How to buy and use units

Woodland carbon projects are one of a hierarchy of actions which help to fight climate change. Before buying carbon credits, businesses and organisations should: 

• Understand and measure their carbon footprint (Scope 1, 2 and, where possible, Scope 3 emissions) in line with the UK Government’s Environmental Reporting Guidelines
• Set science-based targets to reduce emissions in line with the UK’s commitment to be net zero by 2050
• Take action to reduce Scope 1, 2 and, where possible, Scope 3, emissions in line with your emissions reduction plan 

The Voluntary Carbon Markets Integrity Initiative has produced a code of practice to help companies use carbon credits as part of credible decarbonisation pathways.

Decide whether you would like to buy Pending Issuance Units or Woodland Carbon Units. 

Choose which project, project developer or retail aggregator you would like to buy units from. You can see who has units for sale in our lists or the holdings page of the UK Land Carbon Registry. 

If you have an account on the registry, you can also see any units which are advertised for sale through the request for information platform when you are logged in. 

Important notes: 

• Units from Woodland Carbon Code projects can’t be used to compensate for overseas emissions or emissions from international aviation or shipping.  
• Woodland Carbon Units can’t currently be used in compliance programmes like the UK Emissions Trading Scheme.
• Corresponding adjustments described in Article 6 of the Paris Agreement are not currently applied to Woodland Carbon Units. 

You can manage your units in two different ways. 

Through your own registry account

If you are planning to buy a large number of units, you should open an account on the UK Land Carbon Registry. The account will enable you to manage your woodland or peatland units in one place. You can view the rates to open an account on our registry fees page. 

Through a project developer or retail aggregator 

A project developer or retail aggregator can tag units with your name from their own registry account. This may be more cost-effective if you are planning to buy a small number of units. If you chose this option, you will have less control in managing your units.

Contact the project developer or retail aggregator you would like to buy units from.  

Discuss your needs. This may include details about the type of units you are looking to buy, how many you would like, when you would like to buy them and the environmental and social benefits of the project you hope to buy from. You can also ask about projects which are in development which may be a good match for your business. 

If you are looking to buy Pending Issuance Units, ask about their vintage. This refers to the time it will take for them to be delivered, verified and converted to Woodland Carbon Units, for example 2020 to 2030. You can only use Woodland Carbon Units to compensate for emissions, so knowing the vintage is important for your planning. 

Ask about the serial number of the units. Serial numbers provide information about the unit type, project ID and vintage dates as well as the number of the unit within that vintage. The serial number is important because lower serial numbers in a vintage are more secure. Any units not delivered from a vintage will be cancelled from the highest number first.

Our template agreements and guidance for buying units provide more information on how responsibilities, obligations and risks can be managed between a buyer and seller.

Agree a price and contract terms with the project developer and pay for your units. The price will vary depending on the costs of creating and managing the woodland, the range of benefits it provides, the vintage and the serial number. 

Encourage your seller to report their pricing data anonymously through the Global Carbon Markets Hub. This promotes transparency in the market and provides buyers and sellers with helpful insights. Contact Alex Procton to find out more. 

If you have an account on the registry, the project developer will transfer the units to your account.  

If you don’t have an account, the project developer or retail aggregator you buy from can tag units with your name. 

Information about the holdings and use of all units are displayed in the public view of the registry.

If you bought Pending Issuance Units, you will have to wait until they are verified and converted into Woodland Carbon Units before you can use them against your emissions. This could be months or decades depending on the vintage.

If you bought Woodland Carbon Units or your Pending Issuance Units have been converted, you can use them against your emissions.

To do this, they must be retired from the registry so they can’t be used again. If you have an account on the registry, you can retire them yourself and add a comment to explain how you have used them.

If you don’t have your own account:

• Pending Issuance Units are automatically retired in the registry if they become verified. This means they are taken out of circulation so they can’t be used again. You won’t be able to add a comment explaining how you have used them.
• Woodland Carbon Units can be retired in your name and the project developer or retail aggregator you bought them from can add a comment explaining how you have used them.  

You can then share information about your Woodland Carbon Units in reports about your company’s UK-based emissions and net zero pathway.