Offsets and Removals

Carbon Offsets and Removals

When you purchase products, manufacturing and shipping create carbon emissions. CarbonGuru calculates these emissions and lets you neutralize them by purchasing carbon offsets or removals.

What Are Carbon Offsets?

Carbon offsets fund projects that prevent emissions from happening elsewhere. When you buy an offset, you’re paying for emission reductions that balance out your own emissions.

How Offsets Work

  1. A project reduces or avoids emissions (e.g., protecting a forest from being cut down)
  2. The emission reductions are measured and verified by third parties
  3. Credits are issued — one credit equals one metric ton of CO2 avoided
  4. You purchase credits to compensate for your emissions

Common Offset Project Types

  • Forest Protection — Preserving forests that would otherwise be logged
  • Renewable Energy — Building wind, solar, or hydroelectric projects
  • Methane Capture — Capturing methane from landfills or farms
  • Clean Cookstoves — Providing efficient stoves that reduce fuel use

What Are Carbon Removals?

Carbon removals actively pull CO2 out of the atmosphere and store it. This is different from offsets, which prevent future emissions but don’t remove existing carbon.

How Removals Work

  1. CO2 is captured from the atmosphere using natural or technological methods
  2. The captured carbon is stored long-term (in soil, rock, or other materials)
  3. The removal is measured and verified
  4. You purchase removal credits to actually reduce atmospheric CO2

Common Removal Methods

  • Reforestation — Planting new trees that absorb CO2 as they grow
  • Direct Air Capture — Machines that pull CO2 directly from the air
  • Enhanced Weathering — Spreading minerals that absorb CO2 as they break down
  • Biochar — Converting plant waste into stable carbon stored in soil
  • Ocean-Based Removal — Methods that increase the ocean’s carbon absorption

Offsets vs. Removals: Key Differences

Offsets Removals
What it does Prevents emissions elsewhere Removes CO2 from the atmosphere
Net effect Avoids adding more CO2 Reduces existing atmospheric CO2
Cost Generally lower cost Generally higher cost
Maturity Established market, many options Emerging technologies, growing rapidly

How CarbonGuru Handles Offsets and Removals

Calculating Your Footprint

When you analyze a product or shopping cart, CarbonGuru estimates the carbon emissions from:

  • Raw material extraction and processing
  • Manufacturing and assembly
  • Packaging
  • Shipping and delivery

Purchasing Credits

From any product footprint, you can add offset or removal credits to your cart:

  1. View the carbon footprint for your product or cart
  2. Click “Add Offset” or “Add Removal” to add credits matching that footprint
  3. Credits are added to your CarbonGuru shopping cart
  4. At checkout, choose from verified carbon credit portfolios
  5. Your purchase funds verified emission reduction or removal projects

Verified Credits

CarbonGuru partners with certified carbon credit providers. All credits are:

  • Third-party verified and audited
  • Registered in public carbon credit registries
  • Retired on your behalf (preventing double-counting)

Making a Choice

Both offsets and removals contribute to addressing climate change. Consider:

  • Budget — Offsets typically cost less per ton of CO2
  • Impact preference — Removals actively reduce atmospheric CO2; offsets prevent new emissions
  • Mix approach — Many people choose a combination of both

The most important step is taking action. Whether you choose offsets, removals, or both, you’re contributing to climate solutions while taking responsibility for your consumption footprint.

Learn More