Carbon Offsets

Carbon offsets allow individuals and companies to compensate for their emissions by funding projects that remove carbon from the atmosphere or prevent future emissions. While offsets don’t reduce a person or company’s own emissions, they support reductions elsewhere, helping lower overall global emissions.

Carbon credits are tradable commodities that represent one metric ton of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO₂e) that has been reduced or removed from the atmosphere through a verified project, such as forest conservation or clean energy production. Individuals or companies purchase carbon credits to offset their carbon footprint. For example, if a flight emits one metric ton of CO₂e, offsetting it would require buying one carbon credit.

Carbon offset projects are initiatives that generate verified reductions or removals of greenhouse gas emissions. These projects take many forms, including forest conservation, reforestation, renewable energy, clean cookstoves, mangrove restoration, soil carbon sequestration, and technological carbon removal. For example, the Rimba Raya project in Indonesia protects carbon-rich tropical peat swamp forests from conversion into palm oil plantations, preventing the release of millions of metric tons of emissions each year.

Begin by using a carbon footprint calculator to estimate the emissions from your flights, travels, or other activities. Then purchase carbon offsets from a reputable provider, such as Sustainable Travel International, that offers high-quality, verified carbon credits.

Use a carbon calculator to estimate the emissions from your flight. You’ll enter details such as route and seat class. Then purchase offsets equal to your flight footprint from Sustainable Travel International or another trusted provider.

Companies begin by calculating the carbon footprint of their operations or products, including energy use, company vehicles, employee travel, and even supply chain emissions. For example, tour operators looking to offset their trips would need to account for emissions from flights, ground transportation, accommodations, activities, and meals. Once their footprint is calculated, they can purchase carbon offsets to compensate for these emissions and work toward carbon neutrality. Sustainable Travel International offers offset programs tailored for businesses.

Yes—when done right. High-quality carbon offsets represent real, measurable reductions or removals of greenhouse gas emissions. But not all offsets are created equal. That’s why we carefully vet every project in our portfolio to ensure it meets rigorous standards and delivers verified climate impact. By choosing credible offsets and pairing them with efforts to reduce your own emissions, offsetting is a crucial component of broader climate action.

Carbon offsets are not a free pass to pollute. They don’t erase your emissions or replace the hard work of decarbonization. Reducing emissions at the source should always be the primary focus. However, offsetting and reduction should go hand-in-hand. In sectors like tourism, where some emissions will take longer to eliminate, offsets provide a practical means to take responsibility now while we work toward long-term solutions.

In fact, research shows that companies that purchase carbon offsets are often more committed to carbon reduction. One study found that nearly 60% of companies that voluntarily buy carbon offsets reduced their emissions year over year—compared to just 33% of companies that don’t offset. They also spent three times more on emissions reduction activities.

When done right, offsets help fund the transition to a low-carbon future. The projects they support—like clean energy and sustainable agriculture—create the infrastructure and systems that make it easier for individuals and businesses to reduce emissions over time. Some projects, like reforestation, help balance out the emissions we can’t yet avoid by preserving vital carbon sinks that absorb CO₂ and stabilize the global climate.

We don’t just list carbon offset projects—we curate them. Our program is built on quality, integrity, and impact. Our team reviews each project to ensure it meets rigorous third-party standards (such as Verra and Gold Standard) and delivers verified emissions reductions. We also vet projects against our own added diligence criteria, evaluating factors such as community benefits and project reputation. The result is a diverse mix of nature-based, technological, and community-driven solutions, enabling you to support various approaches to climate action across a range of geographies.

We also translate technical documentation into easy-to-understand language, so you know what you’re supporting and the impact it creates.

No—offsetting is only one part of our work. As an organization, we’re committed to driving systemic change in the tourism industry. We partner with destinations, educate businesses and travelers, and promote better practices across the sector. This broader perspective ensures our offset program isn’t just a transaction, but part of a more holistic and transformative approach to climate action in travel.