Sylvera has expanded its Market Gateway platform, which has facilitated over $1 billion in annual carbon credit quoting, to include a broader range of lower-carbon commodities. The new Commodity Market Gateway aims to connect producers and buyers of Environmental Attribute Certificates (EACs), Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs), and Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). The free platform seeks to address market opacity and fragmentation by providing a centralised space for structured discovery, transparent pricing, and direct transactions. This expansion builds on three years of connecting over 250 carbon project developers with buyers.
Carbon Gap submitted two responses to the European Commission's call for evidence on the post-2030 climate framework, advocating for binding national targets for land use and permanent carbon dioxide removal. The organisation recommended that the EU plan for full domestic delivery of its 90% emissions reduction target, reserving international credits for ambition beyond this level or as a safety buffer. Carbon Gap also proposed that such credits be procured centrally rather than unilaterally by Member States. The submission challenges the assumption that international credits are always cheaper than domestic action and suggests that the 5% ceiling in the European Climate Law for credit use should not be a fixed target.
Carbon Gap and Carbon Management Europe have published a discussion paper exploring an EU Carbon Removal Buyers' Club to aggregate demand and stimulate private investment in European carbon dioxide removal (CDR) projects. The paper, released ahead of the European Commission's first CRCF Days, suggests that a coordinated group of companies committing to purchase verified carbon removals could address the lack of credible purchasing commitments hindering project financing. Drawing from a multi-stakeholder workshop, the analysis maps design options for such a club, proposing alignment with the Carbon Removals and Carbon Farming Regulation (CRCF). The initiative aims to reduce investment risk and support multiple near-commercial projects within EU and EEA jurisdictions. This proposed club would function as a coordination platform, providing common standards and aggregated demand signals.
A survey of 25 large companies with net-zero commitments in the UK, Germany, France, and the US indicates a lack of near-term demand for carbon dioxide removal (CDR) credits. Conducted by Carbon Business Council and Bellwether Research, the study found companies view CDR as a future concern rather than a present procurement issue. Key factors contributing to this reluctance include a lack of detailed understanding of CDR for procurement and claims, and policy uncertainty. The findings suggest that current corporate intent alone is insufficient to scale high-quality CDR supply, prompting calls for policy intervention.
The City of Stockholm has committed to purchase 750,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide removal (CDR) over 15 years from Stockholm Exergi's new Bioenergy Carbon Capture and Storage (BECCS) facility. This commitment, totalling 50,000 tonnes annually, positions Stockholm as the world's fifth-largest buyer of permanent carbon removal. The captured CO₂ will be stored at the Northern Lights Facility in Norway. This public procurement aims to provide a demand signal for the nascent CDR market and aligns with Stockholm's climate strategy to remove more CO₂ than it emits by 2030.
Regreener has identified five German carbon credit projects as top recommendations for 2026, citing their verifiable registry listings, independent quality signals, and documented buyers. The projects include Novocarbo (Puro.earth biochar), Neustark (Puro.earth and Gold Standard mineralisation), MoorFutures (peatland rewetting), ZeroEx (Isometric-validated enhanced rock weathering), and Klim Soil+ (ISO 14064-2 soil carbon, with a Verra project in development). These projects align with the EU Carbon Removal Certification Framework and cater to corporate buyers seeking audit-defensible, locally verifiable credits. Germany is highlighted as the most active carbon credit market in continental Europe in 2026, driven by innovation and strict regulatory oversight.
Bernard de Wit, founder of Regreener, outlined the potential impact of SFDR 2.0 on carbon removal markets. His analysis focuses on how asset managers should approach carbon removals under the updated Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation. De Wit regularly assesses carbon projects and advises businesses on sustainability goals.
The EU's Carbon Removals and Carbon Farming (CRCF) framework, established by Regulation (EU) 2024/3012, will see its first certified carbon removal units reach corporate buyers from late 2027 or early 2028. The CRCF is a voluntary, EU-wide certification framework that sets a harmonised quality baseline for carbon removals and carbon farming activities, certifying against QU.A.L.ITY criteria (Quantification, Additionality, Long-term storage, Sustainability). It covers permanent removals (e.g., DACCS, BECCS, biochar), carbon farming with a minimum 5-year permanence, and carbon storage in products with a minimum 35-year permanence. The framework does not replace existing standards but runs alongside them, with recognition decisions for established voluntary standards expected mid-to-late 2026.
