There are many pitfalls that offset projects can fall into.  In order to safeguard our clients from such risks we operate our CarbonZero offset projects under a unique set of Principles that sets us apart from other offset providers: -

• We are environmentalists.  The organisation was set up in 2003 as a hobby by Mark Simpson and Mike Rigby as a way of channelling their enthusiasm for environmental improvement.  Unlike many other carbon offset operators, we are not owned by big financial institutions, venture capitalists or private equity houses as a way of making money.  We are 100% owned by the Board.  We have grown co2balance to be one of the largest and most respected carbon offset orgainsations in the world without losing sight of our environmental roots.
• Highest financial barrier test in the world provides unimpeachable additionality - for our stove projects we work on the 50 – 50 rule in that that at least half of the capital cost of our in-house projects is funded from the sale of the carbon credits, making it clear that the project would not have been implemented without carbon funding. 
  
• No supply chain – as our in-house projects are managed by co2balance staff the supply chain is simply the client and co2balance.
• Backed by the CarbonZero Guarantee - co2balance guarantees to deliver all credits bought by its clients.
• All credits recorded in the CarbonZero Registry - To ensure transparency for clients and to provide a clear and open audit trail, all our carbon offset credits are recorded in the CarbonZero Registry, built along the same principles as the registries associated with the Clean Development Mechanism.
• Trackable –  co2balance’s GPS tracking system on its carbon offset projects shows clients, using Google Maps, exactly where their funds have been invested, down to individual items of equipment.