Is carbon free the same as net zero?

No, "carbon-free" and "net zero" are not the same things, although they are related concepts.

Carbon-free refers to a process or activity that does not release any carbon emissions into the atmosphere. It means that the activity, process, or product has zero carbon emissions.

Net zero, on the other hand, means that any carbon emissions that are produced are balanced out by removing an equivalent amount of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. This can be achieved through various means such as planting trees, carbon capture technologies, and other methods that sequester carbon.

In other words, carbon-free means there are no carbon emissions produced, while net zero means that any carbon emissions produced are offset by removing the same amount of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. So, while they are related concepts, they are not interchangeable.