CO₂ REDUCTION & CLIMATE CONTRIBUTION
WHERE CHANGE BEGINS
Those who know the largest sources of emissions can deploy resources in a more targeted manner, better understand dependencies regarding energy and materials, and track progress using comparable data. In this way, climate protection becomes part of operational decisions – instead of remaining a separate project.
Reduction does not begin with the promise to emit less at some point. It begins with the decision to understand today what can be changed.
Discover CO₂ reduction
FROM THE NUMBER TO THE CHANGE
A balance sheet creates clarity. A goal gives direction. An action changes the figure.
Many terms appear alongside one another in customer enquiries, tenders, and sustainability departments. However, their roles are different.
01 · MEASURE
CCF and PCF
They show emissions of a company or product within defined boundaries.
02 · DIRECTION
SBTi
It provides criteria for science-based emission targets.
03 · CHANGE
Measures
Energy, efficiency, materials, procurement, and logistics are possible areas of action.
04 · MAKE VISIBLE
VSME, ESRS & EcoVadis
They structure or evaluate sustainability information and make progress transparent and traceable.
FROM HOTSPOTS TO PROGRESS
01
Determine the starting position
Define balance boundaries, system boundaries, reference year and database. Create or update CCF or PCF.
02
Identify hotspots
Distinguish major emission sources from areas that can actually be influenced and open data questions.
03
Classify target path
Develop traceable intermediate targets and, where necessary, take into account the applicable SBTi requirements.
04
Prioritise measures
Bring together potential emission impact, feasibility, responsibility and operational context.
05
Calculate progress
Using a methodologically comparable follow-up balance sheet to check whether and where emissions have actually decreased.
ADDITIONAL PROJECT SUPPORT · CONCRETE AND DOCUMENTED
Companies do not need to wait until every possible reduction measure has been implemented before supporting climate projects. Both can happen simultaneously – as long as the roles remain clear.
Reduction within the company and the value chain is a priority. Additional project support can also enable concrete measures. It is not a substitute for your own reductions and is not deducted from the CCF or PCF.
A CLEAR CLASSIFICATION
The contribution remains. The offsetting disappears.
However, a project measure outside the value chain does not change the manufacturing of a product or its PCF. Nor does it reduce a CCF. natureOffice therefore primarily speaks of a voluntary climate contribution or project support – and shows specifically what the support is based on.
WHAT WE DO NOT CLAIM
A product or company is thus said to be climate-neutral.
The climate contribution reduces the CCF or PCF.
A payment automatically triggers a specific CO₂e impact.
A project certification assesses the entire company.
WHAT WE SPECIFICALLY SHOW
Name the project, measure, region, and period.
State the contribution and the documented purpose.
Specify standards, units and register details, if available.
Clear separation of reduction and project support.
WITH CERTIFICATES OR DIRECT
Those who want to take additional action have more than one way.
DOCUMENTED UNIT
STANDARD · REGISTER · DECOMMISSIONING
PATH 1 · CERTIFICATE-BASED
Verified emission reduction units are available for selected climate protection projects. Documented information can include the project, standard, project number, vintage, quantity, registry, and retirement.
Project, region and standard
Vintage, quantity, register and decommissioning
Not offset against CCF or PCF
ROUTE 2 · DIRECT
A company can directly support a specifically described ecological, social, or combined measure. The focus is on the project, location, time period, purpose, contribution, and available evidence.
Project and concrete measure
Region, period and intended use
Reports, images and further evidence
THE RIGHT NEXT STEP
A CONTINUOUS PATH
natureOffice accompanies companies from their CO₂ footprint, through the classification of targets and reduction measures, to the additional support of climate projects.
01
CCF and PCF as documented baseline
02
Analysis of emission sources and areas of influence
03
Classification of science-based target pathways
04
Prioritisation and updating of reduction measures
05
Certificate-based or direct project support
06
Processing, documentation and digital tracking
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Briefly and clearly put into context.
The specific communication should always be reviewed on a case-by-case basis and based on the available evidence.
Can reduction and climate projects run in parallel?
Yes. Companies can reduce emissions within their value chain while simultaneously supporting projects outside of it. Reducing their own emissions remains the priority. Project support is additional and is not offset against the CCF or PCF.
Can we still speak of CO₂ compensation?
The term traditionally stands for a balancing logic from which statements of neutrality or offsetting were often derived. natureOffice therefore primarily uses 'climate contribution' or 'project support' and describes specifically what can be proven.
What does the SBTi achieve – and what does it not?
The Science Based Targets initiative develops standards and criteria for science-based emission targets. The actual change is driven by implemented measures. Emission credits are not a substitute for reductions within a company's own target boundaries.
Are VSME, ESRS or EcoVadis reduction standards?
No. VSME and ESRS structure sustainability information. EcoVadis assesses sustainability management and the evidence provided. These instruments do not replace a carbon footprint, reduction path, or implementation.
Does additional project support need to be certified?
No. Certificates are useful when verified CO₂e units need to be documented. With direct project support, the focus can be on the measure, period, use of funds and available evidence.
Does a climate contribution change our CCF or PCF?
No. The CCF or PCF remains unchanged. A climate contribution documents support outside the carbon footprint boundaries. It is neither deducted nor offset.
THE NEXT STEP