Question 1

What are carbon credits?

Accepted Answer

Carbon credits are certificates representing one tonne of carbon dioxide (or equivalent greenhouse gas) that has been avoided, reduced, or removed from the atmosphere. Each credit is issued after a project — reforestation, renewable energy, methane capture, and more — is independently verified. Companies buy carbon credits within the voluntary carbon market to compensate for emissions they can't yet eliminate, while working toward longer-term reduction goals. For a fuller breakdown of how these instruments work and where they fit into a climate strategy, see Hestiya's carbon credits glossary entry.

Question 2

How do carbon credits work?

Accepted Answer

Carbon credits work by linking real-world emission reductions to a tradable certificate. A project developer implements an activity that cuts or removes greenhouse gases, an independent registry verifies and quantifies the impact, and one credit is issued per tonne of CO2e reduced. Businesses then purchase these credits as a carbon offset against their own operational emissions. Once retired in the registry, a credit can't be resold or claimed twice. For a step-by-step buyer's perspective, Hestiya's checklist for purchasing carbon credits walks through the key questions to ask before buying.

Question 3

Why do companies buy carbon credits?

Accepted Answer

Companies purchase carbon credits to take responsibility for emissions that are costly or slow to eliminate directly while continuing to invest in longer-term decarbonization. Buying credits supports corporate sustainability commitments, strengthens ESG credentials, and helps meet net-zero pledges or investor expectations. It also funds high-impact climate projects that might not otherwise get financing. Hestiya's guide on moving from ESG measurement to carbon credit action covers how this purchasing decision typically fits into a broader corporate sustainability roadmap.

Question 4

How can I buy verified carbon credits?

Accepted Answer

You can buy verified carbon credits through a marketplace that lists projects certified by recognized standards, such as Verra or Gold Standard. The process typically involves browsing available projects, reviewing verification documentation and impact data, selecting the volume needed, and completing the purchase—with the marketplace handling registry transfer and retirement on your behalf. Hestiya's marketplace lists verified projects across multiple geographies, and the buyer's checklist is a useful reference before making a first purchase.

Question 5

What types of carbon credit projects are available?

Accepted Answer

Carbon credit projects generally fall into a few categories: nature-based projects (reforestation, afforestation, soil carbon, wetland restoration), renewable energy, and energy efficiency projects, and technology-based removal methods like direct air capture, biochar, and enhanced weathering. Each offers different co-benefits—nature-based projects often support biodiversity, while technology-based projects can offer more permanent, measurable removals. Hestiya's glossary covers several of these in depth, including afforestation, direct air capture, and biochar.

Question 6

What is the voluntary carbon market?

Accepted Answer

The voluntary carbon market (VCM) is a system where businesses and individuals buy and sell carbon credits outside government-mandated compliance schemes. Unlike compliance markets tied to regulation, participation is optional, driven by corporate climate commitments, brand positioning, or investor pressure. Credits traded here must still be verified carbon credits, certified by independent standards bodies, ensuring voluntary action delivers genuine, additional reductions. Hestiya's carbon credits glossary page explains how the voluntary market differs from compliance schemes in more detail.

Question 7

How are carbon credits verified?

Accepted Answer

Carbon credits are verified through independent, third-party auditing against recognized standards such as Verra's VCS or the Gold Standard. Verifiers assess whether a project's emissions reductions are real, measurable, additional, and permanent before the project is registered with a carbon registry that issues and tracks each credit with a unique serial number. This prevents double-counting and gives buyers confidence in what they're purchasing. Hestiya's buyer's checklist includes practical tips for evaluating verification quality before you buy.

Question 8

What industries benefit from carbon credits?

Accepted Answer

Businesses use carbon credits across nearly every sector, but they are especially valuable for industries with hard-to-abate emissions, including aviation, shipping, manufacturing, and energy-intensive production. Retail, finance, and technology companies also purchase credits to support corporate sustainability goals and stakeholder expectations. Even small and mid-sized businesses are increasingly using credits to build climate credibility, as covered in Hestiya's guide on how SMEs can use carbon credits to strengthen their sustainability positioning.

