Reporting does not change outcomes
Most sustainability software is informative. It shows trends, highlights risk, or suggests better placement. Useful, but still advisory.
A control plane is different. It binds the runtime before execution starts, so the buyer can enforce policy instead of simply observing it.
The purchasing question is simple
Can the product make a binding decision before compute starts? Can that decision be reviewed later? Can it be replayed against the same evidence?
If the answer is yes, the system is operational infrastructure. If not, it is reporting with better branding.
Proof matters to finance, compliance, and operators
Proof, trace, replay, and provenance are what make the control plane defensible. Without them, policy is hard to audit and hard to trust.
CO2 Router keeps those artifacts attached to the decision frame so commercial teams can show buyers the exact basis for each authorization.