akar.earthCCP label: Definition
What is the CCP label? How carbon credits earn the ICVCM 'two ticks', what it signals to buyers, and what Indonesian projects need to qualify.
The CCP label is a tag applied in a carbon registry to credits that meet the Integrity Council for the Voluntary Carbon Market’s Core Carbon Principles. A credit earns it through “two ticks”: it must come from a CCP-Eligible program and be issued under a CCP-Approved methodology.
Why it matters
The label gives buyers a simple, independent quality signal at the credit level. It supports procurement policies, claims under the VCMI Claims Code and due diligence by investors. As more supply carries the label, unlabelled credits may face lower demand or prices, especially from buyers who want to avoid greenwashing accusations.
How it works
- The ICVCM assesses a carbon-crediting program (for example Verra, Gold Standard or ART) against governance criteria. If it passes, the program is CCP-Eligible.
- The ICVCM assesses methodology categories against emissions impact and sustainable development criteria. Approved methodologies, sometimes with conditions, are CCP-Approved.
- The program tags qualifying credits in its registry with the CCP label.
See the full page on the ICVCM CCP label and the principles behind it under CCP.
Indonesia and Southeast Asia angle
Southeast Asia issued about 129 million nature-based credits under VCS and Gold Standard up to April 2025, mostly Indonesian and Cambodian REDD+. Whether those volumes can carry the label depends on the methodology version and approval conditions. New ARR projects under VM0047, or REDD+ projects under VM0048, are better placed. Buyers doing due diligence on Indonesian credits will ask about label status early.
For developers, the label is now a practical commercial question, not just a policy one. Choosing a methodology version that is already approved avoids being stuck with credits that some buyers will not consider.
Common mistakes
- Treating the CCP label as a rating. It is a pass/fail threshold, not a grade; rating agencies still differentiate between labelled credits.
- Assuming the program’s eligibility alone is enough.
- Ignoring conditions attached to methodology approvals.
The label is issued under the ICVCM framework.
Frequently asked questions
What are the two ticks for a CCP label?
The credit must come from a CCP-Eligible carbon-crediting program and use a CCP-Approved methodology. Both conditions must be met.
Can old credits get the CCP label?
It depends on the approval decision for the methodology and any vintage or version conditions the ICVCM sets. Check the decision for that methodology category.