Climate protection projects

By purchasing CO₂ credits, we support carbon offset projects around the world, ensuring carbon offsetting for customers using our carbon neutral GoGreen products and services.

In order to offset emissions for our customers, we set high standards and select projects based on their environmental and local community benefits. This means that the climate-neutral GoGreen Service does not just offset emissions. Together with our customers we also make a contribution to promoting the economy in less developed countries and improving the lives of local people.

Project example: Prony and Kafeate wind-farms, New Caledonia

We consider VER credits the carbon credits fitting best with our own rigid requirements. In consequence, DHL Group strives for VER type credits complying with the "Goldstandard". Projects eligible for GoGreen Climate Neutral shall be verified accordingly.

Projects with additional certifications can occasionally be used as an alternative, should a sufficient supply of VER GS not be available.

GoGreen climate protection projects

For GoGreen we currently support a diverse mix of projects that reflect our quality standards. With our GoGreen program, we support high-quality climate protection projects worldwide to offset emissions.

High-quality climate protection projects - for a better climate and the local people:

1. Xinyang MSW Landfill Site LFG Recovery to Power Project

Status: 2021; VER: Verified Emission Reduction; Gold Standard Certified Project

Xinyang MSW Landfill Site LFG Recovery to Power Project aims to recover and destroy landfill gas (LFG) generated at the municipal solid waste (MSW) landfill site in Xinyang city, Henan province, P.R. China. It is developed by Shanghai BCCY New Power Industry Co., Ltd. The collected LFG will be used for electricity production.

Biogas Recovery to Power

Project	Xinyang MSW Landfill Site LFG Recovery to Power Project
Country	China
Project standard	VER 1253
Type	Biogas - Electricity
Supplier	Shanghai BCCY New Power Industry Co.,Ltd.
Sustainable development goals (SDG)	3, 12, 13
Description	GoldStandard.org

2. Wenchang Rural Methane Digesters Project

Status: 2021; VER: Verified Emission Reduction; Gold Standard Certified Project

Wenchang Rural Methane Digesters Project is respectively located in Wenchang County, Hainan Province, P.R. China. The project aims to help farmers to build methane digesters where organic matter including manure and wastes are decayed anaerobically. It involves the construction of 15,946 household biogas digesters in 17 townships of Wenchang city, Hainan Province, P. R. China.

Biogas Methane Digesters

Project	Wenchang Rural Methane Digesters Project in Hainan Province
Country	China
Project standard	VER 2665
Type	Biogas - Heat
Supplier	Guizhou Honor Carbon Asset Management Co., Ltd
Sustainable development goals (SDG)	3, 12, 13
Description	GoldStandard.org

3. Henan Funiushan Solar Cooker Project

Status: 2021; VER: Verified Emission Reduction; Gold Standard Certified Project

Henan Funiushan Solar Cooker Project Phase I is located in the southwest of Henan Province, which is invested and implemented by GLGF PV（SHANGHAI) CO., LTD., This region is an ideal area for solar energy utilization. The project involves the distribution and installation of 50,000 sets of solar cookers for rural households.

The project has enabled the rural households to efficiently substitute solar energy for the fossil fuel (coal) used in daily cooking and water boiling, avoiding CO₂ emission that would be generated by fossil fuel consumption.

Solar Cookers

Project	Henan Funiushan Solar Cooker Project Phase I
Country	China
Project standard	VER 7433
Type	Solar Thermal - Heat
Supplier	Sirreon Technology & Development (Beijing) Co.,Ltd
Sustainable development goals (SDG)	1, 3, 7, 8, 13
Description	GoldStandard.org

4. Ji’an Swine Farm Animal Manure Management System

Status: 2021; VER: Verified Emission Reduction; Gold Standard Certified Project

Ji’an Swine Farm Animal Manure Management System GHG Mitigation Project introduces new animal waste management systems to a group of 9 swine farms in Ji’an City of Jiangxi Province, which are owned by Jiangxi Zhengbang Breeding Co. Ltd. The purpose of the project activity is to treat the manure and wastewater from the 9 swine farms. The project activity will replace the current open anaerobic lagoons with 9 new closed anaerobic digesters.

