The global race toward net-zero is a complex journey, facing many technical challenges, financial constraints, and often hindered by the sheer scale of emissions reductions required. Traditional net-zero certification models can be daunting and often discourage early action by demanding full compliance before any recognition. Incremental certification, on the other hand, is emerging as an innovative approach that breaks down net-zero goals into smaller, simpler milestones. This stepwise certification is enabling companies across diverse industries to overcome barriers, build momentum and accelerate decarbonisation efforts with growing confidence and clarity.
What is incremental certification, and why does it matter?
Since incremental certification is able to divide net-zero journeys into simple, progressive stages, it allows companies to earn recognition for partial achievements on their journey to full net-zero status. This method takes into account the difficulty of reducing Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions and provides a step-by-step framework that rewards continuous improvement rather than waiting for perfect outcomes. By validating progress in phases, incremental certification encourages organisations to implement early, noticeable changes and fosters transparency and accountability throughout the process.
How does incremental certification help companies accelerate decarbonization?
- Lowering entry barriers and encouraging early action: Â Due to the perceived enormity of the feat, many companies hesitate to even commit to net-zero. Incremental certification recognises initial efforts (e.g. emissions measurements, reduction planning) and thus offers an accessible entry point. These small wins build confidence and motivate organisations to continue to invest in decarbonisation initiatives.
- Creating clear roadmaps with milestones: Companies can better create clear, actionable roadmaps by breaking down net-zero targets into smaller, achievable goals. Each certification hurdle is able to credit progress, identify gaps, and better adjust strategies. This step-by-step method improves resource allocation and ensures sustained momentum.
- Enhancing stakeholder engagement and trust: Through incremental certification, companies are able to provide transparent evidence of continuous efforts toward net-zero, communicating to investors, customers, regulators and employees that ongoing progress is underway. By demonstrating continuous improvements, organisations can strengthen trust and build good reputations as committed sustainability leaders.
- Facilitating cross-industry adoption and scalability: The flexibility of incremental certification can significantly benefit industries with diverse emissions profiles and operational challenges. Companies across diverse industries are able to tailor their certification process to their unique context, creating more inclusive and scalable net-zero efforts.
- Driving innovation and learning: The phased approach encourages experimenting with novel technologies and processes and forming new collaborations. Companies can design initiatives on a smaller scale, learn from outcomes, and scale effective solutions, accelerating new strategies for decarbonisation.
How can Strategy&Ops support organisations with incremental certification?
- Designing customised certification roadmaps: At Strategy&Ops, we assist companies in simplifying their net-zero goals into manageable milestones, tailored to their unique industries and operational realities, to ensure effective progress.
- Facilitating data collection and emissions tracking: Our multidisciplinary team supports organisations in implementing reliable carbon accounting systems, providing them with accurate data, imperative to meet incremental certification requirements.
- Engaging stakeholders and building capacity: We facilitate collaboration across not only internal teams but also suppliers and partners to align goals and enhance collective impact throughout the certification process.
- Advising on best practices and innovation: Our multidisciplinary team provide the newest insights on emerging technologies and frameworks for the most effective decarbonisation strategies to maximise certification benefits.
Incremental certification transforms the net-zero challenge from an overwhelming, distant goal into a series of achievable steps. At Strategy&Ops, we are committed to guiding organisations through this journey to a more sustainable, low-carbon future. Ready to break down your net-zero ambitions into actionable milestones?Â
Contact our team at info@strategyandops.net to learn how we can support your incremental certification journey.
ReferencesÂ
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BOMA Convention. (2023) Speaker Handout: Net Zero Implementation Strategies. Available at: https://www.bomaconvention.org/BOMA2023/Custom/Handout/Speaker46774_Session3273_3.pdfÂ
Climate Policy Initiative. (2021) Incremental investments in energy efficiency in green buildings. Available at: https://www.climatepolicyinitiative.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Incremental-Investments-in-Energy-Efficiency-in-Green-Buildings.pdfÂ
Living Future Institute. (n.d.) Zero Energy Basics. Available at: https://living-future.org/zero-energy/basics/Â
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Net Zero Now. (n.d.) Net zero certification UK guide. Available at: https://netzeronow.org/post/net-zero-certification-uk-guideÂ
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TrustNet. (n.d.) The advantages of net zero to unlocking business growth. Available at: https://trustnet.trade/en/blogs/the-advantages-of-net-zero-to-unlocking-business-growthÂ