Regreener has identified five high-integrity cookstove carbon credit projects for corporate buyers in 2026, with prices ranging from $15 to $39 per tonne CO₂e. These projects include BURN Manufacturing (ICVCM CCP Label), EcoSafi (BeZero 'A' rating), Envirofit International (first Africa Article 6.2 deal), Toyola Energy (Gold Standard veteran), and DelAgua Rwanda (VCS VM0050 with TotalEnergies). The selection criteria prioritise projects with metered monitoring, conservative baselines, and independent A-grade ratings, following scrutiny of the sector. Clean cookstove projects aim to reduce 3.2 million premature deaths and CO₂ emissions equivalent to global aviation.
Carbon offtake agreements reached approximately €12.25 billion in value in 2025, significantly exceeding the €1.04 billion value of spot market retirements, according to Regreener. These long-term contracts, typically spanning 5 to 15 years, secure future credit supply and price certainty for buyers, while providing project developers with the revenue commitment needed for financing. This procurement method has shifted from niche to mainstream, with buyers like Microsoft utilising them to secure durable carbon removal credits. Offtakes contrast with spot purchases, which offer immediate delivery but expose buyers to price volatility and scarcity in a rising market for high-quality credits.
Regreener has published a guide comparing key carbon credit standards, including Verra, Gold Standard, Plan Vivo, Puro.earth, and Isometric, for corporate buyers in 2026. The guide highlights that the choice of standard depends on the specific climate claim a company aims to make, distinguishing between avoidance and removal credits, permanence, and stakeholder reporting needs. It outlines four critical factors for evaluating standards: additionality, permanence and durability, MRV (measurement, reporting and verification), and co-benefits. The analysis notes that while Verra dominates in volume and project type breadth, its quality varies, necessitating project-level due diligence.
Regreener has named five US carbon credit projects as leading options for corporate procurement in 2026, citing their independent verification, active credit issuance, and quality signals. The selected projects include CarbonCure CO2 Utilisation (VCS 4018), Graphyte's Loblolly Project (Isometric), Anew Tomah Highlands Forestry (ACR 617), AgriCapture Soil Enrichment (CAR 1513), and the Northern Great Plains Regenerative Grazing Project (VCS 1960). These projects span engineered CO2 mineralisation, biomass carbon removal, improved forest management, and regenerative agriculture. Regreener emphasises that a registry ID is merely a starting point, with quality requiring active issuance and independent validation. The US market's maturity, methodology integrity, and technology leadership contribute to its project diversity.
The durable carbon removal (CDR) market contracted 2.3 million tonnes in Q1 2026, marking the largest opening quarter on record and representing 560% of Q1 2025 volume. Microsoft led the quarter with a 1-million-tonne agreement, while over 113 other purchasers contracted 1.3 million tonnes. Biochar carbon removal accounted for 93% of the contracted volume in Q1. This quarter also saw 145,000 tonnes delivered and over 100,000 tonnes retired, making it the second-highest quarter on record for both metrics. Intermediaries facilitated 74% of contracted tonnes, indicating their central role in the market.
The durable carbon dioxide removal (CDR) market saw a 151% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) in purchases from 2021 to 2025, excluding volumes from Microsoft and Frontier, according to CDR.fyi. While Microsoft accounted for 78.5% of all disclosed durable CDR tonnes purchased by April 2026, its recent pause serves as a market stress test. Biomass Carbon Removal and Storage (BiCRS) methods, particularly BECCS and biochar, led near-term execution, comprising 96% of purchase volume and 91% of delivered volume in 2025. The market is transitioning to reward execution, with pricing becoming method-specific and financing favouring operationally disciplined suppliers. This indicates a more selective market, moving from ambition to tangible delivery and retirement of CDR credits.
A new survey by CDR.fyi and OPIS reveals the average price gap between buyers and suppliers of durable carbon removal (CDR) decreased from $107/tonne to $98/tonne. This gap is projected to narrow further to $48/tonne by 2030, indicating market learning and development. The survey, covering biochar, BECCS, DACCS, and other methods, found that buyers and suppliers agree on the importance of 100+ year permanence and transparency. However, budget constraints, delivery risk, and lack of policy incentives remain key market blockers.
BeZero Carbon has published a buyer's guide for superpollutant carbon credits, noting their potential for high near-term climate impact and often lower cost. The guide stresses that credit quality varies significantly across this category, advising buyers to assess individual projects rather than treating all superpollutant credits uniformly. It highlights the voluntary carbon market's role in addressing methane and nitrous oxide emissions, which remain inadequately covered by current policy and regulation. The report, co-authored by Dr. Bojana Bajzelj and Matthew Klassen, suggests that different project types within this category necessitate distinct purchasing strategies.