Biogas Animal Waste Management

Project	Ji’an Swine Farm Animal Manure Management System
Country	China
Project standard	VER 11238
Type	Biogas - Electricity (GHG Mitigation)
Supplier	Profit Carbon Environmental Energy Technology (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.
Sustainable development goals (SDG)	7, 8, 13
Description	GoldStandard.org

5. Muyuan Nanyang Swine Farm Animal Waste Management

Status: 2021; VER: Verified Emission Reduction; Gold Standard Certified Project

The project activity is to treat the manure and wastewater from swine farms of Muyuan Foods Co.,Ltd., in Nanyang City, Henan Province which consists fourteen subsidiary swine farms. Each subsidiary swine farm will install one animal waste management system, and the manure is treated on site. The purpose of the project activity is to treat the manure and wastewater to avoid methane emissions generated.

Biogas Animal Waste Management

Project	Muyuan Nanyang Swine Farm Animal Waste Management System
Country	China
Project standard	VER 11255
Type	Biogas - Electricity
Supplier	Profit Carbon Environmental Energy Technology (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.
Sustainable development goals (SDG)	8, 12, 13
Description	GoldStandard.org

Improved Cookstoves Project Activity

Status: 2021; VER: Verified Emission Reduction; Gold Standard Certified Project

The goal of this small-scale CPA (SSC-CPA) is to facilitate the transition away from inefficient conventional biomass stoves by providing higher-efficiency and clean burning improved cooking biomass stoves (ICS) to households making residential use of the technology implemented. The baseline scenario was identified using data from a large scale national survey published by the United Nations Comisión Económica para América Latina y el Caribe (UN-CEPAL), report titled Consumo de Leña en Honduras (April 2011). This report shows that on average 69% of interviewed households used firewood as input for cooking food, and over 60% of baseline stove models are traditional designs that use woodfuel.

This SSC-CPA aims to provide both climate and livelihood benefits to the large population of Honduran households currently using inefficient biomass burning stoves.

Improved Cookstoves

Project	Improved Cookstoves Project Activity
Country	Honduras
Project standard	VER 2500
Type	Energy Efficiency - Domestic
Supplier	Envirofit International, Ltd.
Sustainable development goals (SDG)	1, 3, 7, 8, 13, 15
Description	GoldStandard.org

1. Wind Power Project in Karnataka by OMWPL

Status: 2021; VER: Verified Emission Reduction; Gold Standard Certified Project

M/s Orange Mamatkheda Wind Private Limited (OMWPL) is setting up wind power project at villages around Gurmitkal Mandal of Yadgir District, Karnataka with capacity of 60 MW (30 X 2.0 MW). The purpose of the project activity is to generate electrical power using wind energy through operation of Wind Electric.

Wind Power

Project	Wind Power Project in Karnataka by OMWPL
Country	India
Project standard	VER 5799
Type	Wind
Supplier	Orange Renewable Power Pvt Ltd
Sustainable development goals (SDG)	7, 8, 13
Description	GoldStandard.org

2. Renewable Energy Project by Greenko Group

Status: 2021; VER: Verified Emission Reduction; Gold Standard Certified Project

The project activity is a 180 MW solar power project, promoted by SEI Sunshine Power Pvt Ltd in Madhya Pradesh, India. The project will replace anthropogenic emissions of greenhouse gases (GHG’s) estimated to be approximately 295,429 tCO₂e per annum, thereon displacing 315,360 MWh/year amount of electricity from the generation-mix of power plants connected to the Indian electricity grid, which is mainly dominated by thermal/fossil fuel based power plant.

Solar Power

Project	180 MW Renewable Energy Project by Greenko Group
Country	India
Project standard	VER 7724
Type	Solar Thermal - Electricity
Supplier	Orange Renewable Power Pvt Ltd
Sustainable development goals (SDG)	7, 8, 13
Description	GoldStandard.org

3. Solar PV Plant at Bhadla, Rajasthan

Status: 2021; VER: Verified Emission Reduction; Gold Standard Certified Project

The project activity is a 300 MW solar power project, promoted by Clean Solar Power (Bhadla) Pvt. Ltd. at Bhadla, Rajasthan, India. The project will replace anthropogenic emissions of greenhouse gases (GHG’s) estimated to be approximately 492,382 tCO₂e per annum, thereon displacing 525,600 MWh/year amount of electricity from the generation-mix of power plants connected to the Indian electricity grid, which is mainly dominated by thermal/fossil fuel based power plant.

