ISO 14060
The Net Zero ISO Showdown: 14060 vs 14064 vs 14068
Are you thinking about going green and getting certified or even verified? You may already have an ISO standard, or indeed, more than one. And you may have also stumbled across a few Net Zero ISO standards that all sound like yet another set of robot names.
We are here to help; we’re going to break down the jargon and help you figure out which one best fits your sustainability goals.
What's what?
| ISO 14060 – The Big Picture | |
|---|---|
| Focus | Environmental declarations and claims |
| Use case | Communicating the environmental impact of products, services, or organisations |
| Pros | Great for marketing and transparency |
| Cons | Relies on the 14064 framework to get to your net zero numbers and is not yet published – expected late 2025 |
| Requirements | Clear documentation, evidence-based claims, and alignment with other ISO standards |
| ISO 14064 – The Carbon Accountant | |
|---|---|
| Focus | Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reporting and verification |
| Use case | Tracking, reporting, and verifying your carbon footprint |
| Pros | Highly detailed and reliable; perfect for audits and compliance |
| Cons | Can be complex and data heavy |
| Requirements | Digs into the detail of Scope 1, 2 and the 15 (yes, 15!) subcategories of scope 3, inventory management plans, GHG reports, validation protocols and an uncertainty risk assessment |
| ISO 14068 – The Net-Zero Hero | |
|---|---|
| Focus | Achieving and proving carbon neutrality |
| Use case | Organisations aiming for net-zero emissions by 2050 |
| Pros | Globally recognised, rigorous, and future-proof |
| Cons | Requires (expensive) carbon offsets and removals |
| Requirements | Science-based targets, verified reductions, transparent reporting, and a “Reduce, Remove, Offset” hierarchy |
Why It Matters
Choosing the right standard isn’t just about ticking boxes, it’s about credibility, impact, and future-proofing your business. Whether you’re shouting about your eco-friendly products, tracking emissions, or going full net-zero, there is an ISO for you.
What About My Existing ISO Management Systems?
Many organisations treading the path to net zero will already have some kind of certification in place and without doubt, whichever path chosen, your net zero ambitions can easily be dovetailed into these existing systems.
Head-to-Head Comparison
| Feature | ISO 14060 | ISO 14064 | ISO 14068 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best For | Marketing & transparency | Compliance & audits | Net-zero strategy |
| Complexity | Medium to high | Medium to high | High |
| Verification or Certification? | Certification | Verification | Certification |
| Offsetting Allowed? | No specific obligation | Yes | Only after reductions! |
ISO 14060 is going to become the new normal… it will be ISO 9000 for carbon
So, What’s The Way Forward?
Obviously, there is no “one-size-fits-all” so we may need a discussion about this, but following a number of conversations we have had with an number of the larger assessment agencies certified and verified to award these standards, we would currently recommend:
- Obtaining ISO 14064 first
- Followed by a transition to ISO 14060, once published
Ready to up your sustainability game - let’s get going!
You don’t have to navigate the ISO maze alone! Whether you’re a start-up or a seasoned enterprise, we’ll help you choose the right path, prep your documentation, and smash your sustainability goals.