Verification & Validations services

Verification & Validation Services

    Independent data verification and validation services

    Control Union’s verification and validation services enable organisations to verify and validate emissions data, project outcomes and sustainability claims through independent third-party assurance.

    Verification and validation support decision making across both voluntary and regulated markets, as well as contractual or performance related commitments where verified data is increasingly required.

    Clients across the world come to us for support with projects such as carbon credit validation and verification, and greenhouse gas compliance verification.

    What is the difference between verification and validation?

    Verification is the independent assessment of reported historical data against defined requirements.

    Validation is the assessment of projected or future claims before implementation.

    Together, they help organisations demonstrate credibility, improve transparency and support decision-making across both voluntary and regulated markets.

    From regulatory requirements to voluntary market demands, our verification and validation services help businesses strengthen transparency, reduce risk and build confidence in the information they report and share.

    Which verification and validation frameworks do we cover?

    Some of the frameworks and schemes we cover include:

    • Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM)

    • EU Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS & ETS2)

    • ISO 14064-1, ISO 14064-2T

    • GHG Protocol

    • ISAE 3000

    • ISAE 3410

    • CORSIA

    • Article 6 of the Paris Agreement

    • Clean Development Mechanism (CDM)

    When do you need verification and validation?

    Independent verification and validation can help organisations:

    • Ensure compliance for regulatory, commercial, or finance related purposes

    • Strengthen the credibility of emissions and sustainability claims

    • Prepare for regulatory and market requirements

    • Improve confidence in reported data

    • Support customer and stakeholder assurance

    • Reduce the risk of relying on incomplete or weak documentation

    • Demonstrate transparency across products, projects and supply chains

    What’s the difference between regulated and voluntary verification?

    Regulated verification is required to comply with formal legal or regulatory requirements. One of the biggest areas of use is for sustainability-related programmes such as the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS 2) and the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM).

    Voluntary verification is driven by commercial, customer, investor or sustainability objectives, rather than specific regulations. It helps organisations build confidence in the information they report and share, such as emissions reductions claims, product footprint data, supply chain transparency or wider sustainability commitments.

    Voluntary verification

    Control Union’s six-step verification and validation process

    Initial scoping and applicability review

    An initial discussion to understand your objectives, reporting obligations and the scope of the verification or validation required. Many organisations are unsure whether they require validation, verification, or certification. We clarify the standards, frameworks and verification pathways relevant to your circumstances.

    Proposal, scope definition and planning

    Following the initial review, we provide a proposal outlining the scope, standards, timelines and verification approach. This establishes clear expectations around responsibilities, deliverables and verification boundaries before the assessment begins.

    Documentation and data preparation

    Once the scope is agreed, our team works with you to schedule the verification activities and identify the documentation, methodologies and evidence required for assessment. Robust monitoring systems, emissions calculations, reporting processes and traceable records are essential to support an efficient verification process.

    Independent assessment

    Our verification and validation experts conduct an independent assessment of the reported information against the requirements, standards or verification framework. This may involve desk reviews, interviews, evidence gathering and site visits where required. During the process, any clarification requests or corrective actions are discussed and addressed to ensure the reported information can be properly evaluated.

    Review process

    Following the assessment, the findings and report are subject to an independent technical review. This additional level of oversight helps ensure impartiality, consistency and conformity with the applicable requirements before the final outcome is approved.

    Verification opinion or validation outcome

    Once the review process is complete, we provide a verification or validation statement in line with the applicable framework. This provides independent corroboration that the assessed data, claims or project information conforms to the relevant requirements.

    Verification & Validation
    Control Union’s verification and validation services enable organisations to verify and validate emissions data, project outcomes and sustainability claims through independent third-party assurance.

