PAS 2060
PAS 2060 was the BSI specification for demonstrating carbon neutrality. It required organizations to quantify greenhouse gas emissions, reduce them where possible, and offset the remaining footprint with verified carbon credits. BSI withdrew PAS 2060 in 2025; ISO 14068-1 now supersedes it.
Published by BSI in 2010 and revised in 2014, PAS 2060 was the most widely used standard for carbon neutrality claims. It applied to organizations, products, services, events, and buildings. The specification set four main requirements: quantification of the carbon footprint according to recognized methods such as the GHG Protocol, development of a Carbon Management Plan that commits to reductions, offsetting of residual emissions with verified carbon credits, and public declaration of the neutrality claim with supporting documentation.
PAS 2060 did not require a specific level of absolute emission reduction before offsetting. That gap is one reason regulators and watchdogs have tightened rules around carbon neutrality claims. The EU now limits the use of "carbon neutral" and similar labels for products, and many companies have shifted from carbon neutrality claims to science-based net zero targets.
BSI stopped verifying new claims against PAS 2060 in 2025. ISO 14068-1:2023, published in November 2023, is the successor standard for carbon neutrality. Historical claims verified under PAS 2060 remain valid for the period they cover, but new claims should follow ISO 14068-1.
Frequently asked questions
What is PAS 2060? +
PAS 2060 was BSI's specification for demonstrating carbon neutrality. It required organizations to quantify emissions, reduce them where possible, and offset residual emissions with verified credits. It has been withdrawn and superseded by ISO 14068-1.
Is PAS 2060 still valid? +
BSI no longer verifies new claims against PAS 2060, which was withdrawn in 2025. Historical verification opinions for past periods remain valid. New carbon neutrality claims should follow ISO 14068-1:2023.
What replaced PAS 2060? +
ISO 14068-1:2023 replaced PAS 2060 as the international standard for carbon neutrality. It strengthens requirements around emission reductions before offsetting and provides clearer guidance for product and organizational claims.
Related terms
Carbon Neutrality
Carbon neutrality means that an organization's net greenhouse gas emissions equal zero, achieved by balancing emitted carbon with an equivalent amount of carbon offsets or removals. Unlike net zero, carbon neutrality does not require deep absolute reductions first and can be achieved primarily through offset purchases.
Net Zero
Net zero means reducing greenhouse gas emissions as close to zero as possible, with any remaining residual emissions balanced by an equivalent amount of carbon removal from the atmosphere. The SBTi Corporate Net-Zero Standard requires at least 90–95% absolute emission reductions before carbon removals can be used.
Carbon Offsets
Carbon offsets are verified emission reduction or removal credits purchased by an organization to compensate for its own greenhouse gas emissions. One carbon offset represents one tonne of CO₂e reduced or removed from the atmosphere through a project elsewhere, such as reforestation, renewable energy deployment, or methane capture.
BSI (British Standards Institution)
BSI is the UK's national standards body. It develops standards, provides certification and training, and publishes the Kitemark. In carbon accounting, BSI is best known for PAS 2060, the withdrawn specification for carbon neutrality, and its successor Carbon Neutrality verification scheme for ISO 14068-1.
SBTi (Science Based Targets initiative)
The Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) is a partnership between CDP, WRI, the UN Global Compact, and WWF that defines and validates corporate greenhouse gas reduction targets consistent with the Paris Agreement goal of limiting warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.
Greenwashing
Greenwashing is the practice of making misleading or unsubstantiated claims about the environmental benefits of a product, service, or corporate practice. It ranges from vague language ('eco-friendly,' 'sustainable') without supporting evidence to selective disclosure that highlights positive actions while concealing negative impacts.