why, when we make changes, we want to let you know.
As of Tuesday 1st October 2024, we will be making a few changes to the Ecologi Impact Shop, including discontinuing some projects, as well as adding new ones and changing our prices slightly. 
Keep reading to find out more, or jump to the section on <a href="#customers">What these changes mean for our customers</a>, or our <a href="#faqs">FAQs</a>.

<h2>Update to our ‘Carbon avoidance’ project</h2>
We will be removing our generic ‘<a href="https://x.ecologi.com/impact-shop/support-carbon-avoidance" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Carbon avoidance</a>’ product from the Impact Shop, and replacing it with a new type of carbon avoidance project, which specifically supports landfill methane capture. This project is among the first in the world to receive the CCP-Approved quality label from the Integrity Council for the Voluntary Carbon Market (ICVCM).
<h3>Why are we making this change?</h3>
In June of this year, the ICVCM, an independent governance body dedicated to establishing a global benchmark for high-quality carbon credits, <a href="https://icvcm.org/integrity-council-announces-first-high-integrity-ccp-labelled-carbon-credits-as-assessments-continue/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announced the first carbon-crediting methodologies</a> that meet its high-integrity Core Carbon Principles (CCPs).
As part of this, the ICVCM have applied its ‘CCP-Approved’ label to a variety of projects that tackle potent greenhouse gases by capturing methane from landfill sites (like our supported <a href="https://x.ecologi.com/projects/avoiding-methane-emissions-from-landfill-in-brazil" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Macaubas LFG project</a>), and by destroying ozone-depleting foams and refrigerant gases from discarded equipment such as refrigerators and air conditioners.
We have been supporting landfill gas projects through our platform since our early days, including some of these first projects which have received this ICVCM stamp of approval. Effective on 1st October 2024, we are replacing the general ‘support carbon avoidance projects’ product on our Impact Shop, to specifically support these newly CCP-Approved landfill methane capture projects.

<h2>Discontinuation of our ‘Renewable energy carbon avoidance’ project</h2>
In addition, we will be removing the ‘<a href="https://x.ecologi.com/impact-shop/support-renewable-energy" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Renewable energy carbon avoidance</a>’ product from our Impact Shop. The ICVCM recently decided it would not award the existing renewable energy credit methodologies its CCP-Approved label, so we’ve opted to preemptively stop offering these on our platform. For additional insight into this decision, we encourage you to read our <a href="#faqs">FAQs</a> further down on this page.
<h3>Why are we making this change?</h3>
One of the next decisions made by the ICVCM as part of its assessment of carbon credit methodologies was to acknowledge that existing renewable energy generation credit methodologies do not meet the standard to achieve CCP-Approval. 
One key reason these methodologies don’t meet the CCP-Approved criteria is that the methodologies themselves fail to meet the stringent requirements for additionality, a key factor in ensuring that carbon credits represent genuine emissions reductions that wouldn&#8217;t have occurred without the carbon finance. See this quote from Sylvera on what additionality refers to: 
<blockquote>Additionality refers to the causal relationship between the project&#8217;s activities and the climate benefits it claims including the risk of the project over-crediting. A project is considered additional if the project activities would not have occurred without the revenue from a voluntary carbon credit. The additionality score is a function of how likely it is that the project is additional, and how likely it is that the project is over-crediting on the carbon avoidance or removal it is delivering.</blockquote>
Ecologi has always had a regionalised approach to our impact, consistently applying additional scrutiny to the projects we elect to support through our platform. Only six renewable energy projects are currently eligible for receipt of funding from our platform – out of an estimated &gt;2,200 renewable energy projects on the voluntary carbon market. Our careful selection process has ensured that we consider not only the type of project but also its specific implementation location.
For example, we have deliberately chosen not to fund large hydroelectric dams due to their associated social and environmental risks and we have generally steered clear of offshore wind projects, favouring onshore wind solutions that are more appropriate for the regions we support. We have always prioritised those situated in areas where the energy grid is still heavily reliant on fossil fuels, such as Morocco and Mexico, to maximise impact as much as possible.
This all said, following the ICVCM’s ruling on renewables, we have made the decision to stop offering renewable energy carbon credits via our Impact Shop.
We believe it is a good thing that the ICVCM is rejecting certain methodologies from receiving its high-quality label. This rigorous approach is necessary to maintain and improve the integrity of the carbon market – to raise the quality of projects across the board – and to ensure that all participants can trust that their investments are driving real, additional climate benefits.

<h2>Updates to pricing on the Impact Shop</h2>
Finally, on October 1st we will be updating pricing across our Impact Shop to reflect recent changes in market prices, and as a result some of our products will be cheaper to support.
<h3>Why are we making this change?</h3>
As part of our commitment to staying aligned with the evolving voluntary carbon market and providing the best prices we can to customers, we are also adjusting our pricing structure. To better reflect current market prices, we have reviewed and updated all the prices for carbon projects, some of which have reduced in price slightly. We are pleased to report that none of our existing projects have increased in price.
Pricing in the carbon market is dynamic, influenced by a variety of factors including regulatory updates, market demand, geographies, ratings, and broader project qualities. We aim to stay responsive to these changes and ensure that our offerings continue to provide value to all stakeholders involved, from project developers to buyers and the communities benefiting from these projects.
As an impact-driven organisation who put planet first, we want to ensure that we are responsive to the market and our customers are getting the best deal for the impact they want to support.

<h2>What do these changes mean for our customers?</h2>
There are no direct actions that our customers will need to take in light of these changes.
As of October 1st you will notice that our generic ‘<a href="https://x.ecologi.com/impact-shop/support-carbon-avoidance" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Carbon avoidance</a>’ project and our ‘<a href="https://x.ecologi.com/impact-shop/support-renewable-energy" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Renewable energy carbon avoidance</a>’ project will no longer be available on the Impact Shop. You will also notice that our new CCP-Approved landfill gas capture project will be available to support, and that the price of some of our existing projects have decreased slightly.

DIFFERENCES	EMISSIONS REDUCTION GOALS	SCIENCE-BASED TARGETS (SBTs)
Aiming at?	Inputs	Outcomes
SBTi Corporate Net-zero Standard alignment?	Not required, but complementary to the Standard	Required as part of the Standard
SMART alignment?	Do not have to be SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, Timely)	Are SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, Timely)
Qualitative or quantitative?	Can be either, but tend to be more qualitative	Quantitative
Scope coverage?	Don’t have be specific about covering scopes 1, 2 and 3	Must cover Scopes 1, 2 and 3
Verification?	Not necessarily explicitly tied to scientific benchmarks, global climate targets or verification.	Science-based targets undergo independent assessment to ensure they are consistent with the latest climate science.
Timelines?	Timelines tend to be shorter-term (under 5 years) because the objectives are smaller and easier to achieve.	Because of the 90% reduction in emissions across all 3 scopes, target setting usually involves setting near-term and long-term targets leading up to 2030, 2040 or 2050.
Ecologi platform?	Through the Ecologi Zero Platform.	Through Ecologi consultancy services.

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