Question 9

How much do carbon credits cost?

Accepted Answer

Carbon credit prices vary significantly depending on project type, location, co-benefits, and verification standard. Nature-based credits often range from a few dollars to $20+ per tonne, while higher-permanence removal credits, like direct air capture, can cost well over $100 per tonne. Prices also shift with market demand and credit quality. When you buy carbon credits, it's worth comparing project details rather than price alone; Hestiya's marketplace shows live pricing and project data across regions to help with that comparison.

Question 10

How do I choose the right carbon credit project?

Accepted Answer

Choosing the right project depends on your organization's budget, desired co-benefits (biodiversity, community impact), permanence of the reduction, and alignment with your industry or brand story. Start with clear criteria for project selection; verification standard, vintage year, and registry transparency are good starting points. Hestiya's carbon credit buyer's checklist breaks this decision down into five practical questions to ask before committing to a project or portfolio of projects.

Question 11

What is an I-REC?

Accepted Answer

An I-REC (International Renewable Energy Certificate) is a certificate confirming that one megawatt-hour of electricity was generated from a renewable source and delivered to the grid. It's a type of energy attribute certificate used in markets without their own established renewable certificate scheme. Companies purchase I-RECs to verify and claim their electricity consumption comes from renewable sources. Hestiya's I-REC glossary entry covers how issuance and tracking work in more detail.

Question 12

What are Energy Attribute Certificates (EACs)?

Accepted Answer

Energy Attribute Certificates (EACs) are tradable instruments certifying that a specific unit of electricity was generated from a particular source, most commonly renewables. Each EAC—sometimes called an I-REC depending on the scheme—represents one megawatt-hour of generation and is retired once a company claims it. EACs let organisations decouple the environmental attributes of clean electricity from physical delivery. To see how EACs compare with regional equivalents, Hestiya's blog on I-REC vs REC vs GO is a useful reference.

Question 13

How do I buy I-REC certificates?

Accepted Answer

To buy I-REC certificates, you typically work with a marketplace or registered participant with access to the I-REC registry. The process involves identifying your electricity consumption volume, selecting certificates from eligible renewable generation projects, and completing the purchase—after which certificates are retired in your name as documentation. Hestiya's marketplace offers direct access to I-REC listings, and the I-REC & carbon calculator can help estimate the volume you need first.

Question 14

What industries use I-RECs?

Accepted Answer

I-RECs are used across manufacturing, technology, finance, retail, and any industry with significant electricity consumption as part of its sustainability strategy. Multinational companies operating in markets without local renewable certificate schemes often rely on I-RECs to standardise their claims globally. They're especially common among businesses working toward RE100 commitments or consistent Scope 2 emissions reporting across multiple countries. Hestiya's renewable energy glossary page has more background on how this fits into broader procurement strategy.

Question 15

How do I-RECs support RE100 goals?

Accepted Answer

I-RECs help companies meet RE100 commitments—pledges to source 100% renewable electricity—by providing a verifiable, internationally recognised way to match consumption with renewable generation, especially in markets lacking a local certificate scheme. Under the GHG Protocol's market-based method, retiring I-RECs equal to a company's electricity use supports reduced Scope 2 emissions reporting. This makes I-RECs a practical tool for multinational businesses; Hestiya's I-REC vs REC vs GO comparison explains which certificate type fits which reporting framework.

Question 16

What is the difference between I-RECs and carbon credits?

Accepted Answer

The core difference is what each certificate represents. I-RECs (a type of EAC) certify that a specific amount of electricity came from a renewable source, addressing Scope 2 emissions from purchased energy. Carbon credits represent a tonne of emissions avoided or removed anywhere in the value chain, covering broader Scope 1 or Scope 3 activities. In short: I-RECs track your electricity source, and carbon credits offset emissions more generally. Hestiya's carbon credits glossary entry and I-REC page cover each instrument individually.

Question 17

Are I-RECs internationally recognized?

