A live and evolving portfolio
Our carbon portfolio is dynamic. The mix of projects and credit types changes over time as we purchase and retire credits across different regions and methodologies. This means the composition of the portfolio today may not be the same in the future, and past portfolio makeup is not a guarantee of what it will look like later.
Market conditions such as supply and demand influence credit availability and pricing. These factors inform which projects we source credits from and how much each project represents within the overall portfolio.
We publish our current portfolio on a rolling six monthly basis. Projects marked as part of the “live portfolio” are those we have sourced credits from in the most recent two procurement cycles.
If you would like to select your own offsets, we offset a custom portfolio solution - please get in touch with support@our-trace.com to find out more.
How customer contributions are used and reported
Trace purchases carbon credits in arrears which means credits are acquired after customer payments are received, so the specific credits purchased with your funds may not exactly match credits previously shown. However, all credits are selected using the same strict quality criteria.
When you contribute to offset your emissions through Trace, we publish projects you have funded in the IMPACT section of the Trace app. These projects represent the live portfolio as defined above. This gives a clear and realistic view of the types of projects your contribution is expected to support.
Proof of purchase and retirement
Trace retires all carbon credits immediately after purchase to ensure they cannot be reused, resold, or double counted. To learn more about how we retire carbon credits, please read this article this article.
When you purchase offsets through the Trace portfolio, it isn’t possible to issue a retirement certificate that corresponds one to one with your individual contribution. To learn more please read 'can I get a retirement certificate for my offsets?'
Timing of credit purchase and retirement
Trace does not purchase carbon credits on a fixed calendar schedule. Instead, we procure credits when it is operationally and commercially appropriate to do so, taking into account portfolio balance, market conditions, and credit availability.
As a general approach, Trace aims to procure credits once the aggregate carbon balance reaches approximately 20,000 tonnes, and not more frequently than on a quarterly basis. However, this threshold is indicative rather than absolute. Periods may occur where procurement is delayed beyond this timeframe, including where the total balance remains below the target threshold, suitable credits are not available at the required quality standard, or where waiting enables more efficient bulk purchasing.
This approach allows us to purchase credits in larger volumes, which improves pricing, reduces transaction overhead, and provides access to higher quality projects that are not always available in smaller quantities. Credit sourcing and due diligence is time intensive, and bulk procurement enables us to deploy customer funds more effectively.
Customer contributions collected for offsetting are ringfenced and recorded as a liability on Trace’s balance sheet until they are used to acquire and retire carbon credits. These funds are held separately from Trace’s operating budget and are reserved solely for the purpose of future credit procurement.
As a general guide, it can take up to 90 days from the time a customer contribution is made for those funds to be converted into retired carbon credits. In some cases, particularly where procurement is intentionally deferred to enable bulk purchasing or improved project selection, this period may be longer.
Trace maintains a live tracker showing the total volume of carbon credits purchased and retired using customer contributions. This tracker is updated monthly, typically mid month, to provide transparency on portfolio activity and progress over time.
Credit quality and verification
Trace is committed to sourcing high quality, externally verified carbon credits. All credits are certified by recognised standards such as Gold Standard, Verra, the Australian Clean Energy Regulator, or the UNFCCC Clean Development Mechanism. For more information about our credits and selection criteria, please read Are your projects verified?
In addition to carbon credits, Trace may also sponsor tree planting projects that deliver additional carbon sequestration and broader environmental benefits (see this page for more info on our Tree planting programme).
Please read this page for more information about our Offset Assurance process and how you can be confident in our procurement process.
Portfolio management and fees
A management fee is built into the cost of offsetting. This fee covers the work required to source projects, conduct due diligence, manage the portfolio, maintain records, and report transparently on credit purchases and retirements.