Solar Power

Project	300 MW Solar PV Plant at Bhadla, Rajasthan
Country	India
Project standard	VER 7726
Type	Solar Thermal - Electricity
Supplier	Infinite Environmental Solutions LLP
Sustainable development goals (SDG)	7, 8, 13
Description	GoldStandard.org

Efficient Wood Fuel Stove-Cooking-Sets (Save80)

Status: 2021; VER: Verified Emission Reduction; Gold Standard Certified Project

No smoke with this fire: Save80 stoves

In Lesotho in southern Africa, we have even implemented our own climate project for our GoGreen customers. Together with partners, we are equipping households with efficient Save80 stoves that save up to 80 percent on firewood. This not only reduces greenhouse gas emissions. In fact, people are no longer exposed to harmful smoke when cooking, deforestation and the soil erosion it causes are also reduced - and people can use the time they otherwise spend collecting firewood more profitably.

The project was financed entirely by DHL Group and implemented in cooperation with the non-profit climate protection organization atmosfair and the local partner SolarLights. Our joint project was awarded the national Energy Globe Award for Lesotho in 2018.

All GoGreen calculations and emissions compensation activities are verified annually by the independent auditing company Société Générale de Surveillance (SGS) in accordance with the Greenhouse Gas Protocol Product Lifecycle Accounting and Reporting product standard.

Cookstoves (Save80)

Project	Efficient Wood Fuel Stove-Cooking-Sets (Save80)
Country	Lesotho
Project standard	VER 913
Type	Energy Efficiency - Domestic
Supplier	atmosfair gGmbH
Sustainable development goals (SDG)	5, 7, 8, 13
Description	GoldStandard.org Climate project Save80

Prony and Kafeate wind-farms

Status: 2021; VER: Verified Emission Reduction; Gold Standard Certified Project

The project activity involves six wind farms located in different sites. The generated electricity is exported to the New Caledonian grid. The project therefore replaces grid electricity that is at 80% produced by fossil-fuel power plants.

Wind-farms

Project	Prony and Kafeate wind-farms
Country	New Caledonia
Project standard	VER 566
Type	Wind
Supplier	South Pole Carbon Asset Management Ltd.
Sustainable development goals (SDG)	7, 8, 13
Description	GoldStandard.org

Improved Cookstove and Safe Water Programme

Status: 2021; VER: Verified Emission Reduction; Gold Standard: High quality carbon credit label

The purpose of the PoA is dissemination of improved cooking stoves and low-carbon water purification technologies to households, communities, and institutions in Nigeria and Kenya.

Cookstove and Safe Water

Project	Improved Cookstove and Safe Water Programme
Country	Nigeria
Project standard	VER 11189
Type	Energy Efficiency - Domestic
Supplier	Impact Carbon
Sustainable development goals (SDG)	1, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 12, 13, 15
Description	GoldStandard.org

Improved Cookstoves for Social Impact

Status: 2021; VER: Verified Emission Reduction; Gold Standard Certified Project

This improved cookstove project, developed by Impact Carbon, was the first ever cookstove project to earn Gold Standard certification.

Carbon revenues fund 100% of the Program and are used to support Impact Carbon’s manufacturer partners to grow their businesses. Capital investments have been provided for tools and machinery that streamline production and increase the efficiency of the stoves. These investments have been coupled with best-practice guidelines and hands-on technical assistance, which ensure they can meet demand without compromising quality or efficiency.

Cookstoves Project

Project	Improved Cookstoves for Social Impact in Ugandan Communities
Country	Uganda
Project standard	VER 447
Type	Energy Efficiency - Domestic
Supplier	Impact Carbon
Sustainable development goals (SDG)	3, 13, 15
Description	Goldstandard.org

This summary of the Carbon Credits Standard Guideline gives a little insights into DHL Group's priorities and minimum criteria in the selection of Carbon Credits on the market:

Quality criteria for carbon credits

Carbon Credit Standards can be evaluated based on the goal to achieve credible and reliable standards providing long lasting positive impact on environment and social aspects.