Accepted Answer

Yes, international I-RECs are recognized as a credible renewable electricity certificate standard across more than 40 countries, particularly in markets without their own domestic certificate scheme. The I-REC Standard Foundation oversees consistent rules for issuance, tracking, and retirement, giving multinational buyers confidence that certificates purchased in one country meet the same bar as those purchased elsewhere. Hestiya's India carbon market page shows how this works in practice for one specific country's I-REC(E) issuance process.

Question 18

How is an I-REC issued?

Accepted Answer

An I-REC is issued when a registered renewable energy generator reports its electricity output to an approved local issuer under the I-REC Standard. Metered generation data is verified, and one certificate is created per megawatt-hour produced, then made available for purchase through registries or marketplaces. Once bought and retired against consumption, a certificate can't be resold or claimed again. Hestiya's India market page describes this issuance process concretely, including the local accredited issuer for that market.

Question 19

Can I-RECs reduce Scope 2 emissions?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Under the GHG Protocol's market-based accounting method, purchasing and retiring I-RECs allows a company to report lower Scope 2 emissions by reflecting the renewable attributes of the electricity it claims, rather than the average grid mix. This is a widely accepted way for businesses to demonstrate progress on emissions tracking, particularly where direct renewable power procurement isn't feasible. Hestiya's ESG to carbon credit journey guide covers where Scope 2 reduction fits into a broader emissions strategy.

Question 20

How long is an I-REC valid?

Accepted Answer

An I-REC certificate is typically valid for a set redemption period after issuance — commonly up to 12 months — within which it must be retired against a company's consumption claim. This validity window keeps the market aligned with actual generation periods and prevents certificates from being held indefinitely. Companies should retire certificates within the relevant reporting year so they count toward that year's disclosures. See Hestiya's I-REC glossary entry for more on registry mechanics.

Question 21

How much do I-RECs cost?

Accepted Answer

I-REC prices vary by country, technology (solar, wind, and hydro), and market supply and demand, generally ranging from under $1 to a few dollars per megawatt-hour. Prices tend to be lower in regions with abundant renewable generation and higher where supply is limited relative to demand. Hestiya's India carbon market page, for example, currently tracks average I-REC pricing for that market — a useful reference point when budgeting for a certificate purchase in a specific country.

Question 22

Why should companies purchase I-RECs?

Accepted Answer

Companies purchase I-RECs to credibly claim renewable electricity use, support net-zero and RE100 commitments, and improve sustainability reporting, particularly in regions without a local renewable procurement mechanism. I-RECs also offer a lower-cost, flexible entry point into renewable procurement compared to long-term power purchase agreements. Hestiya's marketplace lets businesses of any size start procuring verified certificates directly, and the I-REC & carbon calculator helps size the right purchase volume.

Question 23

What is a carbon intelligence platform?

Accepted Answer

A carbon intelligence platform is software that helps organisations measure, track, and manage greenhouse gas emissions across operations and supply chains, while also surfacing market data like pricing trends and project analytics. It typically centralizes data collection, automates calculations across Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions, and generates reports aligned with ESG frameworks. Hestiya's Intelligence platform combines this kind of emissions tracking with real-time renewable energy certificate pricing and carbon marketplace analytics in one place.

Question 24

How does carbon management software work?

Accepted Answer

Carbon management software works by pulling in activity data, energy bills, fuel use, procurement records, travel data, and applying emissions factors to calculate greenhouse gas output. The platform organises this into Scope 1, 2, and 3 categories, flags data gaps, and often benchmarks performance against targets or peers. Hestiya's Intelligence tool pairs this kind of tracking with satellite mapping and pricing intelligence across renewable energy markets globally.

Question 25

What emissions can the platform track?

Accepted Answer

A well-built emissions tracking platform typically covers all three greenhouse gas scopes: Scope 1 (direct emissions from owned sources), Scope 2 (indirect emissions from purchased energy), and Scope 3 (value chain emissions, including suppliers, business travel, and product use). Comprehensive Scope 1-2-3 tracking gives businesses a complete emissions picture, increasingly required for credible ESG reporting. Hestiya's methodology page outlines the calculation approach behind this kind of tracking in more detail.

