Amazon has launched its carbon credit service in the United Kingdom. This marks the first international expansion of the program outside the United States. The new service gives eligible UK businesses access to vetted carbon credits, lower-carbon fuel insets, and options for reducing emissions in their supply chains as they aim for net-zero targets. The expansion occurs as climate commitments come under closer scrutiny and demand for transparency in the voluntary carbon market increases. Available through Amazon’s Sustainability Exchange platform, the service targets organizations that have already begun to cut emissions and are looking for ways to tackle their remaining greenhouse gas output.

UK Launch Extends Service Beyond the United States

Amazon first introduced the carbon credit service in the United States in March 2025. The UK is the first international market to access the program. Businesses now face increased pressure from investors, regulators, and customers to show genuine climate action.

According to Amazon, the service is meant to support direct emissions reduction efforts rather than replace them. Companies often still produce residual emissions after adopting renewable energy, electrifying transportation, and improving efficiency. Carbon credits and insetting solutions are designed to help manage these remaining emissions while companies work on longer-term strategies.

Growing Focus on Carbon Credit Quality

This expansion comes at a time when the voluntary carbon market faces scrutiny over the quality and trustworthiness of carbon credits. Concerns about transparency, inaccurate baselines, and exaggerated environmental benefits have led businesses to prioritize project verification and governance standards.

Amazon stated it uses strict screening processes for projects included in its portfolio. The company noted that only a small fraction of available carbon credits meet its internal quality standards.

Kara Hurst, Chief Sustainability Officer at Amazon, pointed out that the voluntary carbon market has struggled with transparency and quality issues in the past. This has made it hard for companies to invest with confidence. She emphasized the importance of protecting forests, restoring ecosystems, and scaling up carbon removal efforts. Amazon aims to offer high-quality credits to companies that are already reducing emissions and looking for extra climate solutions.

Eligibility Requirements for UK Businesses

To join the program, UK companies need to have set a net-zero target for 2050 or sooner. This target must include Scope 1, Scope 2, and Scope 3 emissions. Organizations must also regularly measure and publicly report their greenhouse gas emissions.

Amazon explained that these requirements are meant to ensure that carbon credits are part of broader decarbonization strategies, not just a substitute for reducing operational emissions.

Several UK organizations are already part of the program. These include Aether Compliance, BizClik Media, Co-op Live, euNetworks, Moss UK, and Winston Taylor LLP.

Sara Tomkins, Sustainability Director at Co-op Live, mentioned that having access to nature-based carbon credits through this service will help the venue advance its net-zero commitments.

Access to Carbon Removal and Insetting Solutions

The program gives participating companies access to various climate solutions, including forest conservation projects, ecosystem restoration initiatives, direct air capture technologies, methane reduction programs, refrigerant destruction projects, and lower-carbon fuel insets.

Among the available projects are jurisdictional forest protection programs in Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana. These initiatives aim to reduce deforestation regionally while also supporting local communities through investments in agroforestry, clean water access, and healthcare infrastructure.

Jurisdictional approaches are viewed as comprehensive compared to traditional project-level models because they involve government cooperation and address broader causes of deforestation across entire landscapes.

Climate Pledge Incentives and Broader Strategy

Amazon is also offering Climate Pledge signatories discounted access to carbon credits. The Climate Pledge commits participants to achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2040, which is a decade earlier than the target set in the Paris Agreement.

The company has stated that the service is part of its broader sustainability strategy. This includes investments in carbon-free energy, electric delivery vehicles, and improving energy efficiency in facilities and data centers.

The expansion builds on the Sustainability Exchange platform launched in 2024, which provides organizations with access to climate guidance, best practices, and decarbonization tools.

Increased Scrutiny on Corporate Climate Claims

The UK launch reflects a wider shift in corporate climate reporting and disclosure expectations. As regulators and investors demand more accountability, companies must show that their use of carbon credits supports credible transition plans that are backed by measurable emissions reductions.

Industry experts believe that the long-term success of voluntary carbon markets will hinge on improved transparency, traceability, and proof of environmental impact. Amazon’s latest expansion highlights a growing need for structured carbon market participation as businesses balance immediate climate actions with long-term net-zero goals.