🌱4 min read

Why contribute through Arka

Selection, due diligence and CSRD-ready documentation

For whom

Final decision-maker choosing a partner to structure their carbon contribution.

30-second takeaway

Independent marketplace: we select on five dimensions, deliver a CSRD-ready package, and work on the buyer side, not the project side.

Arka performs the additional due diligence buyers need to contribute with confidence, on top of what standards require. We work alongside those standards, not instead of them.

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Independent selection across five dimensions (programme, developer, MRV, safeguards, regulatory fit).

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CSRD-ready deliverable with every transaction (certificate, PDD, project sheet, attestation, ESRS E1-7 memo).

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Nature-based scope today (soils, regenerative agriculture), agnostic tomorrow.

Our role: independent marketplace

Arka is an independent marketplace for high-integrity carbon credits. We are neither a project developer nor a certification standard: we work on the buyer side. Our role: perform the additional due diligence buyers need to contribute with confidence, above what standards require. This structural independence is essential. It lets us recommend the combination best suited to your context (Gold Standard for rigour, Verra for volume, ISO for flexibility, Label Bas-Carbone for territorial narrative) without any interest in pushing one programme over another.

The five-dimension methodology

Our due diligence covers five dimensions, applied to every project before listing. (1) Recognised programme and registry: is the project certified under a credible standard (Gold Standard, Verra, Puro, ISO 14064-2, Label Bas-Carbone) with a verifiable public entry? (2) Developer due diligence: operational track record, team expertise, financial transparency, quality of relationships with farmers or operators. (3) MRV robustness: satellite quality, field sampling frequency, VVB independence and accreditation, traceability down to the parcel. (4) Environmental and social safeguards: documented co-benefits (biodiversity, water, rural support), no-harm principle, SDG alignment. (5) Regulatory compatibility: buyer's ability to use the credit in their CSRD reporting, VCMI claim, SBTi trajectory, in Europe as in the US.

What a listed project on Arka means

If a project is listed on Arka, it has passed our review on these five dimensions. No visible score at the project level: a project is either listed or not. This binary logic is intentional. A score would imply that a '60 %' project is acceptable, when our criteria impose a minimum integrity threshold. Transparency on methodology is however complete: the detail of the five dimensions is public on the About page. This upfront rigour saves CSR teams the time of redoing due diligence project by project.

The CSRD-ready deliverable in five pieces

For each transaction, the file provided contains five pieces structured around ESRS E1-7 requirements. (1) The registry retirement certificate (Gold Standard, Verra, Label Bas-Carbone) with its publicly verifiable unique identifier, proving the credit is retired and can no longer circulate. (2) The Project Design Document (PDD) and annual monitoring/verification reports, audited by an accredited VVB. (3) A contextualised bilingual project sheet (French and English) covering location, operator, methodology, vintage, documented co-benefits. (4) An Arka attestation letter specifying volume, standard, intended use (BVCM contribution) and absence of double counting. (5) An ESRS E1-7 methodological memo explaining how to integrate the credits into the trajectory and communication, ready to insert into your CSRD report.

Current scope: French soil carbon

Our current scope: soil carbon from regenerative agriculture, in partnership with Gaïago, the leading French operator. This is our historical starting point, anchored in France and Europe. The narrative is powerful: we support French farmers through a demanding agronomic transition (cover crops, reduced tillage, rotations, biostimulants), with €30 to €120 per hectare per year of additional income, and documented co-benefits on biodiversity, water and resilience. For a buyer whose communication speaks to consumers or employees sensitive to agriculture and rural territories, this is a narrative that resonates.

A technology-agnostic methodology for the future

Our selection methodology is technology-agnostic. The five dimensions apply regardless of technology: a biochar, agroforestry or DAC project will be assessed against the same criteria as a soil project. This means our catalogue will widen progressively to other verified typologies without methodological rupture. For a buyer starting on soil carbon and wanting to diversify into biochar in 2-3 years, the consistency of the selection process is guaranteed. This agnosticism also lets us stay a neutral partner, able to recommend the right mix for each purchase context.

How to work together

Typical buyer journey. (1) First conversation: we understand your climate strategy (SBTi trajectory, target VCMI tier, CSRD scope, planned annual budget). (2) Portfolio selection: we propose a tailored mix from listed projects, with recommendations on removal/avoidance share and standards. (3) Validation and signing: we provide all pre-purchase documentation (PDD, methodology, CCP status, buffer pool). (4) Purchase and retirement: we handle the operation on the standard's registry and provide evidence within the usual timeframe (typically 2 to 4 weeks). (5) CSRD-ready deliverable: we hand over the five-piece file, ready for your report. All without hidden fees or masked commission.

Key takeaway

If a project is listed on Arka, it passed our review. No visible score at the project level, because a project is either listed or it is not.

In practice

Supporting farmers in a demanding profession: we accompany them through a transition that increases their yields and builds more resilient agriculture.

Frequently asked questions

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