Question 26

Can the platform automate carbon reporting?

Accepted Answer

Yes, modern carbon reporting software is designed to automate much of the reporting workload, from data collection and emissions calculations to generating outputs formatted for common ESG frameworks. Automation reduces manual errors, speeds up reporting cycles, and helps teams keep pace with evolving requirements. Hestiya's guide on AI in ESG reporting covers both the benefits and the risks of relying on automation for this kind of disclosure work.

Question 27

Does the platform support Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions?

Accepted Answer

Comprehensive carbon accounting platforms are built to handle Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions tracking, covering direct emissions, purchased energy, and the far broader value chain category of Scope 3. Since Scope 3 often represents the largest share of a company's footprint, robust platforms include supplier engagement tools and category-specific estimation methods. Hestiya's methodology explains how each scope is calculated and where data typically comes from.

Question 28

Who should use carbon intelligence software?

Accepted Answer

Carbon intelligence software is useful for sustainability, finance, and operations teams at businesses of any size that need to measure and report emissions, whether driven by regulation, investor expectations, or customer demand. It's especially valuable for companies with complex operations, multiple facilities, or approaching ESG reporting deadlines. Hestiya's Intelligence platform is built for exactly this kind of use case, combining tracking tools with live market data.

Question 29

Can the platform integrate with existing business systems?

Accepted Answer

Effective carbon management platforms typically offer integration with common business systems such as ERP, accounting, and utility management tools, allowing emissions-relevant data to flow in automatically rather than requiring manual uploads. This reduces the reporting burden on sustainability teams and improves data accuracy. See Hestiya's how it works page or contact the team directly to confirm specific integration options for your systems.

Question 30

How does Hestiya's platform simplify ESG reporting?

Accepted Answer

Hestiya's platform brings emissions data, carbon credit and I-REC purchases, and marketplace intelligence together in one place, reducing the need to manage multiple spreadsheets and disconnected tools. The Intelligence platform combines tracking and pricing data, while the marketplace enables direct procurement, helping teams move from measurement to action within a single workflow. Hestiya's ESG to carbon credit journey guide walks through this full path.

Question 31

What is ESG reporting?

Accepted Answer

ESG reporting is the practice of disclosing a company's performance and impact across environmental, social, and governance factors, things like carbon emissions, labor practices, board diversity, and business ethics. It's used to communicate sustainability performance to investors, regulators, and customers, often following frameworks like GRI, SASB, or the CSRD. Hestiya's guide on why ESG ratings differ explains why the same company can receive very different scores from different reporting agencies.

Question 32

Why is ESG reporting important?

Accepted Answer

ESG reporting matters because it gives stakeholders a transparent, comparable view of how a company manages environmental and social risks alongside financial performance. Beyond regulatory compliance, which is expanding globally, strong reporting can improve access to capital and strengthen investor trust. As disclosure requirements tighten, businesses increasingly evaluate themselves based on credible ESG reporting. Hestiya's ESG to carbon credit journey traces how reporting typically leads into concrete emissions-reduction action.

Question 33

What are Scope 1, Scope 2, and Scope 3 emissions?

Accepted Answer

Scope 1, Scope 2, and Scope 3 are categories used to classify a company's GHG emissions. Scope 1 covers direct emissions from owned or controlled sources, like company vehicles. Scope 2 covers indirect emissions from purchased electricity, heat, or steam. Scope 3 covers all other indirect emissions across the value chain, supplier activities, business travel, and product use, and is typically the largest and hardest to measure. Hestiya's methodology page breaks down calculation approaches for each scope.

Question 34

How can businesses reduce Scope 2 emissions?

Accepted Answer

Businesses can reduce Scope 2 emissions by improving energy efficiency, switching to on-site renewable generation, signing power purchase agreements, or purchasing renewable energy certificates such as I-RECs to match consumption with clean generation. Under the market-based accounting method, retiring I-RECs allows companies to report a lower emissions factor for purchased electricity. Hestiya's I-REC vs REC vs GO guide helps identify which certificate type fits your region and reporting framework.

