Wren’s layers of climate impact blend together for maximum effect.

Wren is always looking to maximize your impact by reframing what it means to offset carbon, and more broadly, what it means to take climate action.

By contributing to Wren, you’re not only offsetting carbon, but also supporting vital climate change mitigation initiatives. We firmly believe that addressing the climate crisis requires a comprehensive approach that funds both quantifiable removals and reductions in carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e), and equally vital unquantifiable solutions, like climate policy. This hybrid strategy allows us to maximize the climate impact per dollar contributed and actively support positive, system-wide changes for a carbon-neutral world.

Put plainly, Wren is mixing several layers of impact to create a unique portfolio of climate solutions. Let’s dive in to what those layers are, and how they work together.

Wren 2025+ Standard

At Wren, we’re committed to continuous improvement. Expect our benchmarks to be updated by even more refined methodologies as the research evolves. To see previous iterations of Wren standards, check out our Certification Standards Archive.

Certified offsets

Certified offsets represent a specified amount of CO2e that has been prevented from getting into the air, or has been taken out of it. Certified offsets follow strict rules and are checked by an independent group to make sure everything is done right. In simple terms, Certified offsets represent quantified carbon offsets that have already occurred, and are displayed as the tonnes of CO2e offset figure on Wren dashboards.

Criteria

1. Measurement of CO2e avoidance or removal follows a peer-reviewed greenhouse gas accounting methodology.
2. Verification and validation of measurements and reporting completed by an ISO-accredited third-party auditor.
3. Carbon credits are tracked on a registry, serialized, and retired.
4. Carbon credits are issued within 12 months of the date of the signed contract between Wren and the project developer.

In addition to the minimum criteria above, Wren utilizes a scorecard that vets projects against 250+ indicators and leverages insight from the carbon credit rating agency, BeZero.

Example

In-progress offsets

In-progress offsets are activities that are currently working to lessen or remove harmful CO2e from the atmosphere using proven scientific methods. They don't immediately show up in the tonnes offset figure for subscribers, but they will once the job is done and properly checked. This category is especially important for new technologies that take longer to see results but are key in helping to solve the climate crisis.

Criteria

Example

Additional contributions

Additional contributions are funds allocated to activities like making new laws or conserving nature to help reduce harmful greenhouse gases. It's hard to measure exactly how many tonnes of CO2e are avoided or removed from these activities, but we know these activities are vital for creating the systems-change needed for a sustainable future. Even though it's tough to put numbers on these efforts, we still track them with the help of our partners and share the information on our project pages.

Criteria

Example

Investments

Investments are projects where Wren provides capital in exchange for an ownership stake in a climate company. Some companies require external funding of this nature to scale operations or overcome roadblocks. Investments provide an opportunity for Wren to take a hands-on role in the voluntary carbon market and gain deeper insight into the inner workings of funded initiatives. Clear safeguards are put in place to prevent conflicts of interest, and any financial returns are used to amplify climate impact rather than being paid out to Wren shareholders or employees.

Similar to Additional contributions, these projects are not measured in terms of how many tonnes of CO2e are directly avoided or removed, but carbon impacts are assessed as part of the cost-benefit analysis.

Criteria

Example

How we put this into practice

Whenever you see a tonnes offset figure on Wren, you can click it to see the impact breakdown. Here’s an example:

Ultimately, we don’t want this system to clutter the Wren experience or confuse anyone. We’ve intentionally designed the system to work quietly behind the scenes, and still be available and transparent to anyone curious enough to look.

Striving for excellence

Together, the layers of climate impact (Certified offsets, In-progress offsets, Additional contributions, and Investments) bring transparency to Wren’s approach, and combine all the best layers of climate action.

We think this hybrid approach is the smartest and most affordable way to take climate action. Many industry leaders agree with our approach, and we see a diverse blend of impact as the future of responsible climate mitigation. Still, there is much more work to be done and we’re grateful to have thousands of individuals and businesses behind us.