High-integrity providers of carbon credits reinforce climate leadership and support genuine global decarbonisation. In a fast-evolving carbon market, businesses face a growing challenge: how do you know a carbon credit provider is robust?
The answer is simple, source an independently approved provider. ICROA (the International Carbon Reduction & Offset Alliance) is the global approval benchmark for voluntary credit providers. Its Code of Best Practice sets the gold standard for environmental integrity, transparency, and accountability.
With voluntary offsetting under healthy scrutiny, the spotlight is firmly on the integrity of carbon credits - and the credibility of those who provide them. Credits without robust validation are low-integrity and can expose businesses to reputational damage.
What makes Toitū an approved provider?
Toitū is proud to be among New Zealand’s first ICROA-approved providers of carbon credit services. We are independently audited every year - ensuring we meet the highest global standards for integrity. This means businesses working with us can trust that their carbon credits are robustly selected, transparently retired and aligned with climate science.
Most importantly, all Toitū credits are publicly retired in the name of the company using them, with clear documentation on the claim or certification they support and the emissions inventory they apply to.
Currently, few New Zealand-issued credits meet emerging global standards - this article shows how our local carbon credit offer is progressing into the future, and how our rigorous due diligence process gives clients confidence in the New Zealand carbon projects they're supporting today.
We only offer credits from projects that meet best-practice standards:
| International Carbon Credits | New Zealand Carbon Credits: |
|---|---|
| Registration with standards approved by ICROA | Registration with standards approved by ICROA |
| Full transparency around project documentation and credit retirement | Full transparency around project documentation and credit retirement |
| Validation and verification by the ICVCM, an independent third party | Validation through Toitū's thorough due diligence process (transitioning to ICVCM validation) |
For all businesses engaging in the voluntary carbon market, this level of rigour matters. It’s the difference between making a claim - and being able to stand behind it with confidence.
Carbon credit thought leadership series
This article is part of Toitū’s thought leadership series on carbon credits - exploring what integrity looks like in today’s voluntary carbon market, why credible offsetting matters, and how Toitū is helping shape a high-standard future for New Zealand and beyond. Read the full series below.