This practical webinar breaks down common carbon terms - like carbon neutral, net zero, zero carbon and carbon positive - so you can use them with confidence. Our CEO Barbara Nebel and Impact Director Nicole Sullivan explain what makes a carbon claim credible, highlight where businesses have gone wrong and share how to assess carbon labels and offset schemes effectively.
Watch the webinar replay, or scroll down for a summary
Barbara’s tips
Be clear and accurate with your wording
Terms like carbon neutral or net zero might sound similar, but they mean different things. Make sure you're using the right language and know what it means.
Follow the right standards - not just loosely
It’s not enough to say your approach is “inspired by” or “aligned with” ISO standards. You need to follow the relevant standards properly if you want your claims to hold up.
Look at the full picture when calculating your footprint
Include all greenhouse gases (not just carbon dioxide), and make sure you cover the whole lifecycle of your product or service from production to end-of-life.
Nicole’s tips
Make sure your claims won’t come back to bite you
Businesses have been taken to court for making carbon claims that weren’t properly backed up. Be cautious and get advice before making public statements.
Use high-quality offsets and be upfront about them
If you’re using carbon offsets, choose ones that really make a difference. Share details about the projects and be clear on what they actually achieve.
Back up your words with action and evidence
Don’t make vague or future-looking claims without a solid plan. Be transparent about where you’re at, what you’re working on, and where the gaps still are
Need help with your carbon claims?
Our Carbon claims review helps you check that your carbon claims are scientifically accurate, comply with relevant standards and guidance and free from greenwash risk or ambiguity.