Question 35

What is a carbon footprint assessment?

Accepted Answer

A carbon footprint assessment is the process of measuring the total greenhouse gas emissions produced directly and indirectly by an organisation's activities, compiled into a GHG inventory across Scope 1, 2, and 3 categories. It involves collecting activity data, applying emissions factors, and identifying key emissions sources. The resulting baseline helps set reduction targets and meet reporting requirements. Hestiya's methodology page outlines the calculation framework used for this kind of assessment.

Question 36

How can technology improve sustainability reporting?

Accepted Answer

Technology improves sustainability reporting by automating data collection, standardizing emissions calculations, and reducing the manual effort involved in compiling ESG disclosures. Digital platforms can integrate with existing business systems and flag data quality issues before they become reporting errors. Hestiya's guide on AI in ESG reporting covers both where automation helps most and where human oversight still matters, including for Scope 3 estimation.

Question 37

Which businesses need ESG reporting?

Accepted Answer

ESG reporting is increasingly required for large or publicly listed companies under regulations like the EU's CSRD, but it's also expected, even without a legal mandate, for companies seeking investment or competing for contracts with sustainability-conscious clients. Smaller companies are increasingly asked to report as part of larger companies' own Scope 3 disclosures. Hestiya's guide on carbon credits for SMEs covers how smaller businesses can build climate credibility even without formal reporting obligations.

Question 38

How does Hestiya support ESG reporting?

Accepted Answer

Hestiya supports ESG reporting by combining emissions tracking through its Intelligence platform with direct access to carbon credits and I-RECs via its marketplace, helping businesses move from measuring their footprint to taking verifiable action to reduce it. The goal is to simplify the path from data collection to disclosure-ready reporting. Hestiya's ESG to carbon credit journey guide maps out this full process step by step.

Question 39

What is renewable energy procurement?

Accepted Answer

Renewable energy procurement is the process by which businesses source electricity generated from renewable resources like solar, wind, or hydro, rather than relying solely on the standard grid mix. This can happen through direct power purchase agreements, on-site generation, green tariffs, or purchasing renewable energy certificates. Hestiya's renewable energy glossary entry covers the different procurement pathways and how they compare.

Question 40

Why should businesses procure renewable energy?

Accepted Answer

Businesses pursue renewable energy procurement to reduce Scope 2 emissions, hedge against energy price volatility, and demonstrate credible progress toward net-zero commitments. It also strengthens brand reputation with sustainability-conscious customers and investors. As more industries face pressure to decarbonise, renewable procurement has become a standard part of corporate energy strategy. Hestiya's India market page shows how fast-growing renewable capacity in one major market is opening new procurement pathways for corporate buyers.

Question 41

What are renewable energy certificates?

Accepted Answer

Renewable energy certificates are tradable instruments that verify a specific amount of electricity was generated from a renewable source. Also known more broadly as EACs, they allow companies to claim renewable electricity use even when they don't source power directly from a renewable project. Each certificate typically represents one megawatt-hour of clean generation. Hestiya's renewable energy glossary page and I-REC vs REC vs GO comparison cover the different certificate types available globally.

Question 42

How do renewable energy certificates support sustainability?

Accepted Answer

Renewable energy certificates support sustainability by giving companies a verifiable way to match their electricity consumption with renewable generation, supporting reduced Scope 2 emissions under market-based reporting methods. They also help fund renewable energy projects by creating an additional revenue stream for generators. For businesses without access to direct renewable power contracts, certificates offer a practical, scalable way to make credible clean energy claims; see Hestiya's marketplace for available options.

Question 43

Can renewable energy procurement help achieve net-zero goals?

Accepted Answer

Yes, renewable energy procurement is one of the more direct ways companies can reduce their carbon footprint, since electricity use is often a significant share of total emissions. Combining renewable procurement, through certificates, power purchase agreements, or on-site generation, with efficiency improvements and carbon credits for remaining emissions, forms a practical pathway toward net-zero targets. Hestiya's ESG to carbon credit journey guide outlines how these pieces typically fit together.

