akar.earthVCMI: Definition
What is VCMI? The Voluntary Carbon Markets Integrity Initiative and its Claims Code, which guides how companies credibly claim the use of carbon credits.
VCMI (Voluntary Carbon Markets Integrity Initiative) is an international non-profit that sets guidance on how companies can credibly use carbon credits and make claims about them. Its main tool is the Claims Code of Practice, which defines when a company can make a VCMI Carbon Integrity claim.
Why it matters
Buyers face greenwashing risk if they claim “carbon neutral” products based on cheap or low-quality credits. VCMI addresses the demand side of integrity, complementing the ICVCM, which addresses credit quality. Following VCMI helps companies show that credits support, rather than replace, their own decarbonisation.
How it works
- Foundational criteria: the company keeps a GHG inventory, sets science-aligned near-term targets and a net zero commitment, shows progress and publicly supports climate policy.
- Credit quality: credits used should meet ICVCM’s Core Carbon Principles.
- Claim tiers: Silver, Gold and Platinum, by share of remaining emissions covered by credits.
- Assurance: claims are reported transparently and third-party checked.
VCMI has also published guidance on using credits to address Scope 3 emissions under defined conditions. See our page on the VCMI Claims Code.
Indonesia and Southeast Asia angle
Most demand for Indonesian nature-based credits comes from international corporate buyers who reference VCMI and SBTi in their climate strategies. Projects that can show CCP-labelled credits, strong co-benefits and clean data are easier to fit into a VCMI-aligned portfolio. Indonesian companies listed on IDXCarbon or with export exposure may also look to VCMI as they build their own credit strategies.
VCMI’s guidance is reviewed and extended over time, so companies should check the latest version before making public claims. The initiative also works with the ICVCM so that demand-side and supply-side integrity rules fit together, giving buyers a consistent path from choosing credits to reporting their use.
Common mistakes
- Using VCMI tiers without meeting foundational criteria.
- Confusing VCMI claims with SBTi target validation.
- Making product-level neutrality claims VCMI does not cover.
Read our guide on avoiding greenwashing.
Frequently asked questions
What are the VCMI claim tiers?
The Claims Code of Practice sets Silver, Gold and Platinum claims, based on how much of a company's remaining emissions it covers with high-quality credits, on top of meeting foundational criteria.
Does VCMI let companies offset instead of cutting emissions?
No. Companies must first meet foundational criteria, including science-aligned targets and progress on reducing their own emissions. Credits are used in addition to cuts.