The carbon offset market is entering a new chapter, marked by higher quality, greater transparency, and stronger alignment with corporate net-zero ambitions. While demand slowed after 2021 due to questions over the credibility of some projects, the shift towards results-based solutions and robust standards is creating fresh momentum for companies committed to sustainable impact.
View through the canopies of young deciduous trees toward mature trees. AI generated picture.
GlobalData’s latest Strategic Intelligence report reveals that 47 of the world’s 100 largest publicly listed companies currently purchase offsets. Although demand has been steady in recent years, evolving standards and improved project verification are set to reignite activity, giving companies new confidence in their climate strategies.
‘As a result, companies that remain in the market are focusing on obtaining high-quality offsets, often using carbon ratings agencies or shifting from avoidance to removal offsets’, says Pinky Hiranandani, Strategic Intelligence Analyst at GlobalData. ‘This is especially evident in the tech sector, where giants like Microsoft and Google are investing heavily in offsets to meet ambitious 2030 net-zero targets.’
The report highlights six factors that will shape the market’s next phase: the resilience of corporate targets, the scalability of carbon removal technologies, stronger oversight from ratings agencies, advances in monitoring and verification systems, integration with emissions trading frameworks, and global consensus on cross-border trading.
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Energy and technology companies lead in offset purchases, with Shell and Microsoft among the most active. Interest in removal-based solutions such as biochar and agroforestry is rising, offering verifiable and permanent carbon benefits. Although these technologies remain costly, innovation and scaling are expected to bring prices down, making them more accessible for a wider range of companies.
Hiranandani notes: ‘As the market evolves, there will be an increasing shift towards carbon removal technologies, which offer clear evidence of permanent climate benefits. Companies must navigate the complexities of offset quality while balancing their climate commitments.’
For businesses, these shifts represent an opportunity to strengthen environmental strategies, enhance credibility with stakeholders, and secure long-term sustainability outcomes. As quality rises, so too does the confidence that carbon offsets can deliver meaningful, measurable results.
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As global carbon markets shift towards higher standards, nature-based solutions, and transparent verification, the need for credible, high-quality credits has never been greater. This is where DGB Group leads the way. As a publicly listed company on Euronext, we develop large-scale, nature-based restoration projects, delivering carbon units that combine environmental integrity with measurable community benefits. The next era of carbon offsetting is already here—join us in shaping it.
