Alongside measures to avoid and reduce CO₂ emissions, offsetting is an important step that allows companies to operate in a more sustainable manner and to make a positive contribution toward climate change mitigation. Thanks to carbonZER0, our new financing upgrade, our customers can pay to offset the entire CO₂ emissions of their IT assets. This financing option is available internationally, with the money generated used to finance certified projects aimed at combating climate change. The monthly lease instalment increases only marginally. For example, the cost of making a smartphone carbon-neutral is just a few cents.

Using the carbonZER0 financing upgrade requires no additional time or effort from customers. They enjoy the benefits of a complete package that allows them to select and manage their climate change mitigation projects, and includes recognized emissions certificates and the calculation of CO₂ emissions using a methodology certified by the TÜV product standards regulator. The calculation takes into account production, transportation, and the electricity consumed during the use phase and end-of-life scenarios of the IT assets. We also take into account any differences related to device type and manufacturer by adding a percentage-based markup.

Once the calculation has been completed, the greenhouse gases generated are offset. This can be done in a variety of ways, either by purchasing certificates on voluntary carbon markets or by investing directly in climate change mitigation projects. Selecting and regularly auditing these is an important step. Through carbonZER0, CHG-MERIDIAN is supporting internationally recognized and certified climate change mitigation projects. All of these projects ensure sustainable development at the economic, social, and environmental level in the respective countries in line with the UN’s 17 sustainable development goals. In return, the customer receives a certificate as proof of the CO₂ emissions saved. This guarantees that the savings will only be used to offset CO₂ emissions once; the related certificates are subsequently retired in the official registers. Both the certificate and the information on which assets are carbon-neutral can be viewed digitally in TESMA® – simple, transparent, and straightforward.

Oliver Schorer, Member of the Board of Management