Plan Vivo Foundation
Plan Vivo Foundation is a Scottish-registered charity operating a dual certification system — PV Climate (carbon) and PV Nature (biodiversity) — for high-integrity, community-led climate and nature projects across 24+ countries, generating revenue through certification fees and certificate transactions.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1990
- HeadquartersEdinburgh, United Kingdom
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Plan Vivo Foundation does
Plan Vivo Foundation is a Scottish-registered charity (SC040151) founded in 1994, headquartered in Edinburgh, that operates a dual-standard certification system for high-integrity, community-led climate and nature projects. The organisation runs PV Climate, an internationally recognised carbon standard with roots stretching back to the 1990s, and PV Nature, a pioneering biodiversity standard launched in December 2023. Certified projects can issue and sell Plan Vivo Certificates (PVCs) for verified carbon outcomes and Plan Vivo Biodiversity Certificates (PVBCs) for nature-positive outcomes; a stacking framework formalized in 2026 allows projects to issue both from the same geographical area. The portfolio includes the public PV Climate Registry, a PV Accelerator programme with a digital Accelerator Hub, Validation and Verification Services via approved third-party auditors, an approved network of Data Analytics Providers, methodologies and a Participatory Toolkit, and the Buyers' Guide to Plan Vivo Certificates (April 2026).
The business model is a hybrid of recurring certification/validation/verification fees and transaction-related certificate fees, with revenue also derived from grants and donations. The go-to-market is community-led: project developers in 24+ countries across Africa, Asia, Latin America, and Europe apply directly via planvivo.org or via the PV Accelerator, while corporate, government, NGO, and intermediary buyers purchase PVCs through the PV Climate Registry or authorised resellers. The buyer side is supported by the April 2026 Buyers' Guide (co-developed with Climate Focus) and the company's planned CORSIA approval application for PV Climate (ICAO TAB review expected Q3 2026). Plan Vivo is governed by a Board of Trustees, led by CEO Keith Bohannon, and operates with 11-50 staff distributed across Edinburgh, Latin America, and Africa.
Plan Vivo Foundation firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Plan Vivo Foundation
- Legal name
- Plan Vivo Foundation
- Website
- https://planvivo.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1990
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Plan Vivo Foundation is a Scottish-registered charity operating a dual certification system — PV Climate (carbon) and PV Nature (biodiversity) — for high-integrity, community-led climate and nature projects across 24+ countries, generating revenue through certification fees and certificate transactions.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Plan Vivo Foundation industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Carbon and Biodiversity Certification Services
- NAICS
- Environmental Consulting Services (541620), Scientific Research and Development Services (5417)
- SIC
- Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731), Services-Testing Laboratories (8734)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Voluntary Carbon Credit Verification & Validation (VCS/Gold Standard/ACR/CAR) (EUABACAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Avoided Conversion & Ecosystem Protection (REDD+, Blue Carbon Conservation) (EUABABAC), Agroforestry & Perennial Cropping Systems (EUABABAD), Environmental, Climate & Sustainability Standards & Reporting Cooperation (BPADANAI)
Keywords
Where Plan Vivo Foundation is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Edinburgh
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Plan Vivo Foundation business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Certification Fees: Plan Vivo charges fees for project certification, validation, and verification services under both PV Climate and PV Nature standards. Projects pay for the certification process including document review, audits, and ongoing compliance verification.
- Certificate Transaction Fees: Revenue generated through the issuance and trading of Plan Vivo Certificates (PVCs) and Plan Vivo Biodiversity Certificates (PVBCs). Projects sell certificates to buyers, with the certificate system creating the primary revenue flow for certified projects and corresponding fees for the certification body.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Biodiversity project certification with costs varying by project scale and complexity |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
Plan Vivo Foundation product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Plan Vivo Foundation operates a certification system for high-integrity, community-led climate and nature projects under two core standards: PV Climate (carbon certification, with roots in the 1990s) and PV Nature (biodiversity certification, launched in December 2023). Certified projects can issue and sell Plan Vivo Certificates (PVCs) for verified carbon benefits and Plan Vivo Biodiversity Certificates (PVBCs) for verified biodiversity outcomes, with revenue earned through certification fees, validation/verification services, and certificate issuance.
