The global content of CO2 emissions is growing faster and faster. The value has almost quadrupled since the mid-20th century! Globalization has its benefits, but the negative effects it brings are fatal. An extreme rise from global world trade with air and sea traffic, more agriculture, fast fashion and short trips to New York.

All this with devastating consequences for the climate.

When fighting the climate crisis, every positive impact counts. Whether that affects the individual or the company. Reducing the ecological footprint should be everyone's goal. That is why the term “climate neutrality” is getting more and more attention.

There are many approaches to living and acting in a more sustainable and climate-friendly way. Whether as an individual or in a company. It is also about reducing and offsetting your CO2 consumption.

In the following blog we would like to introduce you to various CO2 compensation options that can help to offset your CO2 consumption and that of your company!

Balance and offset CO2 emissions? The most goal-oriented plan for a company should of course always be to reduce CO2 consumption as much as possible. There are various measures for this, it starts with production and can go beyond shipping. By the way, you can find tips for more sustainable shipping here .

In addition to this, a company has other options for compensation. Because the place where the CO2 emissions come from and how they are offset do not necessarily have to be dependent on one another. This means that emissions produced here can also be offset at the other end of the world. In most cases, this makes more sense, since other regions of the world are much more affected by the consequences of climate change. In addition, a large part of the production is relocated abroad, eg the clothing industry is largely found in Southeast Asian countries. In addition, Southeast Asia is also suffering from the garbage problem, as there is a lot of imported garbage to be found there. If you want to know more about this, please read this article .

So: It is no problem at all to offset the emissions through projects in other countries of the world.

A balance or compensation can be created by saving CO2 in other places. Financial support for climate protection projects enables them to implement more measures to save CO2, for example by planting trees. These can bind CO2 from the atmosphere and thus have a positive impact on our environment. Since more trees can be planted with your donation, you can compensate for your CO2 consumption.

Exactly the same principle also applies to other projects, for example projects that campaign for the collection of plastic waste or for the expansion of renewable energies. Your financial support increases the impact of these organizations and can thus offset their own CO2 consumption.

There are already some great apps for private individuals that will help you to be more climate-neutral in your everyday life. This includes, for example, the “Klima” app, where you can track your everyday life and thus your consumption. Through various activities, such as your diet and mobility, the app measures the amount of CO2 that you could offset in order to act more climate-neutrally. The app then suggests various environmental and climate organizations to offset your CO2 consumption, e.g. in the form of donations.

Since the app shows you directly which behavior causes how much CO2, it may also be easier for you to act in a more climate-neutral manner in the future and thus no longer need the compensation! Donations are of course always possible.

Other apps are for example Naturate, EcoHero or Codyo.

But also on the websites of various organizations and projects there is the possibility to offset your own CO2 consumption either as a private person or as a company.

One project working to reduce plastic pollution in Southeast Asia is the Honu Movement.

In its project, the organization has set itself four goals: collect rubbish, recycle rubbish, avoid rubbish and fight poverty. In addition, they are based in Southeast Asia, where they collect plastic waste on the beaches and, with the help of small boats, also from rivers, estuaries and the ocean. This is all done manually in order to avoid harming any (marine) creatures. They now have around 100 employees on site who take care of cleaning the beaches and seas.

This collected rubbish is then collected in “trash cabins” to prevent the wind from blowing the rubbish away or animals eating the rubbish. The waste is sorted in interim storage facilities and brought to the local, certified recycling companies. In this way, the project avoids long transport routes, which benefit the environment. The plastic waste is recycled and turned into fluff fuel. This process enables a Co2 saving of 17%.

Another goal of the Honu Movement is to create as many jobs as possible and thus contribute to the fight against poverty. They do this through various job offers. Either by collecting and recycling the plastic. Or in a "school". The project includes weekly lessons for children in the collection areas. This consists of two parts: on the one hand, a theoretical, educational part about ecosystems and the danger of plastic, on the other hand, with handicraft hours in which upcycling projects are implemented with the collected materials. At the end of each hour we cook and eat together. This not only creates sensitivity for a sustainable lifestyle among the children, but also some jobs. So there are many reasons to support the Honu Movement.

