The Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) recommends Beyond Value Chain Mitigation (BVCM) as the fourth step in ambitious corporate climate strategies. The Global Returns Project (GRP) has been delivering BVCM to partners since 2020, at no cost.
BVCM is increasingly recognised as a critical part of credible corporate climate strategies. Defined by the SBTi as the voluntary funding of climate and nature solutions outside a company’s direct operations or supply chain, BVCM offers a way for businesses to go further than cutting their own emissions. By investing in high-quality mitigation projects outside of their own value chains, companies can contribute to global stability, reduce systemic environmental risks, and strengthen resilience in the face of escalating climate impacts.
The concept emerged alongside a growing recognition that even the most ambitious decarbonisation pathways left residual emissions in the near term, and waiting on future reductions alone would not be sufficient. Thus, BVCM became a call to action for businesses to take responsibility for their broader environmental impact – not only within their own boundaries, but within the global systems on which they depend.
Over the past five years, the landscape has shifted dramatically. Net zero targets have become central to corporate sustainability agendas, and many carbon offsetting solutions, while still widespread, have faced growing scrutiny over quality and credibility. Net zero strategies have evolved, with growing emphasis on nature-based solutions, biodiversity protection, and funding research and innovation to accelerate systemic change. At the same time, scientific consensus and market guidance have moved towards integrated approaches that tackle the twin crises of climate change and biodiversity loss together, which is where GRP’s portfolio of charities excels.
GRP has offered a strategy for tackling broader environmental impact long before BVCM entered mainstream corporate language. Since its launch in 2020, GRP’s mission has been simple but ambitious: GRP offers a rigorously assessed, expertly monitored portfolio at no cost, making high-impact, low-risk climate and nature action accessible to any business. Twice a year, partners receive impact reports detailing both their quantitative and qualitative impact, including the number of acres protected, tonnes of CO₂ stored, and trees restored, as well as powerful, human-centred stories that can engage employees, clients, and stakeholders alike.
The work of GRP’s portfolio of charities spans over 85 countries and addresses the world’s most pressing environmental challenges. It funds nonprofit-led initiatives that range from large-scale tropical forest protection to marine protected area creation, from regenerative agriculture to environmental law enforcement, and from habitat restoration to cutting-edge conservation data systems. Each charity is selected through a rigorous multi-stage process and reviewed biannually by an independent panel of climate scientists (GRP’s Technical Advisory Board).
For businesses, partnering with GRP as a BVCM provider offers a credible and immediate way to meet the SBTi’s Step 4 recommendation. While BVCM is currently voluntary, growing recognition of its role in closing the near-term emissions gap and addressing systemic environmental risks suggests it will become a mainstream element of credible net-zero strategies, and soon. BVCM can help companies manage systemic risks and strengthen resilience, while positioning them ahead of evolving standards. Acting now enables businesses to demonstrate leadership, build reputational advantage, and secure long-term value by protecting the global systems on which they rely.
The solution is already here, already assessed, and already delivering impact. Partner with the Global Returns Project to adopt a BVCM strategy – GRP makes it easy for your business to lead the way.