akar.earthVCMI Claims Code of Practice for Buyers
VCMI claims code explained: Silver, Gold and Platinum claims, prerequisites, credit quality rules and what it means for buyers of Indonesian credits.
The VCMI Claims Code of Practice tells companies how to use carbon credits credibly in climate claims: first meet prerequisites on targets and progress, then make a Silver, Gold or Platinum Carbon Integrity claim based on how much of your remaining emissions you cover with high-quality credits. For sellers of Indonesian credits, it explains why buyers ask for CCP labels and clear disclosure.
What VCMI is
The Voluntary Carbon Markets Integrity Initiative (VCMI) works on the demand side of the voluntary carbon market. Where ICVCM sets the bar for credit supply, VCMI sets rules for how buyers use credits in claims. The Claims Code of Practice was first published in 2023. VCMI has since added guidance, including a Scope 3 Action Code of Practice and a monitoring, reporting and assurance framework. Check VCMI’s website for current versions.
The claim structure
| Step | What the company must do |
|---|---|
| Foundational criteria | Maintain a public GHG inventory, set science-aligned near-term targets and a net-zero commitment, and show its public policy engagement supports the Paris Agreement |
| Progress | Show it is on track to meet near-term targets |
| Credit use | Buy and retire high-quality credits for a share of remaining emissions |
| Disclosure and assurance | Report credits used and have claims assured |
Claim tiers depend on the share of remaining emissions covered:
- Silver: a partial share.
- Gold: a larger share, below full coverage.
- Platinum: all remaining emissions and more.
Check the exact percentage thresholds in the current Code, which VCMI may revise.
Credit quality rules
VCMI does not run its own credit assessment. It relies on supply-side integrity frameworks, principally ICVCM’s Core Carbon Principles. In practice, buyers making VCMI claims look for credits with the CCP label, meaning a CCP-Eligible program and a CCP-Approved methodology.
VCMI also addresses the use of credits with or without corresponding adjustments, and how this affects claims. Buyers should read the current guidance on authorised and non-authorised credits.
Who uses it
- Corporate sustainability teams designing credit strategies and claims.
- Auditors and assurance providers checking claims.
- Developers and traders shaping products for VCMI-aligned buyers.
How it applies in Indonesia and Southeast Asia
For Indonesian sellers, the Code shapes demand:
- Labelled supply wins. Buyers aiming for VCMI claims will prioritise CCP-labelled credits. Indonesian projects using VM0047 or VM0048 can reach the label.
- Disclosure is public. VCMI claims require disclosure of credits used, so buyers want projects with clean public documents and strong ratings. BeZero’s average rating for Indonesian ex-post NbS projects is ‘A’.
- Authorisation questions. Buyers may ask whether credits carry Indonesian authorisation and corresponding adjustments. Indonesia’s rules under Perpres 110/2025 govern this, and exchange-traded units must be recorded in SRUK. See corresponding adjustments in Indonesia.
For Indonesian companies as buyers, such as exporters with European customers, VCMI provides a framework for credible claims that sits alongside SBTi targets. Land-intensive companies usually need SBTi FLAG targets first.
What sellers of Indonesian credits should prepare
VCMI-aligned buyers ask more questions than traditional offset buyers. Prepare:
- Label status. Program, methodology version and whether credits are tagged with the CCP label.
- Public documents. Project description, monitoring reports and verification statements on the registry.
- Ratings. Independent ratings where available, since buyers use them alongside the label.
- Authorisation status. Whether Indonesia has authorised the credits and applied, or plans to apply, corresponding adjustments.
- Co-benefit evidence. Verified community and biodiversity outcomes, for example under CCB.
- Retirement support. Clear processes for retiring credits on the buyer’s behalf with beneficiary details.
Credits that come with this pack sell faster and with fewer price discounts.
Indonesian companies that buy credits themselves, such as exporters supplying European brands, can use the same logic in reverse: set targets first, report progress, then use high-quality credits for remaining emissions. VCMI-style claims are increasingly what European customers expect to see in supplier sustainability reports, alongside EUDR due diligence.
Common pitfalls
- Skipping the prerequisites. Credits cannot replace targets and progress.
- Using unlabelled credits. These may undermine a VCMI claim.
- Vague language. “Carbon neutral” without method and disclosure is the kind of claim VCMI aims to replace. See avoiding greenwashing.
- Confusing insetting with offsetting. Value-chain removals count toward targets under SBTi rules, not as credits for VCMI claims. See carbon credits vs insetting.
Next steps
Read the VCMI glossary entry, return to the standards hub, or talk to us about carbon strategy for claim-ready procurement.
Frequently asked questions
What is the VCMI Claims Code of Practice?
The VCMI Claims Code of Practice is guidance from the Voluntary Carbon Markets Integrity Initiative on how companies can credibly use carbon credits in climate claims. It sets prerequisites, claim tiers and rules on credit quality and disclosure.
What are the VCMI claim tiers?
The Code defines Silver, Gold and Platinum Carbon Integrity claims, based on how much of a company's remaining emissions it addresses with high-quality credits, on top of its own decarbonisation.
What credits can be used for a VCMI claim?
VCMI points to credits meeting the ICVCM Core Carbon Principles threshold. Check the current Code for any transitional rules and requirements on corresponding adjustments.
Can a company use credits instead of cutting emissions?
No. VCMI claims require science-aligned targets and progress on them first. Credits are used beyond those reductions, not instead of them.