TRACKING ID

Often asked questions 
will be ANsWeREd here 

Holding the balance, balancing, neutralizing each other. Carbon neutral are processes that do not alter the equilibrium of the atmosphere. A balance between taking and giving. Carbon neutral are products, services or companies as a whole if they offset emissions after the determination of their individual CO2 balance.

Carbon neutrality is an environmental policy goal to exert no influence on the climate through production and consumption. Behind this is the assumption that the climate system can buffer a certain amount of greenhouse gas emissions without causing significant climate impacts. Carbon neutrality is today a mark of quality. Carbon neutral companies, for example, assume responsibility towards people and the environment. Many companies have firmly anchored the goal of carbon neutrality in their environmental guidelines.

Carbon neutrality is now a mark of quality. Carbon neutral companies, for example, assume responsibility towards people and the environment. Many companies have firmly anchored the goal of carbon neutrality in their environmental guidelines.

Our carbon offset projects suck CO2 from the atmosphere and thereby generate e.g. TÜV SÜD certified carbon credits. These credits are used for compensating  your calculated CO2 emissions. A "carbon neutral" label makes your commitment visible. In addition the data, facts and thus also credibility over your commitment can be tracked by your personal tracking ID. This tracking ID is placed on your "carbon neutral" label.

The Gold Standard was launched, among others, by the WWF (World Wide Fund For Nature). It is the strictest and most respected standard worldwide for climate protection projects in voluntary emissions trading.

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Other commonly used terms: CO2 certificates, climate protection certificates, emission certificates. CO2 credits are generally traded in the unit of measure 1 ton of CO2e (e = equivalents). Other climate-damaging greenhouse gases such as methane are converted in their effect into a corresponding amount of CO2, so-called CO2 equivalents. 1 credit corresponds to a saving of one ton of CO2 equivalent through a carbon offset project. There are two markets for carbon credit trading, the mandatory, the state and the voluntary, the so-called voluntary market. Through independent institutions such as The Gold Standard, VCS, Plan VIVO and others certifiy carbon offset projects that generate certificates.

Voluntary climate protection is about taking responsibility and actively promoting climate protection. And just as everyone is part of this problem, everyone can be part of the solution.

Voluntary carbon offsetting (CO2) is a voluntary payment for an additional climate action that saves the amount of greenhouse gas emissions associated with a process in another location. The terms CO2 compensation, compensation, voluntary compensation or compensation payment are used synonymously in the sense described here.

No. From our point of view, the costs you pay for offsetting your CO2 emissions are not donations for climate protection, but are a reasonable investment in a measurable reduction of your CO2 emissions.

No. Particularly in the area of the voluntary compensation market, it is the trade with CO2 credits that makes it possible to stomp a certified carbon offset project out of the ground and finance it over a usually very long period of time. Buyers, whether companies, organizations or even private individuals, make an active and effective contribution to climate protection. Clearly, "relieving conscience" or "getting rid of the CO2 sin" has nothing to do with it. However, if it were to be possible to alleviate his conscience through the CO2 compensation, this possibility would also be far better than nothing to do.

To end climate problems by ignorance or repression can not be a solution. To make classes better, for example, by being aware of their CO2 footprint, they become aware of CO2 emissions, reduce them, and best turn them off. But as long as this "shutdown" is not yet possible, carbon offsetting is the best way to get rid of emissions quickly and effectively. This creates time for the development of further innovations or mechanisms in the area of voluntary climate protection. So yes, it makes sense to know your carbon footprint - and YES, offsetting CO2 emissions is an investment in the future!

As the most effective measure in the short-term, necessary climate protection we see as natureOffice the voluntary compensation of CO2 emissions as the first step. The approach Avoiding - Reducing (which is justified), however, suggests a temporal sequence of actions that does not correspond to the actual time sequence. Avoiding and reducing emissions is certainly economically and morally right, but it runs counter to the goal of maximizing global CO2 emission reductions. Companies should be pursuing both approaches in parallel, also for reasons of cost efficiency. Avoiding, reducing and compensating.

The usual requirement, sometimes almost dogma, to avoid and reduce emissions prior to the CO2 offsetting is certainly economically and morally right, but it contradicts the goal of the worldwide maximum reduction of CO2 emissions.