    What we verify

    Verification and validation demand is growing across a range of use cases, especially where organisations need to demonstrate emissions performance, product footprint data or the integrity of a specific claim. Key areas include:

    • Greenhouse gas and emissions-related verification

    • Project-based validation and verification

    • Verification of sustainability or operational performance indicators for regulatory, commercial, or contractual purposes

    • Product and footprint claims

    • Supply chain transparency claims

    • Sector-specific regulatory requirements

    • Customised verification scopes

    Verification and validation in action

    Supporting methane capture in the palm oil sector
    A palm oil producer implemented a methane capture project to recover and reuse methane emissions from palm oil mill effluent. Our role involved supporting the validation and verification process linked to greenhouse gas emissions reductions under frameworks such as ISO 14064-2. This enabled the organisation to independently substantiate emissions reductions claims and support the generation of verified carbon units for use within carbon markets.

    Helping suppliers respond to CBAM requirements
    As the EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) develops, we are supporting an increasing number of in-scope organisations to obtain verified emissions data to reduce reliance on default carbon values and potentially lower import-related costs. We also work with producers outside the EU to enhance their attractiveness to the European market.

    Verifying supply chain transparency for consumer products
    A major supermarket retailer sought independent verification of sustainability and supply chain claims linked to a branded clothing initiative. The objective was to verify the integrity of the supply chain. This enabled the business to strengthen transparency, reduce reputational risk and provide greater confidence to customers and stakeholders.

    Why Control Union?

    Control Union combines independence, practical expertise and a growing global capability to deliver verification and validation services you can rely on.

    Our specialist team provides clear, evidence-based verifications that strengthen the credibility of your data and claims, helping you demonstrate transparency with confidence. We can also support organisations that require periodic confirmation of specific sustainability metrics.

    We help you understand the difference between certification, validation and verification, and what you need for your specific circumstances. This enables you to move forward with clarity and certainty.

    Whether supporting emissions reporting, product footprint claims or customised verification requests, we focus on delivering outcomes that are robust, relevant and aligned with how your business operates.

    Verification delivered across European markets, with active capability extending into Asia, Americas and Middle East.

    Verification is only as strong as the data behind it. Where appropriate, we help you understand any gaps in monitoring and reporting processes, so you are better prepared when formal verification takes place. Improved data systems can also help you prepare for external assurance requirements linked to regulatory, customer, or contractual expectations.

    Understand what applies to you
    Whether you are preparing for a regulatory requirement, looking to verify a sustainability claim, or exploring how validation and verification fit into a wider project, Control Union can help you understand the best options and the scope of services we offer.

    FAQ

    Verification is the independent assessment of reported historical data against defined requirements or standards. Validation is the assessment of projected or future claims before implementation. In simple terms, validation looks forward, while verification looks back at what has already taken place.

    Certification assesses compliance against a recognised standard or scheme and typically results in the issue of a certificate. Verification focuses on independently confirming the accuracy and credibility of reported data, claims or project outcomes against defined requirements. The outcome of a verification process is usually a verification opinion or statement rather than a certificate.

    Independent verification may be required for regulatory compliance, customer or investor requirements, carbon market participation, sustainability reporting or commercial claims. Increasingly, organisations seek verification to support emissions reporting, product footprint claims, supply chain transparency and regulatory frameworks such as CBAM and EU ETS.

    Control Union supports verification and validation activities across a range of international standards, frameworks and regulatory requirements, including ISO 14064-1, ISO 14064-2, ISO 14065, GHG Protocol, CBAM, EU ETS 2, Gold Standard and Verra/VCS, alongside customised verification scopes where appropriate.

    Verification timelines depend on the scope, complexity and readiness of the project or reporting data. Factors such as the quality of documentation, data availability and the applicable framework can all affect the duration of the process. Following an initial review, Control Union can provide a more detailed timeline based on your specific requirements.

    The cost of verification varies depending on the scope, standards involved, complexity of the assessment and the volume of data requiring review. Requirements linked to regulatory frameworks, multi-site operations or complex emissions calculations may require more extensive assessment activities. Control Union provides tailored proposals based on the specific needs of each project or organisation.

    How can we help you?

    Tell us what you need verified, and we’ll match you with the right team and accreditation scope.

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