Carbon neutrality
Sustained action - Convincing consumers
Climate change is one of the most important challenges of the 21st century and has a growing influence on consumer behaviour. Certification by TÜV NORD CERT enables companies and other organisations who are aware of their environmental responsibilities to document their commitment to climate protection.
Four different certifications
TÜV NORD CERT currently offers the following certifications in the area of carbon neutrality: "Carbon Neutral Company", "Carbon Neutral Product", "Carbon Neutral Event" and "Carbon Neutral Gas". These all include verification of the carbon footprint of the organisation, product or event to be certified, and also an examination of carbon neutrality. Depending on the emissions, equivalent CO2 certificates can be purchased from climate protection projects and then withdrawn from the market.
Consumers expect sustained action
Numerous steps to curb global warming and its consequences are being initiated at the national and international levels - including the Kyoto Protocol, the Greenhouse Gas Emission Allowance Trading Directive and the German Greenhouse Gas Emission Allowance Trading Act.
However, alongside compulsory measures, companies are increasingly expected to take voluntary measures as regards climate change. More and more consumers wish to support companies that furnish proof of sustainable climate protection activities and do this by purchasing carbon-neutral products or attending carbon-neutral events.
TÜV NORD CERT: Experts in climate protection
Specific TÜV NORD standards have been devised for certification of climate neutrality. The standards are based on the extensive experience of TÜV NORD CERT in the area of national and international climate protection, and TÜV NORD CERT has been accredited by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) to check and certify climate protection projects - with some 1000 projects already completed. TÜV NORD CERT also verifies allocation applications and emission reports within the framework of the national implementation of European emission trading.
Increase in value and savings potentials
Certification for climate neutrality and the corresponding TÜV NORD test mark demonstrate that a company or organisation has a positive approach to sustainability and climate protection. This is particularly attractive to consumers with a high level of environmental awareness. Furthermore, through the monitoring and inspection of emission sources within an organisation, certification offers valuable indications of how to lower CO2 emissions; in addition to protecting the environment, this may offer cost-saving potentials.
