PCS CLM 001 Claims and Labelling Guidance_v1.0
Document Control
Document identification
Document code: PCS-CLM-001
Title: Claims and Labelling Guidance
Scope: Rules on permitted/prohibited claims, label usage, minimum disclosure fields, and marketing/communications integrity for PCS credits and labels
Crediting outcome: Not applicable (guidance)
Version history and change log
Table DC-1. Revision history
Version
Date
Status
Summary of changes
Prepared by
Approved by
v1.0
TBD
Draft
Initial release for public consultation
PCS Secretariat
TBD
Superseded versions
No superseded versions for v1.0.
Governance note on versioning and archiving
Only the latest approved version of this Guidance shall be used. Superseded versions shall be archived and retained for traceability and audit purposes. Printed or downloaded copies are uncontrolled; stakeholders must refer to the PCS-published version as the authoritative current version.
Chapter 1 - Community summary
1.1 What this Guidance is
This Guidance explains what you may and may not claim when you reference PCS credits, PCS projects, PCS labels, and PCS programme status. It sets minimum evidence requirements so that claims are verifiable, comparable, and not misleading.
1.2 Why this matters
Most misuse in carbon markets is not bad accounting; it is bad communications. Misleading claims (for example, implying a product is “carbon neutral” without robust boundaries) can undermine trust in the entire programme. This Guidance creates clear, simple rules for credible claims.
1.3 Who this applies to
Actor
What they must do
Project Proponents
Use only PCS labels recorded in the PCS Registry; ensure public communications match project status and verified outcomes.
Account Holders / Buyers
Make claims only with a valid retirement record and correct quantities/vintages; do not overstate what the credits mean.
Brokers / Intermediaries
Do not market credits with labels not recorded in the PCS Registry; ensure listings and advertisements include required evidence fields.
Marketplaces / Platforms
Display PCS label status accurately and keep registry links; remove or correct misleading listings when instructed.
Any third party communications
Do not use PCS name/labels in a way that implies endorsement or properties not evidenced in the registry.
1.4 What you can do vs what you cannot do
Permitted (if evidence is provided)
Prohibited or restricted
State that you retired a specific quantity of PCS credits with a defined vintage and retirement record reference.
Claim “carbon neutrality” of a product/organisation as guaranteed by PCS, or without robust independently substantiated boundaries and accounting.
Say that credits support a named PCS project and have been retired in the PCS Registry.
Describe credits as ITMOs or claim a corresponding adjustment has been applied unless that status is recorded and evidenced.
Use labels like CORSIA-eligible or Article 6 authorised only when those labels are recorded in the PCS Registry for the specific units.
Claim “UN-approved” or “government-backed” unless the claim is specific, documented, and verifiable for the units in question.
Publish the project ID, quantity, vintage, and retirement record/certificate reference when making a claim.
Use PCS logos/branding in a way that implies PCS endorsement of a company, product, or financial instrument.
1.5 Common scenarios
Scenario 1: A company buys credits but does not retire them yet, and wants to announce the purchase. Outcome: You may state you purchased PCS credits and identify the project, but you must not claim offsetting or emissions neutralisation until retirement is recorded.
Scenario 2: A company retires credits and wants to claim climate impact. Outcome: Permitted if you cite quantity, vintage, retirement record reference, and the emissions period against which you are applying the retirement.
Scenario 3: A broker lists credits as “CORSIA eligible”. Outcome: Only permitted if the specific units carry the CORSIA-eligible label in the PCS Registry and the listing references that label status.
Scenario 4: A buyer claims “corresponding adjustment applied”. Outcome: Prohibited unless the relevant CA status is evidenced and recorded for those units.
1.6 What happens if you break the rules
Misuse type
Typical PCS response
Incorrect quantities, vintage, or retirement status
Correction notice and requirement to amend public statements; potential account review.
Misuse of labels (CORSIA / Article 6 / CA) without registry status
Delisting requirement, public correction, suspension of labelling rights where necessary.
Repeated misleading marketing
Escalation to sanctions and participant removal; publication of enforcement notice where appropriate.
Chapter 2 - Purpose
This Guidance defines permitted claims, prohibited or restricted claims, labelling rules, and minimum evidence requirements for any public or commercial statement referencing PCS credits, PCS labels, PCS projects, or PCS programme status.
Chapter 3 - Scope
This Guidance applies to all project proponents, buyers, brokers, intermediaries, marketplaces/platforms, and any party making public statements or commercial listings referencing PCS credits or PCS programme status.
