Compensation of carbon emissions
What do we mean by carbon neutral parcel shipping*?
It means that we compensate carbon emissions according to the information found below.
* also referred to as sustainable parcel shipping.
Which carbon emissions do we compensate?
In the participating countries operating under the GLS trademark in the EU (see below), we compensate the carbon emissions generated by:
- Transportation of parcels and freight shipments, and
- Buildings and business travel
In which countries does GLS offset?
The companies in the following countries operating under the GLS trademark are currently participating in the carbon compensation:
- Austria
- Belgium
- Denmark
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Ireland
- Italy
- Netherlands
- Portugal
- Slovenia
- Spain
How do we offset the emissions in the participating GLS countries?
We cooperate with the ClimatePartner GmbH, Munich (“ClimatePartner”) to compensate our emissions through investments in climate protection projects that avoid emissions.
How does the compensation actually work?
Climate protection projects aim to reduce or avoid greenhouse gas emissions, for example by protecting rainforests from deforestation. The climate protection projects used by GLS (through Climate Partner) are certified according to highest available international standards, such as Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) or Gold Standard (GS) and are regularly verified by independent third parties. See below: “What does the certification standard of the climate protection projects mean?”
ClimatePartner purchases the Verified Emission Reductions (VERs) generated by climate protection projects in the amount of the annually calculated GLS emissions to be compensated.
Based on these VERs, ClimatePartner in turn issues its own certificates for the participating GLS countries and our GLS customers, which certify that the respective company and customer emissions calculated by us have been offset.
| Project Region and Country | Project type | Certification Standard |
|---|---|---|
| Guttigoli, India | Solar energy | Gold Standard VER (GS VER) |
| Gadhsisa, India | Wind energy | Gold Standard VER (GS VER) |
| Gia Lai, Vietnam | Wind energy | Gold Standard VER (GS VER) |
| Gyapa, Ghana | Cook stove | Gold Standard VER (GS VER) |
What Does the Certification Standard for Climate Protection Projects Mean?
The supported projects comply with the Gold Standard (GS) or the Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) in combination with the Climate, Community & Biodiversity Standard (CCBS). Refer to the table in previous sections for more details.
The GS (developed by WWF and other environmental organizations) and the VCS (developed by the non-governmental organization VERRA) are standards for voluntary carbon trading. Climate protection projects can be verified and certified by the VCS and GS according to their respective criteria and requirements (e.g., the additionality criterion).
The Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) is a globally recognized standard for certifying greenhouse gas reduction and removal projects. It provides a framework to ensure the accuracy, transparency, and credibility of carbon offset projects, which generate carbon credits or Verified Emission Reductions (VERs) that can be traded in carbon markets. The VCS can be combined with the Climate, Community & Biodiversity Standard (CCBS), an additional standard that focuses on social and environmental co-benefits.
The Gold Standard (GS) is another internationally recognized standard for certifying carbon offset projects. What sets it apart is its strong emphasis on sustainability and co-benefits, such as social and environmental impacts beyond emission reductions. Projects certified under the Gold Standard meet rigorous criteria, making them not only carbon-neutral but also positive contributors to sustainable development and environmental protection.