Carbon Neutrality

Verified climate neutrality

Our climate-neutral verifications at a glance:

Company/Organization

Climate neutral company/organization:

This verification is aimed at companies and local and other authorities or bodies that actively deal with climate change and its consequences, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and wish to document their sense of responsibility to the outside world.

Product

Climate neutral product:

This verification is aimed at manufacturers of products of all kinds who:
- base their operations on principles of sustainability,
- make a contribution to climate protection and
- want to appeal to environmentally conscious customers in particular.


In order for consumers to be able to make a conscious decision in favour of climate action in everyday life, manufacturers have to provide a suitable range of verified climate neutral products.

Gas

Climate neutral gas product / gas production:

The verifications for climate neutral gas product / gas combustion are aimed exclusively at gas suppliers who wish to highlight the climate-neutral delivery of their product within the market.

Service

Climate neutral service:

This verification is aimed at service providers. The term “service” here refers to clearly definable services, e.g. transport services, business trips or (renewable) energy consumption.

Event

Climate neutral event:

Organising and holding an event has an impact on our natural resources, from the creation of brochures/flyers/handouts, through the journeys of the participants, down to the energy consumption, food consumed and waste.

As TÜV NORD, we verify the greenhouse gas balance in the run-up to your event, so that you can use our "Climate neutral event" test mark for publicity purposes

Verified CO₂ compensation

Verified CO₂ compensation:

Some service providers in the climate protection market organise and implement CO₂ compensation (offset) procedures for third parties. TÜV NORD offers a verification system for these service providers to prove that the compensation has been carried out correctly and in full. Our "Verified CO₂ Compensation" assessment consists exclusively of verification of the compensations that have been carried out.

 

Note: Further information on individual services can be found in our TÜV NORD Standard TN-CC 020.

TÜV NORD CERT performs the verification on the basis of TÜV NORD Standard TN-CC 020. Before the verification can take place, a CO2 footprint and a CO2 compensation calculation have to be created in accordance with the requirements of the standard. Successful verification is confirmed by a certificate, and certification also entitles the certificate holder to use the TÜV NORD test mark for climate neutrality.

Benefits of verified climate neutrality

  • Credibility and transparency of your active contribution to environmental protection
  • Improved competitiveness

  • Increase in staff and customer loyalty

  • Strengthening of your own brand

Checklist for the verification of climate neutrality 

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FAQs on carbon neutral services

What does verified climate neutrality mean?

According to the European Parliament, climate neutrality means striking a balance between greenhouse gas emissions and the absorption of carbon from the atmosphere into carbon sinks. This concept can also be expressed by the term net-zero emissions. We follow this definition in our standard TN-CC 020 for verification of companies/products etc.

What is the difference between climate neutrality and carbon footprint?

The sum of all greenhouse gas emissions related to a company or product etc. is referred to as the carbon footprint. With more detailed consideration, it may also be possible to avoid or reduce emissions. All the remaining emissions can be compensated for on a voluntary basis through the purchase of so-called emission reduction credits (usually referred to as CO2 certificates). In this case, one speaks of climate neutrality or a climate-neutral company or product, etc.

What are CO2 certificates?

According to environmental law, a CO2 certificate, or allowance, is an official entitlement to emit a certain amount of a pollutant in a certain period of time. The certificate is tradable on energy exchanges, usually in the unit 1 tonne of CO2 equivalent (CO2e).

How does CO2 compensation work?

Compensation is provided by purchasing CO2 certificates.

What data is required for verification?

The data required on the company side depends on the individual company/product and the emission sources which have to be considered. Our checklist for the verification of the CO2 balance can give you an initial overview.

What will I receive at the end of a successful verification?

After successful verification, you will receive our TN certificate and the corresponding test mark. The certificate is usually valid for 12 months.

Procedure for a verification with TÜV NORD

TÜV NORD as experienced partner

TÜV NORD CERT has extensive knowledge and experience and national and international references In the field of climate protection, renewable energy and sustainability. For example, we hold accreditation from DaKKs, the German accreditation body, for verification of greenhouse gas balances according to ISO 14065 and ISO 14064-3 and for verification within the framework of the European Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS).

We are also accredited by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change to validate and verify international environmenral protection projects.

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