VodafoneThree launches UK carbon removals RFP
VodafoneThree opens UK carbon removal procurement for 24,000 tonnes
VodafoneThree has launched a request for proposals to buy 24,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent removals from UK-based projects. The company is working with Abatable to run the procurement process. Projects must deliver removals between 2027 and 2030, with selections expected in the fourth quarter of 2026.
The telecoms business has opened the RFP to both nature-based and engineered removal pathways. Developers working on afforestation, soil carbon, nature restoration, biochar, bioenergy with carbon capture and storage, and direct air capture with storage can all apply. A separate track focuses specifically on new woodland creation under the government-backed Woodland Carbon Code.
This procurement forms part of VodafoneThree's wider climate work following the merger of Vodafone UK and Three UK. Vodafone has said its UK operations are targeting net zero by 2027. In its financial year 2025, Vodafone UK reported carbon savings of 2,550,813 tonnes of CO₂e from operational reductions. The merged entity plans to publish its first combined sustainability report in 2026.
Two procurement tracks with differing scope and standards
The RFP runs on two parallel tracks. Track one covers a broad range of removal methods, provided they meet requirements on integrity, durability, and delivery timelines. Track two is limited to woodland carbon projects that comply with the Woodland Carbon Code, a UK standard for verifying emissions reductions from new forests.
Abatable will screen and evaluate submissions through its procurement platform. Assessment criteria include project location, measurement reporting and verification systems, and the ability to deliver removals annually through to 2030. VodafoneThree has also said it is looking for projects that deliver biodiversity, nature restoration, and social impact benefits alongside carbon removal.
Developers can also indicate interest in delivering removals between 2031 and 2033. This optional window allows project teams with longer development timelines to flag future capacity. In addition, VodafoneThree has asked applicants to specify whether their projects could benefit from connectivity, internet of things, or data services to strengthen measurement and verification processes.
UK-only requirement aligns with policy direction on domestic removals
The geographic restriction to UK projects is significant. By limiting procurement to domestic removals, VodafoneThree is channeling demand toward the UK carbon removal market at a time when policy is shifting to recognize removals within national compliance mechanisms.
The UK government has confirmed its intention to integrate greenhouse gas removals into the UK Emissions Trading Scheme. According to the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, legislation is expected by the end of 2028. Under the proposed rules, only removals occurring in the UK will be eligible. Projects must also demonstrate storage durability of at least 200 years.
This policy direction creates a potential long-term market for high-quality UK removals. However, the timeline for legislative integration means that near-term procurement activity, such as VodafoneThree's RFP, operates outside formal compliance frameworks. Instead, these purchases support voluntary corporate climate commitments and help establish commercial proof points for removal projects ahead of regulatory integration.
What the procurement means for UK removal project developers
For developers, the RFP represents a concrete opportunity to commercialize projects that meet strict standards on durability and verification. The volume is modest compared with international corporate buyers, but the combination of UK geography, multiple pathways, and explicit co-benefit requirements makes it a notable signal for the domestic market.
Projects need to demonstrate credible measurement, reporting, and verification systems. VodafoneThree's emphasis on MRV reflects broader market expectations that removals must be quantifiable, independently verified, and transparent. Developers should be prepared to show how their monitoring systems function and how they ensure data integrity over time.
The focus on co-benefits also matters. VodafoneThree has stated that it wants projects delivering biodiversity, nature restoration, and social impact alongside carbon removal. Consequently, developers working on nature-based solutions may need to articulate how their projects contribute to wider environmental and community outcomes. For engineered removals, the ability to integrate connectivity or data services could provide a differentiator in the evaluation process.
The optional 2031 to 2033 window offers flexibility for projects still in development. Developers with longer lead times can signal future capacity without needing to commit to near-term delivery. This creates a pathway for early-stage projects to engage with corporate buyers and build commercial relationships ahead of full-scale deployment.
Key facts about the VodafoneThree carbon removal RFP
- VodafoneThree is procuring 24,000 tonnes of CO₂e removals from UK-based projects deliverable between 2027 and 2030.
- The RFP includes two tracks: one open to multiple removal methods, and one limited to Woodland Carbon Code projects.
- Abatable is managing the procurement platform, with project selections expected in the fourth quarter of 2026.
- Projects must meet requirements on integrity, durability, measurement, reporting, and verification, and demonstrate annual delivery capacity through 2030.
- An optional window for 2031 to 2033 allows developers to indicate longer-term pipeline capacity.
- VodafoneThree has emphasized co-benefits including biodiversity, nature restoration, and social impact, and has asked whether projects could benefit from connectivity or data services.
- The UK government plans to integrate removals into the UK Emissions Trading Scheme by the end of 2028, limited to UK projects with at least 200 years of storage durability.
Why this matters for businesses working on carbon reduction
This procurement is one of several indicators that corporate demand for high-quality carbon removals is becoming more structured and more specific. VodafoneThree's approach differs from traditional offset purchases in several ways. First, it prioritizes UK geography, which aligns with emerging policy on domestic removals. Second, it requires projects to meet high standards on durability and verification. Third, it explicitly seeks co-benefits beyond carbon, reflecting a broader shift toward nature-positive and socially responsible climate action.
For UK businesses developing their own climate strategies, the VodafoneThree RFP offers a useful reference point. Companies working toward net zero targets increasingly need to account for residual emissions that cannot be eliminated through operational reductions alone. In those cases, high-quality carbon removals become a necessary part of the climate plan. However, not all removals are equivalent, and the market is moving toward greater scrutiny of durability, additionality, and verification.
Businesses should consider how their carbon reduction plans align with evolving policy and market expectations. The UK government's intention to integrate removals into the Emissions Trading Scheme suggests that removals will play a formal role in compliance frameworks within the next few years. In the meantime, voluntary procurement activity such as VodafoneThree's helps establish market standards and creates commercial opportunities for removal projects that meet those standards.
For companies participating in public sector supply chains, carbon reduction and credible removal procurement may also become relevant to tender requirements. Procurement Policy Note 06/21 already requires suppliers to publish carbon reduction plans and demonstrate progress toward net zero. As policy develops, buyers may begin to distinguish between conventional offsets and durable removals, particularly where removals contribute to UK environmental and economic priorities.
There are also practical considerations around cost and availability. Carbon removal projects, particularly engineered solutions such as direct air capture, remain expensive compared with conventional offsets. Nature-based removals can be more affordable, but supply is limited and projects must meet rigorous standards to ensure permanence. Businesses should plan for rising costs and longer procurement timelines as demand for high-quality removals increases.
Where to find more information on UK carbon removals and policy
The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero has published detailed guidance on the government's plans to integrate removals into the UK Emissions Trading Scheme. This includes technical criteria on durability, verification, and geographic eligibility. Businesses can review the consultation documents and policy updates on the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero website.
The Woodland Carbon Code sets out the UK standard for verifying carbon sequestration from new woodland projects. Developers and buyers can access the code, guidance, and project registry through the Woodland Carbon Code website.
For businesses working on carbon reduction plans for public sector supply chains, the government's Procurement Policy Note 06/21 provides the framework and requirements. Further detail is available on the gov.uk PPN 06/21 page.
At SBS, we support businesses with carbon reporting and net zero program development, including guidance on carbon removal procurement and alignment with UK policy. We also provide training on carbon measurement and reporting through the SBS Academy, helping teams build the skills needed to manage climate commitments effectively.