Low Carbon Label

Regulatory framework

A label created by the Ministry of Ecological and Solidarity Transition (MTES) by decree and order of 28 November 2018.

CO2 Certification

Calculation methods validated by the MTES to measure the CO2 stored in trees, soils and wood.

Certification of co-benefits

Validation and measurment of environmental and socio-economic co-benefits by the Label.

Several ways of calculating CO2

Above-ground and root biomass
Carbon contained in litter and soil
Calculation of CO2 in wood products
Substitution effect for materials and energies that emit more CO2 than wood

CO2 emission reductions delivered in advance over 30 years

The duration of the projects is 30 years, wich serves as the basis for calculating the CO2. Certification is issued in advance on the basis of tree growth calculations.

Incorporating the risk of non-permanence

The calculation of sequestered and certified CO2 takes into account health risks (parasites, diseases), storms and any other uncontrollable hazards. A discount is applied from the outset to take account of these contingencies.

Additionality principle

The project must go beyond legal and current obligations, and would not have been possible without private funding.

Measuring environmental integrity

Socio-economic co-benefits (local forestry companies, certification, integration, etc.)
Co-benefits linked to soil preservation and biodiversity (species diversity, etc.)
Consideration of aquatic and rocky environments as appropriate

Allocation of emission reductions to the contributing company

Emission Reductions (the CO2 stored in the forest), once validated by a third party auditor 5 years after planting, are attributed to the contributing company for its carbon balance.

Afforestation

This involves converting previously uncultivated or agricultural land into forest land by planting forest species.

Restoring degraded forests

Reforesting means restoring forests that have been damaged by storms, fire or dieback (parasitic attack, drought, etc.)

Conversion of coppice into high forest

Converting "coppice", a stand system designed for firewood, into a "high forest" encourages the production of timber, thereby storing more carbon in the forest.

Current regions :

Ile-de-France
Centre-Val-de-Loire
Pays de la Loire
Nouvelle-Aquitaine
Hauts-de-France
Bretagne

More projects to come !

A tool to encourage the development of virtuous projects that store additional CO2

The Label encourages good practice and implies sustainable forest management.

The Low Carbon Label promotes environmental and socio-economic co-benefits

The ecosystem services provided by forests are an integral part of these projects, as is the carbon offsetting generated by these projects.

Other methods validated or in the process of being validated by the Ministry

Other methods linked to trees and agriculture have already been developed: Orchard planting, Hedge method. Other methods are due to be published shortly: Agroforestry, preventive forestry against the risk of fire, maintaining continuous cover in forests, etc.

Whenever a tree is involved in a method, we'll be there to put it into action!

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Low Carbon Label

Low Carbon Label certified projects

What is the Low Carbon Label ?

The principles of the Low Carbon Label