NextGen CDR AG, a large permanent carbon dioxide removal (CDR) portfolio, announced a multi-year CDR purchase agreement with Exomad Green, a biochar producer operating in Bolivia. The deal, supported by Carbonfuture's digital MRV (dMRV) platform, aims to scale the global biochar market and ensure transparency in credit quality. This agreement enables NextGen to secure certified technological CDRs from projects producing credits by 2025 at an average price of $200/tonne. Exomad Green utilises waste timber, certified by Autoridad Bosques y Tierra (ABT), to produce biochar, which is then distributed to local communities to improve soil health.
SIX, a financial market infrastructure provider, signed a multi-year agreement with Carbonfuture to secure a diversified portfolio of durable carbon removal credits. The deal includes credits from Direct Air Carbon Capture and Storage (DACCS) and Biochar Carbon Removal (BCR) projects, such as Octavia Carbon. This strategic purchase aims to ensure long-term availability and price stability for SIX's future carbon neutralisation efforts, though these credits are not for its near-term SBTi targets. The agreement follows SIX's investment in Carbonfuture and its entry into the carbon removal market.
Carbonfuture announced an exclusive digital monitoring, reporting, and verification (dMRV) partnership with Biomass Projects for a large-scale biochar carbon removal initiative in Australia. The project aims to convert invasive mesquite biomass into biochar, targeting an annual removal volume of 500,000 tonnes by 2028. Carbonfuture MRV+ will provide data tracking and facilitate third-party verification for the project, which seeks to restore ecosystems by removing mesquite across 300,000 hectares. This collaboration highlights the role of rigorous dMRV in scaling durable carbon removal projects and ensuring credit quality for buyers.
A Carbonfuture article outlines five strategies for professional services firms to lead in durable carbon removal (CDR). The strategies include embedding CDR into client advisory, procuring CDR to offset operational emissions, launching employee engagement campaigns, supporting industry standards, and acting as multipliers through client channels. The article highlights that while these firms often have small carbon footprints, their influence can significantly accelerate CDR adoption across industries. Integrating CDR is presented as a way to future-proof client strategies, enhance ESG credibility, and attract talent.
Carbonfuture has outlined seven reasons why carbon removal suppliers should implement digital Measurement, Reporting, and Verification (MRV) from a project's inception. The company states that early adoption of digital MRV accelerates certification and credit issuance, citing Puro.earth's COO Benno Fuchs, who noted that supplier data handling constitutes '95% of the workload'. Digital MRV also provides real-time transparency, captures comprehensive data, builds scalable infrastructure, and ensures accountability across complex value chains. Carbonfuture argues that this approach differentiates credits with verifiable data and helps suppliers align with evolving market standards.
A report, originally published by the World Economic Forum, highlights that the current financial architecture for carbon dioxide removal (CDR) is insufficient to meet net-zero targets, with only approximately 2 million tonnes of durable CDR verified annually against a 2050 need of 7–9 billion tonnes. The primary barrier is a 'missing middle' where projects are too advanced for early equity but too risky for traditional lenders, creating a capital gap. Only $836 million in equity capital was invested into durable CDR companies in 2024, despite 70% of suppliers expecting to raise capital within six months. This gap requires catalytic or blended finance from risk-tolerant investors like family offices and development banks to scale CDR technologies. Structural mismatches in financial language and long transaction cycles further complicate financing efforts.
Carbonfuture has outlined its due diligence process for carbon removal projects, designed to enhance market transparency and project quality. The framework assesses over 100 data points and 30 proof points across nine categories, including corporate, operational, financial, and carbon accounting aspects. This process aims to provide early clarity on scientific validity, operational feasibility, and financial soundness, reducing uncertainty for buyers. Carbonfuture states that rigorous due diligence is crucial for scaling the carbon removal market by building trust and enabling capital flow to high-quality projects. The company's framework incorporates clear expectations for evidence and recurring review points to ensure transparent and repeatable assessments.
Carbonfuture announced it facilitated over 1.5 million tonnes of durable carbon removal in 2025, including the first megatonne biochar carbon removal deal. The company closed a Series A2 funding round and expanded its supported technologies to include BECCS, DACCS, and Terrestrial Storage of Biomass. Carbonfuture secured nearly 10 million tonnes of durable CDR supply across five continents for 2026. These developments aim to scale a high-integrity durable carbon dioxide removal market.
