FAQs

QAS Standards tackle complex subjects and provide confidence for businesses and consumers. Here are some of the questions we are asked the most. If you cannot find the answer to a question you have – please contact us

At least 40 checks are carried out annually on QAS-Certified carbon offsets covering emissions factors, calculation methodologies, project methodologies, registry retiral, radiative forcing index, Environmental Claims best practice, pricing, information provision and individual company checks, so that businesses and consumers don’t have to. We also make sure that QAS-Certified carbon offsets steer clear of contentious issues such as large hydro projects, outdated versions HFC23 methodologies or the use of carbon credits for investment purposes, for example.

At least 40 checks are carried out annually on QAS-Certified carbon offsets covering emissions factors, calculation methodologies, project methodologies, registry retiral, radiative forcing index, Environmental Claims best practice, pricing, information provision and individual company checks, so that businesses and consumers don’t have to. We also make sure that QAS-Certified carbon offsets steer clear of contentious issues such as large hydro projects, outdated versions HFC23 methodologies or the use of carbon credits for investment purposes, for example.

No, the QAS is the only organisation which independently audits carbon offsets outside of the industry.It does not represent the industry for other matters either.

Applying for QAS Certification

It is a template provided by the Independent Auditor to be completed and emailed to them every year when renewing QAS-Certification. It is not required for a first audit. Information includes total sales of QAS-Certified and non QAS-Certified carbon offsets over the prior 12 month period of approval (signed by a finance professional such as an accountant, auditor or bookkeeper), and also the credit retirement information to balance both offset accounts. This additional information must be provided within three months of the end of the relevant QAS certification period and is confidential between the Independent Auditor and the applicant. The QAS will not have access to it unless explicit permission is given by the applicant.

This varies according to the size of the organisation applying. You can find details here.

No, the QAS charges a flat fee for auditing all the carbon offset products you apply for.

Either, its up to you. But you may find it easier if your responsible provider applies on your behalf. You will be jointly responsible for providing the required information.

Email [email protected] and request our application form. Complete and pay the required fee by bank transfer to: Quality Assurance Standard Ltd/ sort code 400926/ account number 61868926; IBAN: GB95MIDL40092661868926; BIC/SWIFT: MIDLGB2117V

The QAS Audit Process

The independent Auditor, currently Ricardo Energy & Environment. All audit-related correspondence will take place through them once the audit has started.

Once audit has commenced, the Independent Auditor will email all applicants with information on expected timelines, and direct contact details should you wish to enquire. The Approved page (link to https://qasaudit.com/best-carbon-offsets/) on the QAS website will be updated at key milestones during audit with the results as and when they are released as follows:

  • GREEN – currently QAS-Approved or undergoing renewal
  • AMBER – under initial application or approved pending minor amends
  • RED – did not meet QAS requirements under audit or did not undergo renewal checks to ensure credit retiral compliance

Audits are conducted by an Independent Auditor (IA). QAS-Approval is decided at their discretion according to the Procedures published by the QAS. Any discussions taking place during an audit between the IA and the QAS will be related to generic rather than applicant-specific issues.

No. The Independent Auditor (IA) is subject to a confidentiality agreement preventing it from discussing or sharing information provided by applicants with the QAS without the applicant’s explicit permission. Any discussions taking place during an audit between the IA and the QAS will be related to generic rather than applicant-specific issues.

Practical considerations may require the expert judgement of the Independent Auditor during assessment, and lead to some deviation from the standard assessment criteria. Any judgement exercised by an auditor in this way will be clearly highlighted in the assessment feedback given. The Independent Auditor and the QAS may discuss generic rule interpretation during the audit, but not anything applicant-specific (unless explicit permission is given). The final decision is at the Independent Auditor’s discretion.

12 months, unless an adjustment is required to bring audit timing in line with other organisations or the applicant’s year end. This is at the discretion of the QAS.

Carbon Footprint Calculation

No, but it is required that QAS-Certified and non QAS-Certified are clearly separated on the provider’s website to avoid any confusion.

No. The QAS demands accurate calculations but does not require a consumer or organisation to offset the emissions associated with the whole of their business/ lifestyle or for all of a defined activity – it is for the consumer or organisation to decide the scope of emissions that they wish to offset. For example a consumer may decide to offset domestic but not international flights or just one month’s electricity consumption. Organisations must communicate transparently to their stakeholders once the scope is decided.

Yes, in fact real world datasets should be used in preference to modelled data where available, for example the measured route-specific airline fuel consumption data that IATA uses for its flight offsets.

Acceptable methodological approaches to modelled calculation include the WRI Greenhouse Gas Protocol, national methodologies such as DEFRA’s Voluntary Reporting Guidelines/ those used by the US EPA & the NZ Ministry for the Environment, and methodologies produced by respected independent organisations such as ISO, IEA, IPCC & the EU.

Organisations which comply with the scope 2 accounting standard under the GHG Protocol should use the more appropriate of the two sets of figures available and be able to justify their choice. However the QAS recognises that double reporting for scope 2 emissions can be labour intensive and isn’t practical for every organisation, and so it is not a QAS requirement per se.

If fuel/energy consumption data (e.g. gas or electricity use for office buildings) are not available or easily obtainable in units of energy (or volume or mass, alternate metrics (such as office floor area) can be used to estimate GHG emissions instead. Please discuss any specific examples with your auditor.

Carbon Offset Projects

CERs, ERUs, EUAs, Gold Standard VERs or VCS version 2007 forwards which do not arise from projects which:

  • use hydro > 20MW project methodologies;
  • use trifluoromethane (HFC-23) project methodologies unless complying with AM00001 version 6 onwards;
  • use adipic acid project methodologies unless at or below benchmark of 30Kg/t;
  • use nitric acid project methodologies unless complying with ACM0019;
  • use waste heat recovery project methodologies;
  • use efficient lighting project methodologies;
  • use fossil fuel switch project methodologies;
  • are forestry-related unless based on sustainable REDD+ project methodologies which include adequate mitigation to cover project failure.

Yes, REDD+ projects are the only forestry-based projects allowed within QAS rules, as they cover potential risks with carefully audited mitigation mechanisms.

The Independent Auditor requires and scrutinises parallel information for both, and keeps track from one year to the next.

If the retiral is in the public domain then no additional information beyond the dates and certificate numbers may be required. However if it is not then direct access may be required to the registry for confirmation.

Transparency

Yes. Offset providers and resellers must make clear and truthful any marketing and advertising associated with QAS-Certified offsets in line with initiatives such as the DEFRA Green Claims Guidance. They must not mislead stakeholders.

You must provide at least two out of three of the following at or before the point of sale: total price, price per tonne and total tCO2e. It should also be clear to the consumer if the sales taxes are included or excluded where they exist in the country of purchase.

If you are buying carbon offsets, QAS certification is free. Carbon offset providers pay an annual fee for QAS services which includes independent audit and certification.

No. Carbon offsets allow you to take responsibility for the emissions left over after they’ve been reduced; they are not an investment product. If any company with QAS-certified carbon offsets is found to be selling them for investment purposes, QAS certification will be withdrawn and the company involved named on our website.

Additional Information

Carbon offsetting is the process of investing in a project carefully designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, in response to the emissions left over after they have been reduced as much as possible. The net result is zero – and combined with the reductions already made, carbon offsetting takes responsibility for the whole carbon footprint instead of just the most convenient part. Reducing your emissions without offsetting what’s left is a job half done.

Carbon offsets should never be used in isolation. Without also taking responsibility for reducing overall emissions, carbon offsets cannot avoid global warming. However they are the only way to tackle the emissions left after reductions have been made.