Rainbow officially approved by the ICVCM under its Core Carbon Principles

NewsRainbow officially approved by the ICVCM under its Core Carbon PrinciplesDate05 March 2026AuthorLudovic Chatoux

On this pageOfficially ICVCM approved How we got here What’s ahead

Officially ICVCM approvedWe’re proud to announce that Rainbow has received approval from the Integrity Council for the Voluntary Carbon Market (ICVCM) under its Core Carbon Principles (CCPs).This milestone is a testament to the scientific and methodological rigor we’ve built into every aspect of our work. The ICVCM conducted a thorough assessment of our programme, processes, and registry, ensuring that we meet their strict criteria for governance, emissions impact, and sustainable development.It builds on our full endorsement by ICROA in 2024 and reinforces our position as a leader in high-integrity carbon markets. Rainbow is now one of only nine standards worldwide recognized by the ICVCM, and one of just three focused on high-durability carbon dioxide removal (CDR).As a CCP-Eligible program, our methodologies now enter the ICVCM’s methodology assessment process and once approved, we can issue CCP-labelled credits under that methodology.

How we got hereWe’ve been driven by a clear mission from day one: to bring both scientific rigor and field engineering expertise to carbon markets, alongside a relentless focus on efficiency. And after years of groundwork in industrial decarbonization methodologies, we’ve doubled down on the CDR market. We work with 60 CDR projects and have issued over 11,000 CDR credits, with more than 80% sold.Our technology-enabled processes allow us to issue credits more transparently and efficiently while improving quality.We’ve developed robust methodologies for:

Industrial and distributed biochar production
Mineralization of alkaline materials (ex situ)
Enhanced rock weathering
Bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (in development)
Biobased construction materials

And we’ve invested significant effort in strengthening our scientific approach and certification programme to align with leading international standards, including ICVCM’s Core Carbon Principles and the requirements of the Carbon Removal Certification Framework (CRCF), whose delegated acts were approved in January 2026.As a result, we’re now among the few players globally that will be able to issue CCP-eligible credits for high-durability CDR, after our methodologies are assessed and approved by the Integrity Council, which will give buyers confidence in the integrity of their investments.

What’s aheadThis approval accelerates our ability to expand in the CDR market. In 2026, we will:

Expand our CDR methodologies and scientific capabilities to cover more high-impact emerging technologies.
Streamline certification operations and strengthen our tech infrastructure to better serve projects, auditors, resellers, and buyers at scale.
Deepen collaborations with partners and buyers to embed credits into their climate strategies.

This ICVCM approval is both a crucial market validation and a springboard for the next phase of our growth. We look forward to playing our part in scaling the industry in the years ahead.

"Rainbow joins the growing list of carbon crediting programs that have embraced the Core Carbon Principles as the global reference point for quality by strengthening their governance and program standards to meet the CCP threshold. We applaud their commitment and warmly welcome them as a CCP-Eligible program.”— Annette Nazareth, Chair of the Integrity Council for the Voluntary Carbon Market