A new draft international standard, ISO/DIS 14060, for net zero-aligned organisations was released for ballot on 17 June 2026, with comments open until September. This draft confirms environmental attribute certificates (EACs), termed environmental commodity certificates (ECCs) by ISO, will have a defined, guardrailed role in corporate net zero strategies. The standard, alongside SBTi's Corporate Net-Zero Standard V2, establishes that additionality and integrity are preconditions for an attribute's value. It mandates that ECCs are subordinate to direct emissions cuts and requires organisations to explain why direct procurement of low-carbon products is not possible. Carbon credits are explicitly not considered ECCs under this draft standard.
Sylvera has updated its Improved Forest Management (IFM) carbon project rating framework, introducing new methods for assessing carbon, additionality, and permanence. The revised framework integrates Sylvera's proprietary Biomass Atlas for direct comparison of reported carbon stock changes against independently observed data. It also differentiates IFM project types for additionality, moving to an Internal Rate of Return (IRR)-based financial test where models are available. These changes aim to address integrity concerns around baseline inflation, weak additionality, and leakage in IFM projects, which have seen issuances double since 2022 and account for 61% of nature-based issuances in 2026.
Stellar Green Co. and Sylvera have partnered to evaluate the quality of Japan's forest J-Credits against global standards. The initiative aims to provide credit-purchasing companies with a framework to understand and explain the quality of these credits to stakeholders. This collaboration does not involve publishing individual project evaluations or certifying specific credits, but rather examines Japan's forest management practices and institutional context. The move responds to increased buyer demand for transparency and accountability regarding carbon credit quality beyond mere compliance with domestic standards.
Sylvera data indicates that while 640 million tonnes of carbon credits are theoretically eligible for CORSIA Phase 1 compliance, only 37 million tonnes currently meet all requirements due to a bottleneck in host country authorisations. Even with optimistic projections, the accessible pool reaches only 104 million tonnes, falling short of the 163 million tonnes of demand for Phase 1. Guyana's JREDD+ programme accounts for the largest authorised tranche with 24.9 million tonnes, followed by Rwanda's 2.8 million tonnes of cookstove credits. Sylvera notes that CORSIA-tagged credits are also being sold into the voluntary market, further reducing available supply for airlines. The firm has launched an 'Article 6 & CORSIA Hub' to track supply, demand, and sovereign risk.
The Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) released its Corporate Net-Zero Standard Version 2.0 (CNZS V2.0), formally embedding carbon credits into corporate net-zero strategies. Under the new standard, carbon credit use will become mandatory for large companies from 2035. The update introduces an 'Ongoing Emissions Responsibility' (OER) programme, which outlines three phases for companies to address emissions beyond their validated targets. Companies can achieve 'Engaged', 'Advanced', or 'Leadership' tiers by mitigating a percentage of ongoing Scope 1-3 emissions through contribution budgets or verified mitigation outcomes. This revision marks a shift for SBTi towards providing implementation guidance, acknowledging the challenges in absolute decarbonisation.
Stripe, Alphabet, Shopify, Meta, and McKinsey Sustainability have launched Frontier, an advance market commitment (AMC) to purchase $1 billion of permanent carbon removal by 2030. This initiative aims to accelerate the development of carbon removal technologies by guaranteeing future demand for promising solutions. Frontier will facilitate both low-volume prepurchase agreements for early-stage suppliers and offtake agreements for growth-stage companies. The AMC model, previously used for vaccine development, is being applied to carbon removal at scale for the first time. Frontier will prioritise technologies demonstrating permanence, a path to affordability below $100/ton, and significant capacity potential.
Frontier, an advance market commitment launched by Stripe, Alphabet, Shopify, Meta, and McKinsey Sustainability, facilitated its first carbon removal purchases on behalf of Stripe. Stripe committed $2.4 million to buy carbon removal from six early-stage technology companies: AspiraDAC, Calcite-Origen, Lithos Carbon, RepAir, Travertine, and Living Carbon. An additional $5.4 million is contingent on these projects reaching agreed technical milestones. The purchases, ranging from $500 to $1,800 per tonne, aim to catalyse new carbon dioxide removal solutions, with Frontier acting as the first customer for all six projects. This initiative focuses on low-volume prepurchases to support the development of diverse carbon removal technologies.
Frontier has facilitated $11 million in carbon removal purchases for Stripe and Shopify, its largest round to date. The purchases support seven companies: Arbor, Captura, Arca, Carbon To Stone, Cella, CREW, and InPlanet, across various carbon removal pathways. Stripe also provided an additional $500,000 in R&D grants to Kodama Systems and Nitricity. This cycle saw more than double the applications compared to Frontier's first round six months prior, indicating growing interest in diverse carbon removal solutions.
