Clarity in complexity: How to procure carbon credits like a market insider
Clarity in complexity: How to procure carbon credits like a market insider
Inefficient procurement has frozen millions of dollars in climate finance and causes buyers to be systematically disadvantaged in the market.
This guide to carbon credit procurement is designed to give sustainability leaders the strategies and levers they need to find value in carbon markets, work cross-functionally with finance and executive leadership, and ultimately run a best-practice carbon program.
This guidebook was written by market insiders, and features real-world case studies from Bain & Company, Docusign, Etsy, and Nokia, as well as templates and checklists you can adapt to your organization.
What’s inside
- Carbon market dynamics: learn how carbon credits get to market and how it impacts availability and negotiation
- Price and access levers: learn how volume, timing/seasonality, ratings, payment terms, and more can give you a buying advantage
- Finance and governance: learn how to align with Finance, Procurement, and executive leadership to run an auditable process
- Ready‑to‑use tools: scorecards, project packet checklist, 8‑week timeline, plus playbooks from DocuSign, Bain, Nokia, and Etsy
A buyer’s guide to carbon credits
Get actionable guidance for engaging with the voluntary carbon market, no matter your level of experience:
- An introduction to carbon credits
- A portfolio approach
- A long-term outlook on pricing and supply
Guidance that matches your experience level
Carbon markets are complex, and constantly evolving. Buyers need education informed by the latest science that meets them where they are.
01: An introduction to carbon credits
If you’ve never purchased carbon credits before, this guide is your primer on the fundamentals.
02: A portfolio approach
If you’ve purchased credits and are looking to make more impact, this guide gives you the next step.
03: Outlook on pricing and supply
If you’re an experienced buyer, this guide will help inform your near- and long-term climate strategy.
What you’ll learn
To help you take climate action with more confidence, each guide will:
- Explain the risks and benefits of purchasing carbon credits
- Provide a strategic pathway to maximizing climate impact and mitigating risk
- Offer a tactical buying checklist to corporate sustainability leaders
Data analysis of the post-election VCM
Get insights into the state of carbon markets since the U.S. presidential election.
You’ll learn:
- Whether companies are withdrawing from carbon markets and climate commitments
- Which project types are in high demand and short supply
- How to engage strategically with carbon markets in an unevenly distributed supply crunch
Leading signals for market trends
The Patch platform collects and aggregates signals other sources don’t — like what buyers are searching for versus what they actually purchase, preferences broken out by mechanism and rating, and more.
This report includes insightful data on every project type in the VCM plus expert analysis of what it means.