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There are 14,500+ corporates with net-zero commitments, according to AlliedOffsets data. The pledges are public, the deadlines are real, and the reputational stakes have never been higher.
But a net-zero pledge is only as credible as the carbon credits behind it.
But a net-zero pledge is only as credible as the carbon credits behind it.
Commitment without quality is a liability
Apple is facing a class action lawsuit over carbon neutrality claims linked to two offset projects, one in Kenya and one in Colombia, after purchasers alleged the credits did not hold up to scrutiny. It is not an isolated case. In October 2024, the FTC, CFTC, SEC, and DOJ announced parallel actions against a leading voluntary carbon credit developer for fraudulently generating approximately six million carbon offsets.
More than 68% of DAX40 companies that purchased carbon credits ended up supporting projects with no real climate impact. Many of those companies have already faced greenwashing allegations. For the rest, it is a matter of time.
Regulators are catching up
The EU Green Claims Directive, the FTC's updated Green Guides, and the ICVCM's Core Carbon Principles are tightening the definition of what a credible climate claim looks like. SBTi-validated targets are increasingly referenced in regulatory and procurement contexts, meaning the bar for what constitutes acceptable evidence is rising, not just in public perception, but in law.
Greenwashing is no longer just a reputational problem. It is becoming a compliance one.
The gap between pledging and doing
Of the 11,278 companies with SBTi targets, the majority are still retiring credits at well below the levels their commitments imply. Buying credits without understanding the project, methodology, registry, and integrity score behind them is not climate action. It is exposure.
The companies that will hold their net-zero positions through increasing scrutiny are the ones who can evidence exactly why they bought what they bought.
Due diligence before you buy
AlliedOffsets gives you the data to do that. Search and filter 37,500+ projects across 36 registries, assess integrity across 13 quality metrics, and compare prices by project type and geography.
Find out how AlliedOffsets can support your due diligence process, speak to our team here.