For Buyers, Carbon Credits Move From Compliance Cost to Investment
CarbonUnits.com
Carbon credits are shifting from a compliance cost to a business investment, according to new research from Climate Impact Partners. A survey of 600 senior decision-makers across the UK and US found that purchasing decisions now sit higher within organisations and increasingly reflect commercial priorities.
Business meeting with a new client focused on cooperation terms and the company’s climate initiatives related to carbon credits. AI generated picture.
Board-level engagement underlines the shift. An average of 2.4 internal stakeholders now take part in each purchasing decision. CEOs are involved in 43% of cases, board participation rises from 22% among non-buyers to 40% among current buyers, and CFO involvement increases from 22% to 32%.
Returns extend beyond environmental performance. Among current buyers, 90% report that credits delivered against their organisation’s aims over the past 12 months. Respondents link their purchases to increased brand trust (38%), revenue growth (37%), stronger brand reputation (36%), and customer acquisition (35%). The pattern suggests buyers now measure credits against commercial performance as much as compliance.
Quality has become the deciding factor. Among current buyers, 84% say quality matters more than price, and only 7% rank price above quality. More than four in five (81%) of those who buy credits, or plan to, describe them as important or critical to meeting organisational climate goals.
Sheri Hickok, CEO of Climate Impact Partners, said: “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.”
The research was conducted by Opinion Matters between 8 and 20 July 2026, among decision-makers at organisations with at least 1,000 employees or annual revenue above $100 million (£75 million). Its findings point to steady demand for high-quality, verifiable carbon credits as corporate buyers formalise their approach to the market.
