Side Hustle School Ep. 3219 - Q&A: “Can I sell carbon-offset checks to small brands?”
Oct 24, 2025
Explore the growing market for affordable carbon offset verification services as concerns about greenwashing rise. Learn how a simple quick-check audit can be designed for small brands that need reassurance without overwhelming effort. Discover strategies for validating demand and setting competitive pricing tiers while keeping the workload under two hours. This engaging discussion emphasizes the importance of testing ideas and adapting based on feedback, paving the way for sustainable side hustles.
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Offset Credibility Problem
- Carbon offsets are widely sold but often lack independent verification and can be over-credited or worthless.
- The Guardian reporting revealed systemic credibility issues that opened demand for verification services.
Caller With Carbon Accounting Background
- Mateo studied carbon accounting during his Sustainability Management Master's and noticed a verification gap for small brands' offsets.
- He asked whether small brands would pay a few hundred dollars for a third-party validation report to avoid greenwashing risk.
Validate Demand And Offer A Packaged Check
- Prove demand first by targeting the pain point of brands fearing negative press for greenwashing claims.
- Offer a packaged 48-hour offset check with a two-page PDF summary and limit work to under two hours per client.