This business brief is intended for companies that are considering the purchase of voluntary offsets
for their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. It offers clear steps that guide early assessments and
enable corporate decision makers to become educated consumers within voluntary carbon markets.
The voluntary carbon market, which represents volume of well over $100 million, gives companies
the tools to prepare for and demonstrate leadership beyond regulation on GHG emissions.1 The
market is growing fast, perhaps doubling on a per annum basis. It is meanwhile broadening to
include new types of instruments and more diverse participants. As standards emerge, the “rules of
engagement” are evolving.