Answering important questions
Carbon3 (C3) is a platform for issuing, managing and trading carbon inset credits from incremental GHG emission reductions—such as adoption of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), bio-methane in chemicals, or low-emission shipping technologies.
C3 transforms verified emission reductions into financial assets "inset credits". These can be sold to generate revenue, helping companies offset the costs of their decarbonization investments while aligning with global sustainability goals.
For example, an airline adopting SAF, a chemical plant switching to bio-methane, or a ship owners retrofitting vessels with hybrid propulsion can have those reductions certified by independent bodies (e.g., ISCC), and issued as inset credits on the C3 platform. Finally these can be traded or shared among stakeholders, and claimed for carbon accounting or compliance purposes.
Inset credits represent emission reductions achieved within a company’s own operations or value chain (e.g., SAF, bio-methane, or energy-efficient ships), certified and traded via C3. Unlike traditional carbon offsets, which fund external projects (like reforestation), inset credits focus on direct, measurable reductions within an industry’s supply chain, ensuring transparency and preventing double-counting.
C3 benefits a wide range of stakeholders across multiple industries:
Companies (e.g., airlines, chemical producers, shipping firms): Generate revenue from inset credit sales, offset decarbonization costs, and gain a competitive edge.
Value Chain Partners (e.g., airports, ports, fuel suppliers): Fund infrastructure upgrades like SAF distribution, shore power systems, or alternative fuel production.
Downstream Buyers: Reduce Scope 3 emissions and compliance costs by purchasing and claiming inset credits.
C3 is industry agnostic but may benefit most for hard-to-abate sectors like shipping, aviation and chemicals. In aviation, it helps fund SAF adoption and efficiency improvements. In chemicals, it incentivizes shifts to sustainable feedstocks like bio-methane for bio-methanol production. Other industries with complex challenges may also benefit, contact us to explore possibilities.
C3 assists companies in meeting obligations under various frameworks. For aviation, it aligns with CORSIA and EU ETS, where carbon costs could reach €100-200 per ton of CO₂. In chemicals, it supports compliance with EU ETS and CBAM, which could impose €9-12 billion in penalties by 2030 if unmet. For shipping, it aids adherence to IMO 2050 targets and EU Fit for 55, potentially saving millions per vessel in EU ETS costs. By enabling direct emission reductions or providing tradable credits, C3 lowers compliance costs and generates revenue for reinvestment.
Using C3 offers multiple financial advantages. Credit sales can offset costs, covering 10-20% of SAF expenses in aviation, 20-30% of CapEx in chemicals (e.g., €15-30 million on a €75 million project), and 20-30% of CapEx in shipping (e.g., €10-20 million on a €100 million vessel retrofit). Efficiency improvements reduce fuel use and operational expenses across all sectors. Additionally, credit revenue de-risks capital-intensive projects, attracting funding for sustainability.
In aviation, an airline adopting SAF reduces 50,000 tons of CO₂ annually, earning €2.5-5 million from credit sales to offset SAF’s high cost. In chemicals, a plant investing €75 million in bio-methane cuts 80,000 tons of CO₂ yearly, generating €4-8 million in credit revenue. In shipping, a company retrofitting a €100 million hybrid vessel reduces emissions by 40,000 tons annually, earning €2-4 million from credits over its lifetime.
Emission reductions are validated by independent certification bodies, such as ISCC, to ensure accuracy and prevent double-counting. Once certified, they’re issued as inset credits on the C3 platform, offering credibility and transparency.
No. C3 is not associated with blockchain or web3.
Blockchains do not solve digital problems any better than conventional systems, and suffer greatly on performance, security, complexity and scalability.
The C3 protocol is open source and consortium based. The consortium audits and maintains a whitelist of compliant entities. This means that C3 partners can freely issue and trade inset credits, provided they were verified by a certification body. Similarly, any stakeholder can claim inset credits in their current carbon accounting year. This marks the inset credit to prevent re-claiming and double-counting.
Adopting C3, positions your company as a sustainability leader, unlocking revenue, reducing compliance costs, and preparing for tightening regulations like EU ETS, CORSIA, IMO 2050, and CBAM. Early movers gain a competitive edge with ESG-focused clients and investors while avoiding penalties that could reach billions by 2030.
Contact our team through the website to discuss your decarbonization goals and how we can support you.
