Three US companies, Rubicon Carbon, Freepoint Commodities, and Imperative Global, have formed a partnership to develop and finance nature-based carbon offset projects worth $500 million. These projects have the potential to generate over 100 million carbon credits. The collaboration aims to bring large-scale nature-based carbon offset projects to the market and make a significant impact in the Global South. Rubicon Carbon, backed by TPG Rise, helps large companies meet their decarbonization goals and the increasing demand for high-quality carbon credits. Freepoint Commodities is a global commodities merchant that offers market solutions to players in the voluntary carbon market. Imperative Global specializes in carbon project development and the generation of high-quality credits. Together, they aim to promote nature-based carbon offset projects that can produce over 100 million credits. The voluntary carbon market (VCM) was valued at $2 billion in 2022, with projections predicting it to reach $250 billion by 2050. The demand for voluntary carbon credits, also known as carbon offsets, is expected to grow exponentially. However, the issue of quality remains a concern in the market, particularly regarding nature-based carbon offset credits. The partnership between the three companies seeks to address this concern by driving quality within the VCM and providing the necessary capital for large projects. Rubicon Carbon has been focused on working with project developers that implement high-quality carbon projects. Their collaboration with Imperative reflects this commitment and aims to set new market standards. Chris Brown, the Head of Rubicon Carbon Capital, stated that the partnership enables them to “help progress the VCM through a focus on integrity and quality.” Freepoint Commodities shares the same viewpoint and intends to support Imperative in becoming a market leader in the space. By doing so, they can expand the range of products and services they offer to customers. The investments made by these companies in Imperative’s carbon projects aim to produce significant climate, biodiversity, and community benefits. Imperative’s carbon project portfolio focuses on large-scale agroforestry, mangrove restoration, and native-species reforestation in Latin America, Africa, and Asia. Scobie Mackay, CEO of Imperative, emphasized the importance of their partnership with Rubicon and Freepoint, stating that they can deliver scale and address the issue of quality at the source. The strategic alliance aims to create more than 100 million tons of carbon credits certified by Verra and Gold Standard. These credits not only reduce carbon emissions but also contribute to sustainable development goals. By combining their expertise, resources, and commitment to quality and integrity, the collaboration between these companies seeks to meet the demand for reliable offsets and the critical need for authentic and effective nature-based carbon offset projects.
