Carbon credits are increasingly being considered a business investment rather than a compliance cost, new research from Climate Impact Partners has suggested.
According to its research, Setting the pace: The CSO perspective, nine in ten (90%) buyers of carbon credits said that said credits had delivered against their organisations aims over the past 12 months.
Climate Impact Partners surveyed 600 senior climate decision-makers in the UK and US for its research, and found that more than four fifths (81%) of respondents that currently use carbon credits believe they are ‘important’ or ‘critical’ to helping meet their organisation’s climate goals.
Respondents also reported business benefits associated with carbon credits, including increased brand trust (38%), revenue growth (37%), stronger brand reputation (36%) and customer acquisition (35%).
‘Real business value’
“The data shows that carbon credits deliver real business value, from brand trust to revenue growth to customer acquisition,” commented Sheri Hickok, CEO of Climate Impact Partners. “The most climate ambitious companies already understand this and are locking in high-quality supply today to deliver against future targets.
“The market has matured to support that confidence. Clear frameworks and rigorous verification now exist to prove what a high-quality credit is, so businesses no longer need to define this individually. Our ambition, and the direction the whole market needs, is consistent quality with reliable delivery at scale, enabled through an infrastructure-style market that gives every buyer the confidence in what they’re purchasing.”
Other findings from the research include that an average of 2.4 internal stakeholders are now involved in each carbon-credit purchasing decision, with CEOs involved in more than two fifths (43%) of purchasing decisions.
Board participation was reported at 40% among current buyers of carbon credits, compared with 22% among organisations that do not currently buy credits. CFO involvement also increased from 22% among non-buyers to 32% among current buyers.
Of those buying carbon credits, 84% of respondents said that ‘quality matters more than price’, with just 7% believing that price is more important than quality.
‘Informed decisions’
“The carbon market has come a long way,” added Natasha Tuck, director, sustainability & environmental, social & governance (ESG), at Dolby. “Today, there’s more scrutiny around quality, and a clearer understanding of what credible climate action looks like.
“Businesses need data they can trust, practical insight they can put to use, and confidence that the projects they’re backing will deliver meaningful, lasting impact. Working with experienced partners like Climate Impact Partners helps organisations cut through the complexity and make informed decisions that stand up to today’s expectations.”
All participating firms had at least 1,000 employees or annual revenue of more than $100 million. Fieldwork was conducted between 8 and 20 July 2026. Read more here.
