As part of our ‘Carbon Removal: The First-Time Buyer’s Guide to CDR’ series, we explain how to overcome the initial challenges you may face when starting your CDR journey, helping to simplify the process. This is Chapter 1: 'How to convince your decision-makers to choose carbon removal (CDR)'.

Three key tips from this article:

Identify a sponsor on your management team to support your efforts. This will make the rest of your journey easier
Convince your sponsor to engage early in the market to be prepared for future demands
Appeal to brand image: demonstrate you are an industry leader, innovator, or simply emphasise your sustainability commitment

Turning their attention to carbon removal

First of all, it is important to acknowledge that the most important thing you can do on your sustainability journey is to reduce your company’s carbon footprint. Without meaningful reduction, there will be no way to slow global warming. Be it through a climate transition plan, Net-Zero commitments, or any other way - reducing your emissions is the most critical step you can take. Once you have this journey underway, that’s when you can turn your attention to carbon removal.

As with every new project that you want your company to take on, first, you need to convince your business leaders to sponsor and support your work. Purchasing carbon dioxide removal (CDR) is no different so we have created this basic guide of how to win over your decision-makers and prove to them that there is value to be gained from entering the CDR market.

Management sponsor: in order to unlock the budget needed for carbon removal credits, approval from senior management will be required. Finding a sponsor amongst the senior management who is passionate about sustainability and making a difference can give you the edge you need to convince decision-makers to invest in the CDR space.

Net zero goals & emissions reduction goals: it is widely agreed that CDR credits will be required for most companies to achieve a net zero target. The EU and the US government have led the way, promoting the use of CDR credits through recent announcements. Therefore, whether it is now or in the near future, your company will need to procure CDR credits. By engaging in the market today, you can learn a lot about its dynamics and prepare yourself for future demands through long-term offtake agreements. This helps to ease financial risk by locking in an early price, simplifying your finances moving forward.

Be a leader: as mentioned above, the leading climate science reports that we will need a rapid scaling of the CDR space to avoid the dreaded effects of global warming. Does your company see itself as an industry leader? Can you do the same for the sustainability space and present yourself as a front runner for other companies to follow? By being an early mover, you can stand out as a company that leads by its action and attract the right kind of attention for your company.

Be an innovator: similar to the leadership point above, does your company see yourself as a disruptive innovator? Can you highlight these traits in your company by targeting the CDR space as another market full of the brightest innovators?

Connect with your customers: it is clear to see that brand stories are more important than ever today and sustainability is one of the key topics on a customer’s mind right now. Whether it be in the B2B or the B2C space, there is more responsibility on companies to take a more sustainable approach to how they do business. By winding CDR into your own story, you are clearly demonstrating to your customers how much you care for the wellbeing of this planet – you value real action.

Communications: by engaging in the CDR market today, you open the possibility of including it in your communications. As mentioned above, customers care about a company’s sustainability initiatives today and they are voting with their wallet. By presenting yourself as a supporter of CDR, you can emphasise your sustainability plan and tell your story out loud, without fear of greenwashing.

Visit opna.earth to learn more about procuring high-quality carbon removal or speak to our team, Matthew Caudle at hi@opna.earth to learn more about how we can help you meet your ESG and sustainability goals.