# What can a company claim under the VCMI Claims Code (Silver, Gold, Platinum)?

Canonical: https://senseible.earth/answers/vcmi-claims-code-silver-gold-platinum

A VCMI claim says a company is cutting its own emissions on a science-aligned path and also buying high-quality carbon credits for part of what remains. Silver covers 20% to under 60% of remaining emissions, Gold 60% to under 100%, Platinum 100% or more. Four prerequisites come first, and the claim must be independently assured.

## The four prerequisites

Without all four, no tier can be claimed, however many credits you buy.

1. Keep and publicly disclose an annual greenhouse gas inventory covering Scope 1, 2 and 3.
2. Set and publish science-aligned near-term targets and a public commitment to net zero by 2050 at the latest.
3. Show you are on track to meet those near-term targets.
4. Show that your public policy engagement supports the Paris Agreement goals.

## The three tiers

- Silver: credits retired equal to at least 20% and less than 60% of remaining emissions in the claim year.
- Gold: at least 60% and less than 100%.
- Platinum: 100% or more.
- Remaining emissions are the Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions left in that year after your own reductions.

## Which credits count

VCMI requires high-quality credits, which it ties to the ICVCM Core Carbon Principles. Credits must be retired, not just held, and the retirement must be traceable to your company and claim year. A claim does not let you subtract credits from your inventory; you report gross emissions and the credits separately.

## Scope 3 Action claim

VCMI's Scope 3 Action Code of Practice (2024) is a separate, time-limited route for companies behind on their Scope 3 target. It lets them use high-quality credits to address part of the gap, under conditions on their target and their progress. Check the current text before using it, as VCMI has been revising both codes.

## What this means for an Indian MSME

Most MSMEs cannot make a VCMI claim yet, because it needs a published Scope 3 inventory and a science-aligned target. The first two prerequisites are still worth building: an EU buyer making its own VCMI claim will want your measured emissions for its Scope 3.

## Worked example: credits needed per tier

- Remaining emissions in the claim year: 10,000 t CO2e
- Silver: 20% = 2,000 credits, up to 5,999
- Gold: 60% = 6,000 credits, up to 9,999
- Platinum: 100% = 10,000 credits or more

## What Senseible does here

Senseible builds a documented emissions inventory from your invoices and bills, which supports the first VCMI prerequisite. It does not validate VCMI claims, set science-based targets or retire credits for you.

- [Types of voluntary carbon credits](https://senseible.earth/climate-intelligence/carbon-credit-types-voluntary-markets)
- [ICVCM Core Carbon Principles](https://senseible.earth/answers/what-are-icvcm-core-carbon-principles)
- [Can credits count toward an SBTi target?](https://senseible.earth/answers/can-carbon-credits-count-toward-sbti-target)
- [Net zero planning](https://senseible.earth/net-zero)

Sources: [VCMI Claims Code of Practice](https://vcmintegrity.org), [VCMI Scope 3 Action Code of Practice (2024)](https://vcmintegrity.org), [ICVCM Core Carbon Principles](https://icvcm.org)

Last reviewed 2026-10-15. VCMI tiers and the Scope 3 Action claim may be revised; check the current codes before making a claim.