How we select our projects

Pinwheel undertakes a multistage-stage verification process to ensure that any project we select and make available to clients is meaningfully repairing the planet and does so in a way that is consistent with the highest standards of propriety and ethics.

Our selection is driven by

Carbon security

We favour projects that lock carbon away securely and for 100s of years.

Innovation

We believe in backing the biggest impact activities, finding innovative, new ways of doing better.

Additionality

We fund activity only where we're confident our backing will lead to more activity and impact.

Holistic approach

We believe in repairing the planet in the fullest sense - cleaning it up and preserving and enhancing the natural world.

Project rating

Our proprietary project rating system is underpinned by the UK's Oxford University principles of carbon offsetting and take into account the WWF Blueprint.

We are stringent in our process and re-evaluate projects, running them back through our rating system regularly to ensure they continue to meet our strict criteria which mitigates risks, both in terms of provision of impact and also of improper practices.

Swans in lake

Project due diligence

We undertake a series of due diligence steps to establish that our project partner is a fit and proper organisation, is delivering the activities outcomes expected, and does so with proper risk mitigation actions in place.

The multi-stage process comprises the use of public data, third-party tools, and bilateral information. This is an ongoing process throughout our partnership ensuring the highest standards are maintained.

Lake and forest

Impact reporting

As funds flow into Pinwheel and onto projects, we also independently verify that the stated funds have been spent and for their intended purpose, as well as providing clients with proof that the funds reached their destination, detailing inputs, outputs and outcomes.

We work hard to ensure the projects our clients support deliver impact, but in an unpredictable world sometimes things don’t go as planned. We encourage anyone to get in contact, in confidence, with us if they believe we have missed something and/or a project is not delivering as expected.

Explore all our projects

Explore the Pinwheel portfolio and be inspired by the stories of the best climate and biodiversity projects on the planet