MITECO carbon offsetting: how to get the Compenso badge

With your footprint registered and your reduction plan active, you can take the final step: offset the emissions you cannot yet eliminate. This earns you the Compenso badge — the highest level of commitment recognised by MITECO.

Offsetting means acquiring CO2 absorption units from verified projects (typically forestry) to neutralise all or part of your carbon footprint. It is always a complement to reduction, never a replacement.

Types of offset projects

National forestry projects (Spain)

Reforestation and sustainable forest management projects registered in section b) of the MITECO registry.

Feature	Detail
Compenso badge	Yes — the only route to the official badge
Official traceability	Full record on the MITECO portal
Guarantee buffer	Protection against forest loss from force majeure
Example	”Galicia Rexenera” projects (Asociación Forestal de Galicia)

This is the recommended option if you need official government recognition.

International projects (CER credits)

Renewable energy or other verified mechanisms with internationally recognised credits (CER — Certified Emission Reductions).

Feature	Detail
Compenso badge	No — does not generate the MITECO badge
Valid for	Voluntary offsetting, corporate communications, ESG/EINF reporting
Cost	Lower per tonne than national projects
Certification time	Approximately three weeks after confirmation

A good option if you want to offset at a lower cost for your ESG report without needing the official badge.

Prerequisites

Before offsetting, confirm that you have:

1. Your carbon footprint registered in section a) of the registry (Calculo badge).
2. An active reduction plan (Reduzco badge).

Step by step

1. Choose the project and tonnage

Dcycle presents the available projects with a technical sheet:

• Location and project type.
• Available absorptions (in tCO2e).
• Cost per tonne.

You can offset your entire footprint or just a portion. The minimum is 1 tonne of CO2e.

2. Provide your organisation’s details

To prepare the transfer documentation, you will need:

• Full legal name of the entity receiving the absorption rights.
• Tax ID (CIF).
• Name and national ID of the legal representative (does not have to be the CEO — any person with signing authority).
• Representative’s role/title.
• Contact email.

3. Sign the Joint Transfer Declaration

The project promoter prepares a “Joint Transfer Declaration” (Declaración conjunta de traspaso) that both parties must sign: the transferor (project promoter) and the recipient (your organisation).

Dcycle coordinates this step. You receive the PDF for signature and return it.

4. The promoter registers the transfer with MITECO

Once signed, the promoter registers the transfer of absorption units on the ministry’s portal. An official transfer code is generated (format: seven digits preceded by the letter “c”, e.g. c0001234).

5. Apply for the offsetting registration

With the transfer code, a compensation registration form is submitted in section c) of the registry. This links the acquired absorptions to your registered footprint.

6. Receive the Compenso badge

Your badge is updated to include Compenso. The percentage of footprint offset is reflected on the MITECO website and on your registration certificate.

Required documentation

For the transfer

Document	Who prepares it
Transfer request form	The project promoter
Joint declaration of conformity	Signed by transferor and recipient
Promoter’s responsible declaration	The promoter (confirms the project is in good condition)

For the compensation

Document	Who prepares it
Compensation request form	The organisation offsetting
Transfer code	Generated by MITECO after the transfer

Dcycle handles all coordination with the project promoter. You only sign the declaration and provide your representative’s details.

Guarantee buffer

Forestry projects are subject to natural risks (fires, pests) that can affect the forest and its absorptions. MITECO protects registered offsets with a guarantee buffer:

• If the loss is due to force majeure, the buffer backs the absorptions and your offset remains valid.
• If the loss is not force majeure, the absorptions may be annulled and the offset could lose its validity.

This mechanism provides additional security against the inherent impermanence of forest-based sinks.

Typical timeline

Phase	Estimated time
Project selection and quotation	1–3 days
Preparation and signing of the Joint Declaration	3–7 days
Transfer registration at MITECO	1–3 weeks
Compensation registration and badge issuance	2–4 weeks
Total (national projects)	4–8 weeks

For international projects (CER), certification typically takes about three weeks after confirmation.

How Dcycle helps

Dcycle	Your team
Presents verified projects with technical sheets and pricing	Chooses the project and tonnage
Coordinates with the project promoter	Provides legal representative details
Sends the Joint Declaration ready for signature	Signs and returns the PDF
Tracks the transfer and registration with MITECO	Uses the badge in corporate communications

For more details on the offsetting process, see the official MITECO offsetting page.

Common questions

Can I offset only part of my footprint? Yes. The minimum is 1 tCO2e. The offset percentage appears on the MITECO website and your certificate.

Who signs the Joint Transfer Declaration? A person authorised to legally represent your organisation. It does not have to be the CEO — anyone with sufficient signing authority.

Can I use multiple projects to offset the same footprint? Yes. You can offset through separate transfers from different projects.

What happens if the forest project suffers a fire? MITECO’s guarantee buffer backs offsets against force majeure events. If the loss is not force majeure, the absorptions may be annulled.

Is there a deadline to offset an already-registered footprint? No. There is no time limit.

Does the Compenso badge count for emissions trading? No. Under Royal Decree 214/2025, offsetting is not valid for the annual obligation to surrender emission allowances under Law 1/2005.

What is the difference between transfer, compensation, and cancellation? Transfer: movement of absorption units from one holder to another. Compensation: cancellation linked to the official recognition of offsetting a registered footprint. Cancellation: use of absorptions for purposes other than offsetting a registered footprint (no official recognition).