How to track your carbon offset impact
Offsetting is only meaningful if you can prove it happened. Here's what to track — and what real transparency looks like.
What to track
- Tonnes retired. The actual CO₂e taken off the table on your behalf — the headline number.
- Projects funded. Which specific projects your money went to, and in what proportion.
- Retirement records. Registry serial numbers proving each credit was used once and only once.
- Over time. Cumulative impact as your subscription funds more each month.
The gold standard: retirement certificates
When a carbon credit is used, it's "retired" on a public registry so it can never be sold again. A retirement certificate is your proof — it names the project, the tonnes, and the registry serial numbers. If a provider can't show you retirements, be skeptical.
How Carbon Shredder shows your impact
Your dashboard pulls straight from our fulfilment partner: total tonnes shredded, the projects your funding supported, and downloadable retirement certificates for every purchase. No vague claims — just receipts.
FAQ
What is a carbon credit retirement?
Retiring a credit permanently marks it as used on a public registry so it can't be resold or double-counted. It's the proof your offset is real.
How do I know my offset actually happened?
Look for a retirement certificate with the project name, tonnes, and registry serial numbers — not just a thank-you email.
Can I share my impact?
Yes — your dashboard gives you shareable impact figures and certificates you can show anyone.