What is ISO 14068?

ISO 14068 specifies principles, requirements and guidance for achieving and demonstrating carbon neutrality. It provides a standardized approach to quantifying, reducing and offsetting the carbon footprint of organizations and products, including goods, services, buildings and events.

ISO 14068 establishes a hierarchy that prioritizes direct and indirect greenhouse gas emission reductions and removal enhancements within the value chain. Offsetting is used only to counterbalance the carbon footprint that remains after these actions. The standard also includes requirements for carbon neutrality commitments and claims.

Why is ISO 14068 important?

Carbon neutrality claims can be difficult to assess when organizations use different definitions, methods and priorities. A consistent approach helps distinguish meaningful action to reduce a carbon footprint from an approach that relies primarily on offsetting.

ISO 14068 places continual improvement at the centre of carbon neutrality. By prioritizing emission reductions and removal enhancements, it helps organizations build a credible pathway along which their carbon footprint, and consequently their reliance on offsetting, decreases over time.

Benefits

• Provides a standardized approach to achieving and demonstrating carbon neutrality
• Prioritizes greenhouse gas emission reductions and removal enhancements before offsetting
• Supports clear and consistent carbon neutrality commitments and claims
• Promotes continual improvement in reducing the carbon footprint of organizations and products
• Builds on established standards for greenhouse gas quantification, reporting, validation and verification
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