How does the Sustainability Integrity Index work?

Our framework assesses 600+ data points across five areas: Basic Project Details, Carbon Impact, Beyond Carbon, Reporting Process, and Compliance & Reputation. The findings determine whether a project qualifies and explain its strengths and risks.

Do you use independent ratings?

Yes. Where available, ratings from providers such as BeZero and Sylvera inform our assessment. We consider them alongside project documentation, additional evidence and our own investigation.

What does a BBB carbon credit rating mean?

Rating agencies such as Sylvera and BeZero grade projects from AAA (highest) to D (lowest) on how likely their credits are to deliver the climate impact they claim. BBB is the lowest grade generally treated as credible, so it is a common minimum for corporate portfolios and the threshold our Buying Blind analysis used.

Does high quality mean there is no risk?

Every project has uncertainties. These vary by methodology, location and implementation. We investigate them, assess whether the project meets our requirements and explain the identified risks before you buy.

What happens if a project goes off track?

We review new information and update assessments as evidence develops. If a project goes off track, we alert affected customers and explain what has changed. You are also covered by our Buyer Protection: if a project in your portfolio underdelivers, we replace the credits with a comparable project from Senken’s buffer pool.

84% of carbon credits have no real climate impact. We find the 16% that do.

Q: What makes a carbon credit high quality?

A high-quality carbon credit stands for one tonne of CO2 that was really avoided or removed. The project must be additional (it would not have happened without carbon finance), its impact must be permanent, it must not shift emissions elsewhere (leakage), and its baseline must be calculated conservatively. It also needs a clean record: independent verification, retirement on a public registry so it can’t be sold twice, no harm to local communities and no unresolved controversies. Our Sustainability Integrity Index checks each of these before a project reaches your portfolio.

Q: Why is registry certification alone not enough?

Certification provides an important foundation. The quality of an individual project also depends on its baseline, data, assumptions and implementation. Senken investigates those factors before deciding whether to offer its credits. Buying Blind includes examples of fully traceable, certified portfolios assessed below the report’s BBB threshold, illustrating why project-level scrutiny matters. The assessments include indicative estimates as well as formal ratings.

We screen every project against 600+ data points in our Sustainability Integrity Index. Only 5% of the projects we assess qualify for your portfolio, each backed by clear evidence for audits and reporting.

Source: Probst et al., Nature Communications (2024)

Talk to an expert See how it works

A floating globe representing global carbon markets

6,200+
projects screened across the carbon market
600+
data points assessed for every project
5%
of assessed projects meet our requirements

German companies unknowingly spent over €70M on low-impact climate projects.

68% of DAX40 companies bought carbon credits that failed to deliver real impact. Many have already faced greenwashing accusations. For the rest, it's only a matter of time.

We screen this risk out before you buy.

Every credit is checked for real climate impact and a clean public record before it reaches your portfolio, so when an auditor or a journalist reviews it later, they find the same answer we gave you upfront.

Source: Senken, The State of Greenwashing in Carbon Credits (2025)

Trusted by Europe’s most audited buyers

Sustainability Integrity Index

Meet the standard behind every credit we sell.

We analyze 600+ data points per project, scored before it is offered and rescored as new data comes in.

We confirm a project's registry, methodology, location, and foundational documentation. Any red flags here end the conversation before it starts — ensuring only legitimate projects enter our pipeline.

We dig into additionality: What would have happened if the project didn't take place? Our AI models cross-reference historical data and geospatial imagery to confirm the project's baseline and measure real gains. We also test for Leakage (shifting emissions elsewhere) and Permanence (the project's ability to withstand disruptions like wildfires or political instability).

True climate solutions do more than cut carbon. We review how the project affects local water sources, soil health, biodiversity, and community livelihoods. If it helps achieve UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), so much the better.

This stage checks whether data collection is transparent, ongoing, and verifiable — often with third-party digital MRV (Measuring, Reporting, and Verification) tools. Regular updates prove the project's impact isn't just a one-time claim.

Even a technically sound project can tarnish your brand if it's accused of wrongdoing. We verify alignment with the ICVCM's Core Carbon Principles, check for compliance with European CSRD mandates and comb through public records and press coverage to catch any potential corruption, compliance violations, or emerging controversies.

An illustration of Senken's five-stage carbon credit verification process

We filter out 95% of projects on the market, leaving only the top 5% for your portfolio.

Aerial view of a mangrove forest along a winding river

IndonesiaNot offered

Mangrove restoration project

Afforestation and reforestation

Illustrative assessment

Basic project details: 2 of 5
Carbon impact: 1 of 5
Beyond carbon: 4 of 5
Reporting process: 2 of 5
Compliance & reputation: 3 of 5

Overall score48/100

Fails our carbon impact and reporting requirements

Not all due diligence is equal.

While many providers claim to do “due diligence”, few can match our 600+ data point checks, or our commitment to transparent reporting and future-proof compliance.

Other players

Data points

Minimal checks

Often rely on outdated spreadsheets and sparse data.

600+ metrics

AI-driven and updated frequently with the latest research.

Greenwashing risks

Multiple accusations

Overcredited projects and questionable track records.

Zero tolerance

<5% acceptance rate with a “Better Safe than Sorry” policy.

Compliance

Reactive fixes

Often non-compliant, leading to re-purchases when rules tighten.

Proactive compliance

Always aligned with ICVCM, CSRD, and ready for future standards.

Methodologies

Outdated approaches

Frequently rely on questionable or soon-to-be disqualified methodologies.

Science-based

Avoids soon-to-be invalidated methods (e.g., outdated cookstoves, renewable energy).