A second organization that we would like to introduce to you is “Grow my Tree”. At Grow my Tree there are different packages that are used to plant trees. But not only that, but you also get a certification and a partnership through every tree.

With the help of Grow my tree, customers are recommended in every email or at check-out to buy trees and have them planted. With every step, your company draws attention to the fact that sustainability is important to you. With a partner logo and your own e-mail signature, it is made clear that it is also a reputable site.

As a company, there is also the option of entering into partnerships directly and planting your own trees. Further information will be sent by demand communicated.

Grow My Tree acts according to certain values. For example, they want to create long-term jobs, which also include training opportunities. To do this, the organization relies on cooperation with local smallholders and the villagers. In order to secure the sources of income for the local people, the trees do not belong to Grow my Tree, but to the respective village community. Great attention is paid to cultural sensitivity by taking special account of cultural traditions and needs. And attention is also paid to the local flora and fauna. Only native tree species are planted to ensure the long-term survival of the trees.

Thus, Grow My Tree is not only an organization that tries to do something good for nature, but also for the local population, who often suffer greatly from global climate changes.

Because although Germany has a high value in global consumption of CO2, we only suffer from the effects to a limited extent. Other countries feel this much more clearly.

Another option that comes up is Circulate. Circulate is suitable for companies that want to make their production plastic-neutral. That means offsetting plastic consumption. This project collects and recycles plastic waste to offset the plastic waste from other companies. They have a special offer for companies. Because the project ensures that for every product that comes into circulation through your company's activities, an equivalent amount of plastic waste is collected and recycled. In this way you can offset the CO2 consumption of your company and become plastic-neutral.

Circulate also offers a plug-in that allows the company to get in touch with customers and promote plastic-neutral purchases. This is a software extension of your website that promotes plastic-neutral shopping.

It all works because Circulate partners with sustainable and ethical waste management companies. The project guarantees the socio-economic and ecological impact through the certification of the partner organisations. Also, they have to subject the organizations to regular checks and all collection and recycling activities are constantly monitored.

If the previous projects were too specific for you and you don't want to commit yourself to one project, then Klimaktiv might be just the right thing for you!

Here you are offered various options to achieve your climate neutrality. From advice to the solution, Klimaktiv is at your side with support and individual support. Your company can have its CO2 balance calculated there and offset the emissions by investing in various climate projects. There are various offers, such as the project for improved cooking stoves and clean drinking water in Rwanda, a municipal reforestation project in Nicaragua and the project to build up humus in local soil.

In addition to the positive CO2 savings, the focus is also placed on a positive influence on the regional economy, education and social standards. These aspects are largely related. The training courses on sustainable management can ensure sustainable forest management in forest protection projects and regenerative agriculture is promoted in the humus build-up, which makes the soil more fertile and thus provides a stable food supply.

Thecompensators* show you a slightly different way of reducing CO2. This project draws attention to the fact that the EU sells almost two billion "pollution certificates", so-called CO2 certificates, to companies every year. For companies, this means that they are entitled to one tonne of CO2 with the help of this certificate. According to thecompensators*, there are far too many of these and the price is too low for the ecological consequences. So what to do? Thecompensators* therefore try to buy as many of these certificates as possible and, conversely, force the industries to reduce their emissions.

A certificate in the hands of thecompensators* also means a ton less CO2 for the environment. The scarcer the certificates become on the market, the more expensive they also become, which creates even more incentives for companies to act in a more climate-neutral manner.

The work is only carried out by honorary posts and through the way of acting it becomes a political statement. There is the option of a simple donation up to membership. The difference here is that your support does not offset Co2, but is intended to prevent even more CO2 from being created. Since Europe is one of the biggest causes of Co2 emissions, it makes sense to ensure lower emissions in Europe as well.

With your donation you can increase the incentive for more climate-friendly production and thus get to the root of the problem of high Co2 emissions in Europe.

Another plus point: The money for these certificates flows into the energy and climate fund, which supports, for example, renewable energies, energy-efficient building refurbishment and electromobility. Thus, buying the Co2 certificates has two advantages.

As you can see, there are a variety of great projects that are committed to the climate neutrality of your company or company. You have a colorful selection of projects that work in different ways for a greener future!