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6-decimal plot geolocation and 2020-12-31 cut-off. SME deadline: June 30, 2026.

Evidence-based green claims. Bans 'eco-friendly' without proof. Penalty: 4% turnover.

Agentic integrity for supply chain transparency.

Regulation (EU) 2024/3012 (entered into force December 2024) creates the first EU-wide certification framework for carbon removals. Covers: carbon farming (soil carbon, agroforestry, peatland rewetting, biochar), carbon storage in long-lived products, and carbon capture and storage. Certification requires: a baseline, additionality demonstration, MRV plan with field measurements, permanence safeguards, and third-party certification by an EU-approved body. Carbon farming certificates unlock payments under CAP and voluntary carbon market premiums.

Mandatory human rights and environmental due diligence across global supply chains. Large EU company obligations from July 2027.

EU-wide methodology for calculating greenhouse gas emissions of freight and passenger transport services, in force 1 June 2026. Aligned with EN ISO 14083:2023. Applies to companies that voluntarily disclose transport emissions: once emissions are disclosed, the calculation must follow this methodology.

Mandatory restoration targets for terrestrial and marine ecosystems: forests, grasslands, peatlands, rivers, coastal wetlands, seagrass beds, tidal marshes, and mangroves. By 2030: 30% of degraded habitats in each broad ecosystem group must be under restoration. By 2050: 90% of ecosystems in poor condition must be restored. Binding on all EU member states; land managers operating within or supplying the EU market must align stewardship plans with national restoration targets.

Mandatory Scope 3 primary GHG data disclosure.

Substantiation via ISO 14065 third-party verifiers.

Evidence of physical and transition risk resilience.

Verra's Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) is the world's most widely used voluntary carbon crediting program (over 1,900 active projects). Land-use methodologies include: REDD+ (VM0007, VM0015), Afforestation/Reforestation (VM0047), Improved Forest Management (VM0012), Soil Carbon (VM0042), Blue Carbon (VM0033 — tidal wetlands and seagrass), and Agroforestry. Each methodology requires: project boundary GIS files, baseline scenario documentation, monitoring reports with field measurements, and third-party verification by a Verra-approved VVB.

CBD COP15 decision (December 2022) sets four global goals and 23 targets for 2030. Target 3 (30x30): at least 30% of terrestrial and inland water areas, and 30% of marine and coastal areas, effectively conserved or protected by 2030. Target 15: all businesses and financial institutions assess, monitor, and disclose biodiversity-related risks and impacts. Target 19: $200B/year in biodiversity finance from all sources. Integrated into TNFD (Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures) reporting frameworks.

Type III declarations from Life Cycle Assessment data under ISO 14025 / EN 15804.

ISO 14040:2006 describes the principles and framework for life cycle assessment (LCA): definition of the goal and scope, the life cycle inventory analysis (LCI) phase, the life cycle impact assessment (LCIA) phase, the life cycle interpretation phase, reporting and critical review, limitations, the relationship between the LCA phases, and conditions for use of value choices and optional elements. It covers LCA and LCI studies. It does NOT describe the LCA technique in detail and does NOT specify methodologies for the individual phases — a study claiming a method on 14040's authority is claiming something 14040 declines to give. Edition 2, published 2006-07, 20 pages, ISO/TC 207/SC 5, ICS 13.020.10 / 13.020.60. Stage 90.93 — confirmed on review in 2022, so this version remains current. One amendment: ISO 14040:2006/Amd 1:2020.

ISO 14044:2006 specifies requirements and provides guidelines for life cycle assessment: definition of goal and scope, the life cycle inventory analysis (LCI) phase, the life cycle impact assessment (LCIA) phase, the life cycle interpretation phase, reporting and critical review, limitations, the relationship between the LCA phases, and conditions for use of value choices and optional elements. It covers LCA and LCI studies. This is the requirements half of the pair — 14040 states the framework, 14044 states what a study must actually do to conform. Edition 1, published 2006-07, 46 pages, ISO/TC 207/SC 5, ICS 13.020.10 / 13.020.60. Stage 90.93 — confirmed on review in 2022, so this version remains current. Two amendments: Amd 1:2017 and Amd 2:2020.

ISO 14046:2014 specifies principles, requirements and guidelines for water footprint assessment of products, processes and organizations, based on life cycle assessment. A water footprint assessment may stand alone or sit inside a broader environmental assessment. Only air and soil emissions that impact water quality are included, and not all of them. The result is a single value or a profile of impact indicator results. Reporting is in scope; COMMUNICATION of results as labels or declarations is outside it. Edition 1, published 2014-08, 33 pages, ISO/TC 207/SC 5, ICS 13.020.10 / 13.020.60. Stage 90.60 — close of review, under review as of the 2026-08-27 reading.

ISO 14067:2018 specifies principles, requirements and guidelines for quantifying and reporting the carbon footprint of a product (CFP), consistent with ISO 14040 and ISO 14044. Requirements for a PARTIAL CFP are also specified. It addresses only a single impact category: climate change. Carbon offsetting and the communication of CFP information are explicitly OUTSIDE its scope — a standard that quantifies a number is not a standard that licenses a label built on it. It assesses no social or economic aspect and no other environmental impact. Edition 1, published 2018-08, 46 pages, ISO/TC 207/SC 7, ICS 13.020.40. Supersedes the withdrawn ISO/TS 14067:2013.

UNFCCC REDD+ (Warsaw Framework, 2013; Paris Agreement Article 5, 2015) provides a results-based payment mechanism for developing countries that reduce deforestation and forest degradation, or increase forest carbon stocks. Project-level activities require: forest reference levels, MRV systems, and national Safeguards Information Systems (SIS) addressing the Cancún safeguards (REDD+ social and environmental standards). Carbon results must be verified by an accredited third party.

From 6 April 2025 the CMA has direct enforcement powers — fines up to 10% of global turnover — for misleading sustainability claims, without requiring a court order. Supersedes guidance-only Green Claims Code enforcement.

Substantiation before marketing claims (anti-greenwash).

The CAP Code (non-broadcast) and BCAP Code (broadcast) require all UK advertising to be legal, decent, honest, and truthful. ASA has published specific guidance on environmental claims (2023): ads must not imply a product's overall environmental impact is neutral or positive without robust lifecycle evidence. Upheld rulings require advertisers to hold substantiating evidence before publication — not after a complaint. Penalty: ad removal, referral to Trading Standards, and reputational sanctions.

Legality-based production facts for forest commodities.

9 mandatory ESG KPIs for value chain partners.

Sections 18 and 29 of the Australian Consumer Law prohibit misleading and deceptive conduct and false representations, including unsubstantiated environmental and sustainability claims. ACCC actively enforces against fashion and textile brands.

Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative) Act 2011 and the Emissions Reduction Fund enable Australian land managers to earn Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCUs) by sequestering carbon or reducing agricultural emissions. Eligible methods include: soil carbon (sequestration and emissions avoidance), native forest protection, savanna fire management (Arnhem Land Fire Abatement), blue carbon (tidal restoration), and vegetation methods. ACCUs are government-purchased (reverse auctions) or sold on secondary markets. The 2023 Safeguard Mechanism reforms increased demand for land-sector ACCUs.

Single-person role for smallholder certification.

Mandatory Prime Market Scope 3 primary data.