No. Looking at the corporate communications of some companies, one could believe that only the "unavoidable" CO2 emissions were given permission to compensate. The precondition for compensation is first of all to avoid emissions, then to reduce unavoidable CO2 emissions through various efficiency measures and only then to compensate for CO2 emissions, which can not be further reduced.
For us as natureOffice, this approach certainly has its justification, but inevitably leads to putting the compensation on the ranking of climate protection measures in last place. Likewise, the avoidance and reduction measures that have not yet been implemented provide sufficient legitimacy for why, as a company, it is not necessary to compensate for CO2 emissions.
Also, the approach that only "unavoidable" greenhouse gas emissions should be balanced is a precondition that does not exist. Because who determines what can be avoided? Is a vacation trip or a car drive avoidable? Since this is subjective, there can be no precondition of this kind.

There are different types of projects that can compensate for CO2 emissions. Some projects invest in emission savings through the increased use of renewable energy sources, others remove carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere through reforestation and still others avoid the emission of greenhouse gases in industrial processes. The projects also differ in scope. There are smaller projects that take place at the community level, and larger ones that can cover an entire industrial complex. The different types of projects have different advantages and disadvantages, in terms of their potential for greenhouse gas reduction, but also with regard to the side effects they cause, for example. on biodiversity or the employment situation in the region. Carbon offset projects must meet internationally recognized criteria and standards and be certified accordingly.

The most important criteria are the following:

Additionality: It must be ensured that a project can only be implemented on the basis of the funds generated by emissions trading. The carbon offset project must therefore rely on revenues from emissions trading to cover the financing needs.

Exclusion of double counting: It has to be ensured that the CO2 emissions saved are credited only once (to the owner of the certificates). This means in particular that certificates may only be sold once.

Durability: Emission savings must be permanent, e.g. The binding of CO2 in forests must be long-term.

Regular third-party verification: Carbon offset projects must be periodically inspected by independent third parties (for example, TÜV, SGS, DNV) in all of the above criteria.

What are the benefits of afforestation projects over technical projects? Only in afforestation projects is the mechanism of photosynthesis binding carbon dioxide present in the atmosphere in the biomass of the tree and immediately and permanently removing it from the atmosphere. CO2 is therefore bound directly. Afforestation projects thus help us counteract the current problem of too much CO2 in the atmosphere. Renewable energy projects, on the other hand, only avoid CO2 emissions indirectly by avoiding them in the future. For us as a natureOffice, the many advantages are clearly evident in the many co-benefits that afforestation projects bring with them. Above all, securing and creating biodiversity, stabilizing and creating the many protective functions of forests, such as erosion or water protection. Not to mention the long-term jobs in the project regions which improve the living conditions of the local population. For example, a wind farm funded by an energy company in China does not offer these benefits. It's not about what's better or worse. We need both forms to solve the current and future problems in the long term.

Why are there real, certified carbon offset projects only in Africa or India, why not in Germany? For the global climate, it does not matter where the carbon offset takes place. For the economy already. That is why climate protection projects basically make more sense where the natural conditions exist and the projects can be implemented cost-effectively. An important side effect: carbon offset projects in the third world promote technology transfer and actively provide help for self-help. Another problem with carbon offset projects in Germany is related to the potential double counting. An indirect double credit could take place, for example, when electricity from a wind farm is replaced by fossil electricity from a power plant. Renewable electricity would reduce the burden on the national emissions budget and generate additional emission rights. Forest areas are subject to strict controls and requirements. For example, forest areas must be reforested after a fire or wind break. From this reforestation can not develop a carbon offset project, since in this case the important criterion of additionality is not given. We as natureOffice, but want to do one thing without leaving the other, because we have to deal with a variety of problems, especially in German forests, which i.a. also caused by climate change. For this reason, we have teamed up with the renowned mountain forest project e.V. and launched the combined carbon offset project Deutschland plus.

natureOffice customers receive everything from one source. Starting with the inventory of a process, a product or the entire company, the development of suitable measures for CO2 reduction, to the compensation of emissions through our own carbon offset projects. "Own" carbon offset projects means that we are developers and operators of these projects and not just buy CO2 certificates in wholesale and resell profitably. With our carbon offset projects, we generate these credits ourselves and are always in a position to give transparent information about the progress in the project.

We started in 2007 as the first provider of a holistic online-based software industry solution specifically for print shops - carbon neutral print products. At present, we offer climate protection solutions for every company, regardless of their area of activity. We pay special attention to the individuality of each field of action and its special requirements. Despite our individuality, we also offer solutions for industries in which climate protection must be implemented quickly, leanly and simply, for example in logistics, with our online-based calculation platforms.

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We are your partner for climate protection! We offer you various solutions beginning from carbon footprints through individual climate protection strategies all the way to carbon neutral products, services or companies.
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