Product overview
Plan Vivo Foundation is a certification system operator offering two core standards — PV Climate (carbon) and PV Nature (biodiversity) — which together form an integrated platform for community-led nature-based climate and conservation projects. The portfolio includes Plan Vivo Certificates (PVCs, carbon credits) and Plan Vivo Biodiversity Certificates (PVBCs, biodiversity credits), backed by a public PV Climate Registry, an Accelerator programme with a digital Accelerator Hub, Validation & Verification Services, an approved network of Data Analytics Providers, PV Climate and PV Nature Methodologies, a Participatory Toolkit, and the Buyers' Guide to Plan Vivo Certificates. Projects can stack PVCs and PVBCs from the same geographical area under Plan Vivo's stacking framework.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- PV Climate Standard Internationally recognised carbon certification framework for community-led projects delivering measurable climate impact, including rigorous requirements for carbon quantification, monitoring, and verification.
- PV Nature Standard Pioneering biodiversity certification standard for locally-led nature conservation and restoration projects, providing an accessible yet robust certification process that incentivises local communities to protect and restore ecosystems.
- Plan Vivo Certificates (PVCs) Carbon credits issued by PV Climate-certified projects representing verified emissions reductions or removals, purchasable by organisations to support credible climate action.
- Plan Vivo Biodiversity Certificates (PVBCs) Biodiversity credits issued by PV Nature-certified projects representing independently verified nature-positive outcomes, intended for contribution claims and stackable with PVCs from the same project area.
- PV Climate Registry A public-facing registry tracking the issuance, transfer, and retirement of Plan Vivo Certificates, providing transparency on credit provenance and status for buyers and stakeholders.
- PV Accelerator Accelerator programme supporting early-stage community-led nature-based projects through the certification process, including access to resources, mentorship, and a digital hub for projects seeking PV Climate or PV Nature certification.
- Validation and Verification Services Third-party independent audit services carried out by approved Validation/Verification Bodies or Independent Experts, validating projects before certification and verifying ongoing compliance with PV Climate and PV Nature requirements.
Quantifiable outcome
- 54 million USD directed to communities
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Plan Vivo Foundation
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Plan Vivo Foundation technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Plan Vivo Foundation partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.
- Climate FocuscoreDeveloped the Buyers' Guide to Plan Vivo Certificates in close collaboration with Climate Focus. Climate Focus is a consultancy specializing in climate policy and carbon markets that provided expertise for the guidance document.
- KindcoreCreative agency that developed Plan Vivo's new brand identity and website. Kind is a certified B Corp specializing in strategy, digital and branding, working exclusively with purpose-driven organizations. The rebrand was a 10-month project marking Plan Vivo's 25+ year evolution.
- Natural StatesupportingTechnical contributor at PV Nature technical workshop in Kenya, providing guidance on monitoring systems to help projects build reliable, scalable data pipelines.
- OkalasupportingTechnical contributor at PV Nature technical workshop in Kenya, providing guidance on monitoring systems to help projects build reliable, scalable data pipelines.
- ECOTRUSTsupportingLed sessions on the Gender Action Learning System (GALS) Methodology at the Kenya workshop to support more inclusive, participatory community engagement for PV Nature projects.
- Centre of Ecosystem Restoration in KenyasupportingHosted the PV Nature technical workshop at Brackenhurst Conference Centre in Kenya, set within restored highland forest.
- Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh (RBGE)coreLed the Biodiversity Data Collection Training Workshop in Indonesia, facilitating training on biodiversity monitoring methodology as part of the BREL-Borneo project. Supported by The Global Centre on Biodiversity for Climate (GCBC).
- biometrio.earthsupportingRecently accepted PV Nature Data Analytics Provider, joining the growing network of third-party providers who bring innovative digital tools and analytics to enhance transparency, quality, and comparability of biodiversity data across PV Nature projects.
- YIARI (Yayasan Inisiasi Alam Rehabilitasi Indonesia)supportingHosted the Biodiversity Data Collection Training Workshop at their Learning Centre in Ketapang, West Kalimantan, Indonesia.
- Konservasi IndonesiasupportingPartner involved in the PV Nature biodiversity pipeline, specifically the Konda Village Forests project in Indonesia.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Plan Vivo Foundation competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- Sylvera: Sylvera provides independent ratings and MRV for carbon credits, including nature-based projects. It serves a partially overlapping buyer segment and influences the perception of Plan Vivo-certified credits in the secondary market.
