SBTi and Carbon Credits: Everything You Need to Know About Going Beyond Net Zero
As more companies set net zero targets under the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), one question keeps surfacing: Can carbon credits help us get there?
The short answer? Not exactly. But that’s not the whole story.
At Carbon Kind, we believe in honest climate solutions rooted in integrity and impact. So let’s unpack where carbon credits fit within the SBTi framework—and how your organisation can go beyond compliance to lead real change.
What SBTi Says About Carbon Credits
The Science Based Targets initiative—now the gold standard for corporate climate action—has clear guidance:
Carbon credits cannot currently be used to meet near or long-term science-based targets.
Instead, companies must reduce emissions through direct action across their operations and value chains.
Why? Because SBTi’s priority is systemic change. It’s not enough to outsource your emissions; the real work happens inside your business—transforming supply chains, switching to renewables, and reducing waste at the source.
So Where Do Carbon Credits Fit?
That’s where Beyond Value Chain Mitigation (BVCM) comes in.
SBTi encourages companies to go further than what’s required—by financing additional climate action outside their value chains. This is where ethical carbon credits, like those from Carbon Kind, can play a powerful role.
Think of BVCM as climate solidarity. You’ve tackled what you can internally—but now, you’re stepping up to invest in emissions reductions where they matter most: in regions often hit hardest by climate change but least responsible for it.
Can Carbon Kind Credits Be Used for BVCM? Absolutely
Our carbon credits—whether from improved cookstoves, borehole rehabilitation, or agroforestry and biochar—are ideal for businesses looking to:
Support community-led climate action
Deliver measurable co-benefits like clean water, food security, and women’s empowerment
Contribute to verified emission reductions aligned with global standards
While you can’t count these credits toward your science-based targets yet, you can count on them to create meaningful impact beyond your operations.
What About the Future?
In early 2025, SBTi released a draft update that proposes a more flexible future. Under the new framework (still under consultation), companies may be allowed to use high-quality carbon removals—like reforestation or biochar—for a small percentage of hard-to-abate emissions. Some scenarios suggest up to 33% of Scope 3 emissions could be addressed this way, decreasing over time.
But until those standards are finalised, the message is clear: direct reductions first. BVCM second.
The Bottom Line
Carbon credits aren't a shortcut to net zero—but they are a powerful step towards climate justice.
At Carbon Kind, we help purpose-driven organisations make that step count. Our ethical carbon credits support verified reductions and reinvest every pound into local leadership and lasting change. It’s carbon finance done differently—rooted in equity, resilience, and regeneration.
Beyond Value Chain Mitigation isn’t just a technical category—it’s a commitment to going further.
So if you’ve already set science-based targets and want to go beyond, we’re here to help you lead the way.
Explore our carbon credit projects
Partner with us → vashti@carbonkind.earth