​​Region Zero: Building a Marketplace for Trusted Climate Action​

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 

Region Zero sets out to rebuild trust in voluntary climate action. The project is built on a clear and fundamental observation: In the voluntary emissions market, climate action exists, capital exists, but trust does not. While many European companies are under pressure to demonstrate credible climate engagement, the voluntary carbon market has failed to provide solutions that are transparent and aligned with rising stakeholder expectations. As a result, companies face growing reputational and legal risks when communicating climate action, even when their intentions are good. 

The credibility crisis is driven by structural problems on both sides of the market. On the supply side, many high-quality climate projects struggle to access corporate buyers. Project developers often create real environmental impact but face challenges related to financing, certification complexity, and limited visibility on existing platforms. On the demand side, sustainability-driven firms require CO₂ certificates to address emissions and meet stakeholder expectations, but lack trust in the existing market offerings. International platforms are perceived as intransparent, difficult to verify, and are associated with greenwashing. 

Goal 

Region Zero believes that trust can be rebuilt by changing how climate action works. Our goal is to become Europe’s most trusted platform for transparent climate projects that people can actually verify. We help companies communicate sustainability with confidence by connecting them to high-quality, regional climate projects that have been carefully verified. Instead of vague sustainability claims or supporting faraway projects, Region Zero focuses on real, local impact that companies can really prove. 

Methodology 

The project followed an iterative approach that combined desk research with customer and expert interviews. Across the interviews, sustainability managers and experts pointed to three key insights: First, companies cannot simply stop climate action, even as credibility risks increase. Second, emissions remain unavoidable for many organizations during transition phases. Third, there is a clear willingness to pay for climate solutions that are regional, transparent, and credible. These insights shaped the positioning of Region Zero as a platform that reconnects climate projects with corporate demand in a credible and trustworthy way. 

Results 

We propose Europe’s first regional-only climate marketplace, designed to directly connect companies with verified climate projects. The platform curates a portfolio of high-integrity projects such as moorland restoration, reforestation or agroforestry. 

A central element of the offering is transparency by design. Each project is accompanied by a “Verified Dossier” that documents project methodology, baselines, impact calculations, verification steps, and supporting evidence in a non-technical format. This enables companies to make climate claims that are defensible under public scrutiny. 

Region Zero operates as a two-sided digital marketplace. On the demand side, the primary target customers are European companies with strong sustainability ambitions, high public visibility, or regulatory exposure. These include “born-green” brands as well as risk-aware incumbents seeking legally secure and safe climate solutions. On the supply side, the platform serves regional climate project developers who require access to corporate buyers, and simplified certification. 

Revenue is generated through a two-part pricing model. First, Region Zero earns a transaction-based commission on certificates traded via the platform. Second, a fixed fee is charged for the Verified Dossier, reflecting the due diligence and documentation work required to make projects audit-ready. This model is scalable and aligned with a willingness to pay for quality, transparency, and regulatory safety. 

The result of the project is a clearly defined business plan that balances purpose with economic viability. The concept lays the foundation for a scalable marketplace that turns growing demand and trust expectations into a competitive advantage. 

Cooperation Partner 

• ​​Region Zero, Student Start-Up​ 

​​Contact Person​ 

• ​​x​ 

Student Team 

• Moritz Walker 

• Janis Hug 

• Bela Komoßa 

• Sebastian Tiefenthaler 

• Alexander Höfer 

Project Manager 

• ​​​Diana Lauer​ 

• ​Thomas Pannermayr 

• Marco Masia