Carbon programs: offsetting and insetting for a sustainable future
In the journey toward a more sustainable future, companies can pursue climate action through carbon programs like offsetting and insetting. While both aim to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, they differ in approach, impact, and alignment with business operations.
Offsetting involves purchasing carbon credits from external projects — often in distant locations — that help reduce or avoid carbon emissions. By investing in high-quality offset projects, companies contribute to global climate goals with flexibility, scale, and immediacy. Offset programs can be a straightforward way to engage in climate action, providing support for diverse environmental projects worldwide.
Insetting, however, takes a more direct and integrated approach. Instead of buying into projects that others manage, insetting involves developing carbon avoidance or removal initiatives within a company’s own supply chain or nearby communities. This approach strengthens connections between a company’s operations and its sustainability goals. Through insetting, companies like Helena can drive meaningful change while enhancing supply chain resilience and supporting the communities where they operate.
Helena’s Commitment to Insetting Programs
At Helena, we believe in taking ownership of our environmental impact. Our insetting programs are designed to align directly with our agricultural expertise and relationships with local farmers, allowing us to cultivate sustainable practices close to home. Helena's insetting initiatives are currently being piloted across key crops like corn, silage, alfalfa, rice, cotton, and soon, potatoes. By embedding climate-positive practices within our own network, Helena strengthens its role in promoting sustainable agriculture from the ground up.
High-quality inset projects also ensure rigorous standards similar to those used in offset programs, with verification and a commitment to measurable impact. This model enables us to avoid unnecessary emissions and establish long-term paths toward a lower-carbon future — all while keeping our work relevant to the needs of our industry.
Progress with Purpose
While Helena is also exploring offsetting options, we’re taking a careful and deliberate approach to balance economic viability and climate impact. We believe "it is far better to be right than to be first" in climate mitigation, particularly when asking our customers to make substantial changes to their livelihoods. These pilot projects are multi-year commitments, and once validated, they have the potential to scale rapidly, bringing benefits to all stakeholders involved.
By focusing on insetting while thoughtfully exploring offsets, Helena is building a resilient, future-ready supply chain that aligns with our values and strengthens our role as a trusted partner in sustainable agriculture.