Chapter 4 - Label taxonomy and registry control
PCS maintains a controlled set of labels. Labels shall only be applied where objective criteria are met and recorded in the PCS Registry for the specific units to which the label relates.
Label
Meaning
Minimum evidence to use the label in communications
PCS Issued
Credits issued under PCS following successful verification and completion of issuance gates.
Registry unit identifiers and issuance record link/reference.
PCS Retired
Credits irrevocably retired in the PCS Registry with a public retirement record.
Retirement record/certificate reference with quantity and vintage.
CORSIA-eligible
Credits meet applicable CORSIA eligibility conditions and are labelled accordingly in the PCS Registry.
CORSIA label status in registry for the specific units and any required supporting disclosures.
Article 6 authorised
Host Party authorisation is evidenced by an official instrument and recorded in the PCS Registry for the specific units.
Authorisation reference and registry label status for the units.
Corresponding adjustment applied
Host Party confirmation and accounting evidence exists and is recorded for the units.
CA status in registry plus reference to the confirmation/evidence record.
Chapter 5 - Minimum evidence requirements
Any claim referencing PCS credits shall, as a minimum, include: (a) PCS project identifier; (b) vintage/monitoring period; (c) quantity; and (d) a retirement record or certificate reference where the claim relates to offsetting/neutralisation.
Any claim referencing CORSIA or Article 6 shall reference the specific label status recorded in the PCS Registry and the evidence type supporting that status.
Claim type
Minimum fields that must be disclosed
Purchase/holding claim (not retired)
Project ID; quantity; intended use statement; statement that credits are not yet retired (if applicable).
Retirement / offsetting claim
Project ID; vintage; quantity; retirement record/certificate reference; period of emissions the retirement is applied against.
CORSIA or Article 6 claim
All retirement fields (if retired) plus label status as recorded in registry; authorisation/CA reference where applicable.
Chapter 6 - Permitted claims (examples)
The following are examples of permitted claims, subject to the evidence requirements in Chapter 4.
Permitted claim example
Conditions
We retired X PCS carbon credits (vintage YYYY) against our reported emissions for the period YYYY.
Requires retirement record reference and disclosure of quantity and vintage.
These credits support [project name] and have been retired in the PCS Registry.
Requires project ID and retirement record reference.
We purchased X PCS credits from [project], which we intend to retire against our emissions for period YYYY.
Must not imply offsetting/neutralisation prior to retirement; include project ID and quantity.
Chapter 7 - Prohibited or restricted claims
Claims shall not imply that PCS guarantees “carbon neutrality” of products or organisations. If a party uses neutralisation language, it must be supported by clear accounting boundaries, methods, and independent substantiation beyond PCS credit issuance.
Claims shall not describe credits as ITMOs or claim that a corresponding adjustment has been applied unless the relevant status is evidenced and recorded for the specific units.
Claims shall not describe credits as “UN-approved” or “government-backed” unless the claim is specific, documented, and verifiable for the units in question.
Restricted phrase / theme
Why it is restricted
What to do instead
Carbon neutral / net zero (as guaranteed by PCS)
PCS issues credits; it does not certify corporate/product neutrality.
Use precise language: “retired X credits against emissions for period Y” and disclose boundaries in your own reporting.
ITMO / Paris-authorised (without registry status)
Article 6 status is unit-specific and must be recorded.
Use the registry label wording and cite the label status for the units.
Government-backed / UN-approved
Often misleading without specific legal basis.
If applicable, cite the exact instrument and scope; otherwise do not use.
Chapter 8 - Marketing, branding, and disclosure rules
Use of the PCS name, labels, and logos shall not mislead as to programme status or eligibility. PCS may maintain branding rules and may restrict logo use to prevent implied endorsement.
PCS may require pre-clearance of high-risk claims, including those referencing CORSIA, Article 6 authorisation, corresponding adjustments, or any statement likely to be interpreted as a guarantee of outcomes beyond credit retirement.
Chapter 9 - Misuse, enforcement, and remedies
PCS may issue corrective action notices, require public correction, suspend accounts, revoke labelling rights, and require delisting of misleading advertisements or listings.
Repeated or material misuse may result in participant removal and publication of a notice of enforcement action.
Chapter 10 - Recordkeeping
Parties making PCS-related claims shall retain records supporting their claims, including purchase documentation, retirement records, public communications, and any evidence referenced for special labels. Records should be retained for a period consistent with PCS programme record retention rules.