Question 44

What industries benefit most from renewable energy procurement?

Accepted Answer

Renewable energy procurement delivers the most value for energy-intensive industries such as manufacturing, data centers, retail chains, and logistics, where electricity costs and emissions are significant. Virtually any industry with meaningful energy consumption and public sustainability commitments, including finance, technology, and hospitality, increasingly relies on renewable procurement to meet stakeholder expectations. Hestiya's India market overview illustrates how corporate demand is scaling alongside a fast-growing solar and wind fleet.

Question 45

How can Hestiya help businesses procure renewable energy?

Accepted Answer

Hestiya simplifies renewable energy procurement by giving businesses direct marketplace access to renewable energy certificates like I-RECs, alongside the emissions data needed to determine how much procurement is required. The marketplace enables direct purchase, while the I-REC & carbon calculator helps estimate the right volume. Country pages such as Hestiya's India market page show region-specific pricing and project availability.

Question 46

What is the Hestiya Marketplace?

Accepted Answer

The Hestiya Marketplace is a blockchain-powered platform where businesses can browse and purchase verified carbon credits and I-RECs from projects around the world. It functions as a combined carbon and I-REC marketplace, giving buyers visibility into project details, verification standards, and real-time pricing so they can make informed purchasing decisions aligned with their sustainability and net-zero goals. Explore listings directly on the marketplace or via Hestiya Intelligence for deeper market analytics.

Question 47

How do I buy carbon credits through Hestiya?

Accepted Answer

To buy carbon credits through Hestiya's marketplace, you browse available projects by type, location, or verification standard, review supporting documentation, select the quantity of credits you need, and complete checkout. Once purchased, credits are retired on your behalf in the relevant registry, and you receive documentation confirming the offset for your sustainability reporting. Hestiya's buyer's checklist is a useful reference before your first purchase.

Question 48

How do I purchase I-RECs through Hestiya?

Accepted Answer

Purchasing I-RECs through Hestiya typically involves specifying your electricity consumption volume, selecting certificates from available renewable generation projects in the marketplace, and completing the transaction. The certificates are then retired in your organization's name, giving you the documentation needed to support renewable electricity claims. Use the I-REC & carbon calculator first to estimate the right certificate volume for your consumption.

Question 49

Are all projects verified?

Accepted Answer

Yes, Hestiya's marketplace only lists verified projects that have been independently certified against recognized standards, ensuring the environmental claims behind each credit or certificate are real, additional, and permanent. When evaluating listings, it's worth checking which certification body backed the verification and reviewing the underlying project documentation. Hestiya's buyer's checklist walks through exactly what to check before purchasing verified carbon credits.

Question 50

Which countries does Hestiya support?

Accepted Answer

Hestiya operates a global marketplace with dedicated market pages covering countries including Brazil, Chile, China, Colombia, India, Malaysia, Mexico, Nepal, Thailand, Turkey, and Vietnam, with renewable energy certificate data tracked across 50+ countries via Hestiya Intelligence. This makes it possible for multinational companies to standardize sustainability procurement in one place, regardless of where their operations are based.

Question 51

Why choose Hestiya over other marketplaces?

Accepted Answer

Hestiya combines a verified project marketplace with blockchain-based transparency and built-in carbon market intelligence, letting businesses measure emissions and act on them through carbon credit or I-REC purchases within a single platform rather than juggling separate tools. The Intelligence platform adds real-time pricing and satellite-based project mapping across 50+ countries. See how it works for a full walkthrough of the buying process and platform features.

Question 52

How can businesses request a quotation?

Accepted Answer

Businesses can request a carbon quote by reaching out through Hestiya's contact page with details on their electricity consumption, emissions profile, or the type and volume of carbon credits or I-RECs they're interested in. A team member can then provide tailored pricing and project recommendations based on the company's sustainability goals, budget, and reporting timeline. You can also use the I-REC & carbon calculator beforehand to estimate your requirements.

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