- Puro.earth: Puro.earth is an emerging carbon removal registry focused on engineered and tech-based removals. It is a partial peer for buyers comparing the full landscape of carbon standards, though its technology emphasis differs from Plan Vivo's nature-based focus.
Broad incumbents
- South Pole Group: South Pole is a major carbon project developer and intermediary, sourcing credits from a range of standards including Plan Vivo. It is a channel partner and partial competitor, and a relevant benchmark for the buyer-side intermediary model that Plan Vivo also enables.
- ICROA (International Carbon Reduction and Offset Alliance): ICROA is an industry body representing major carbon credit providers and standards, including Verra and Gold Standard. It shapes buyer-side standards and policy advocacy that directly affect Plan Vivo's competitive position.
Direct peers
- Climate Action Reserve (CAR): CAR is a U.S.-focused carbon credit registry and standard-setter with overlap to Plan Vivo in AFOLU project methodologies, and a competitor for nature-based project certification in the Americas.
- American Carbon Registry (ACR): ACR is an established voluntary carbon credit registry and standard-setter, a direct competitor in issuing verified emission reduction credits, and similarly pursuing compliance market access including CORSIA.
- Verra (VCS Program): Verra operates the Verified Carbon Standard, the dominant voluntary carbon credit standard globally. It is a direct peer to Plan Vivo's PV Climate in the voluntary carbon market and increasingly relevant to PV Nature as Verra develops its own biodiversity methodologies.
- Fairtrade Climate Standard: Fairtrade's carbon standard focuses on smallholder producer benefits and ethical supply chains. It competes with Plan Vivo for community-based project certification and buyer interest in social co-benefits.
- Gold Standard: Gold Standard is a leading carbon credit standard with strong overlap to Plan Vivo on community-led, sustainable development co-benefits. It is also pursuing CORSIA eligibility and expanding into nature and biodiversity credit certification.
- Social Carbon Foundation: Social Carbon is a smaller voluntary carbon standard that emphasizes community benefits and sustainable livelihoods — closely aligned with Plan Vivo's community-led positioning and a direct competitor for grassroots project certification.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Plan Vivo Foundation social profiles
Digital presencePlan Vivo Foundation financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Plan Vivo Foundation leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Plan Vivo Foundation funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Plan Vivo Foundation M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Plan Vivo Foundation
What does Plan Vivo Foundation do?
Plan Vivo Foundation operates a certification system for high-integrity, community-led climate and nature projects under two core standards: PV Climate (carbon certification, with roots in the 1990s) and PV Nature (biodiversity certification, launched in December 2023). Certified projects can issue and sell Plan Vivo Certificates (PVCs) for verified carbon benefits and Plan Vivo Biodiversity Certificates (PVBCs) for verified biodiversity outcomes, with revenue earned through certification fees, validation/verification services, and certificate issuance.
Is Plan Vivo Foundation a public or private company?
Plan Vivo Foundation is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Plan Vivo Foundation founded?
Plan Vivo Foundation was founded in 1990. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Plan Vivo Foundation based?
Plan Vivo Foundation is headquartered in Edinburgh, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Plan Vivo Foundation make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Certification Fees are the primary driver. The others are certificate Transaction Fees.
Who are Plan Vivo Foundation's main competitors?
Emerging players on record are Sylvera and Puro.earth. Broad incumbents are South Pole Group and ICROA (International Carbon Reduction and Offset Alliance). Direct peers are Climate Action Reserve (CAR), American Carbon Registry (ACR), Verra (VCS Program), Fairtrade Climate Standard, Gold Standard and Social Carbon Foundation.
Does Plan Vivo Foundation have an API?
No public API is recorded for Plan Vivo Foundation.
What industry is Plan Vivo Foundation in?
Plan Vivo Foundation's product category is Carbon and Biodiversity Certification Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EUABACAA, Voluntary Carbon Credit Verification & Validation (VCS/Gold Standard/ACR/CAR), with a secondary code of EUABABAC, Avoided Conversion & Ecosystem Protection (REDD+, Blue Carbon Conservation). Its NAICS code is 541620 and its SIC code is 8731.