Minimum criteria for high credibility include:

High quality standards have a defined methodology for monitoring and validation, and the process is conducted by an unbiased body which is not directly related to the project.

Carbon credits emitted by projects of a certain standard must be published. Project registries showing eligible projects as well as the carbon credits (with unique serial numbers and issuance years) are the preferred choice here. In order to avoid double counting, the party representing the standard shall have transparency and regulated methodologies in accounting. This includes a transparent tracking system for reduced emissions. Offset emissions shall only be claimed by a buyer and not by a seller.

The reduced carbon emission shall be permanent without reverse effect. Due to the high risk of non-permanence because of natural disasters, illegal logging and unsuccessful bedding we refrain from using reforestation projects as a means of offsetting.

The project must reduce or remove greenhouse gas emissions from the atmosphere and exist due to the presence of carbon markets and funds provided by selling certified carbon credits.

DHL Group is committed to the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals. Hence it is relevant and beneficial for the Group that the purchased carbon credits tackle social and economic issues in addition to climate change topics.

Leakage assessment shall be mitigated through leakage contracts prohibiting shifting environmental harmful activities to different locations or creating incentives to maintain emission reduction in the community. If mitigation is not possible, the carbon emission created by leakage effects are deducted from the carbon credits emitted by the project.

All the aforementioned criteria are tedious to check on a project to project level. That is why DHL Group is relying on international carbon credit certification schemes such as the international "Gold Standard". This is one of the major carbon credit programs. It has a high level of credibility based on the methodology taken in accounting and assessment of the projects. To read a detailed methodology procedures established by Gold Standard, please refer to the official website of "Gold Standard" here.

Of course projects certified by one or more additional standards at the same time are most welcome.

Further criteria

Additionally to credibility criteria, we have certain preferences in selecting projects for the portfolio based on type of projects, size, region, and vintage:

For our portfolio we focus on tech based solutions.

Renewable energy
Renewable energy projects promote a shift from fossil fuels to green energy through hydropower, wind power, solar panels or biomass projects. The promotion of renewable energy creates a transition from fossil fuels, which stimulates long-term reduction of CO₂ emissions and a climate-friendly economy by lowering prices for renewable energy. This positively affects the Groups goal to increase its share of green electricity.
Often, the projects are established in rural areas, positively affecting local employment and energy supply. This also leads to social benefits, one of the pillars of sustainable development.
Waste disposal
Focusing on the efficiency of capturing emissions during biological processes regarding organic waste. Instead of releasing the byproducts of degradation into the atmosphere, they are contained and used to produce energy. Thus, waste disposal projects do not only reduce the emission of greenhouse gases but also produce renewable energy.
Household devices
Distributing cleaner-burning stoves or water purification devices to reduce or eliminate the need to burn wood. In addition to the environmental benefits of emission reduction, eliminating the need to collect vast amounts of wood on a daily basis also brings social benefits by improving the quality of life of local people. These projects are usually rather small, but have a massive effect on a local scale, changing the daily routines of the people using the devices.

DHL Group is the primary sponsor of the Save80 project in Lesotho, making this project a cornerstone of the GoGreen offsetting activities.

As small projects tend to have a greater positive impact on the local society, we prefer the purchasing of small scale projects. However, large scale projects are eligible for the portfolio, as our demand is usually too high to be settled with microscale projects alone.

Overall, a diverse project and location portfolio is paramount. In accordance to the Kyoto Protocol, we try to concentrate our purchasing activities on areas where they can show the most positive side effects. In consequence, we do not buy certificates from projects located in highly developed countries. In particular, no credits shall be obtained from projects located in the EU, Northern America and Australia. Instead, the developing countries in Asia, Africa and Central- and South-America shall be preferred. Among these, countries ranking higher in the list of poor countries according to IMF or World Bank should be preferred.

Carbon credits are emitted on a yearly basis. The year of issuance is called the "vintage" of the credit. Younger vintages are preferred over older ones as they are a more appropriate reflection of the current state of the art regarding both regulations and technology. In consequence, we try to avoid very old vintages (5 years or older).