Frontier, an advance market commitment for carbon removal, announced that Autodesk, H&M Group, JPMorgan Chase, and Workday have joined its initiative. These new members committed to purchase a combined $100 million of permanent carbon removal by 2030, increasing Frontier's total commitment to over $1 billion. This capital will facilitate multi-year offtake agreements, helping carbon removal suppliers secure financing to scale operations. Since April 2022, Frontier has facilitated purchases from 15 carbon removal startups across eight technological pathways.
Frontier has facilitated its first set of carbon removal offtake agreements with Charm Industrial, totalling $53 million. These agreements commit Frontier buyers to purchase 112,000 tonnes of CO₂ removal between 2024 and 2030, utilising Charm Industrial's biomass carbon removal and storage (BiCRS) technology. The price per tonne will decline by at least 37% over the period, reflecting anticipated scaling and potential government incentives. Founding members including Stripe, Alphabet, Shopify, Meta, and McKinsey Sustainability are among the buyers, alongside others purchasing via Watershed's partnership with Frontier. This initiative aims to scale permanent carbon removal solutions by providing guaranteed future demand.
Frontier has facilitated $7 million in carbon removal purchases from 12 companies on behalf of buyers Stripe, Shopify, and H&M Group. This third round of purchases includes 14 distinct carbon removal approaches, with projects based in five different countries. The selected companies project a collective removal capacity of over 500,000 tonnes of CO₂ annually by 2026. Additionally, Stripe provided $700,000 in R&D grants to four carbon removal startups.
Frontier has facilitated direct air capture (DAC) offtake agreements totalling $46.6 million with CarbonCapture Inc. and Heirloom, securing 72,400 tonnes of permanent CO₂ removal. CarbonCapture will remove 45,500 tonnes by 2028 for $20.0 million, while Heirloom will remove 26,900 tonnes by 2030 for $26.6 million. These agreements include options for future purchases at lower prices, reflecting anticipated cost reductions in DAC technology. Buyers include founding members Stripe, Alphabet, Shopify, Meta, and McKinsey Sustainability, alongside other corporations.
Frontier buyers have signed offtake agreements worth $57.1 million with Lithos Carbon to remove 154,240 tonnes of CO₂ between 2024 and 2028. This represents the largest enhanced weathering purchase to date and the largest facilitated by Frontier. Lithos Carbon accelerates natural CO₂ absorption by spreading crushed basalt on farmlands and measures removal using a novel technique combining soil samples with elemental measurements. Over half of the contracted volume is expected by the end of 2025, significantly increasing the amount of carbon removal achieved across all pathways globally.
Frontier has facilitated $58.3 million in offtake agreements with Vaulted Deep, a carbon removal company, for the permanent removal of 152,480 tonnes of CO₂ between 2024 and 2027. Vaulted Deep, which injects carbon-rich organic waste deep underground, expects to deliver 18,000 tonnes in 2024. This agreement enables Vaulted to commission three new wells, leveraging technology from its parent company, Advantek Waste Management. The approach offers over 10,000-year permanence and a pathway to costs below $100 per tonne. This deal highlights growing interest from industrial companies in applying their expertise to carbon removal solutions.
Frontier has facilitated $48.6 million in offtake agreements for carbon removal credits from Stockholm Exergi's bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS) project. The deal, which represents the first large European BECCS offtake for Frontier, will see buyers acquire a 'meaningful proportion' of the 800,000 tonnes of CO2 removed annually from 2028 to 2030. Stockholm Exergi will retrofit its KVV8 district heating facility in Stockholm, capturing CO2 from biomass combustion for permanent underground sequestration. The exact volume and price per tonne for Frontier buyers will be announced after the outcome of a Swedish government reverse auction for subsidies. This project aims to demonstrate commercial-scale carbon removal from a bioenergy facility, with a potential path to sub-$100 per tonne costs.
Frontier buyers have signed offtake agreements with 280 Earth worth $40 million to remove 61,571 tonnes of CO₂ between 2024 and 2030. The removals will come from 280 Earth's pilot facility in The Dalles, Oregon, which completed its first module in May 2024. This deal represents the first purchases from the new unit and will support the construction and operation of additional modules. 280 Earth employs a 'continuous capture' direct air capture process, designed with commercially available components and flexible power sources, including waste heat from data centres.