“pro clima” shipping
Voluntary climate protection outside our value chain

The storage of slurry and manure causes methane emissions – a greenhouse gas that is around 28 times more harmful to the climate than CO₂. The “Swiss biodigestersTarget not accessible” project run by eco-electricity Switzerland uses modern biodigesters on farms to capture this methane and convert it into renewable energy. This generates electricity and heat for households and businesses, replaces fossil fuels and saves tens of thousands of tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per year. The biodigesters help to strengthen local, renewable energy supply and reduce dependence on energy from abroad. The project currently involves 27 biodigesters throughout Switzerland.

In addition to the environmental benefits, the project promotes a sustainable circular economy: the fermentation residues from biogas production serve as high-quality fertilizers and replace nutrients of mineral origin. Regional added value is strengthened by securing jobs in rural areas and creating new economic prospects. The social effects are evident in the promotion of innovation and cooperation between agriculture, the energy sector and research. All systems are regularly certified in accordance with ISO 14064 and Gold Standard and meet the highest standards of monitoring, reporting and transparency.

Standards: ISO 14064 and Gold Standard

The planting and maintenance of standard fruit trees is a traditional agricultural practice, but it has declined sharply in recent decades. The Switzerland-wide climate protection programme “Support programme for standard fruit treesTarget not accessible” supports farms with a one-off subsidy for each newly planted standard fruit tree. The aim is to plant a total of 15,000 new standard fruit trees between 2022 and 2028, making an important contribution to climate protection, biodiversity and a diverse cultural landscape. The planted trees act as a carbon sink and contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions: over 50 years, a net 2.1 tonnes of CO₂ are stored per tree.

The programme creates a financial incentive for farmers, as the planting and maintenance of standard fruit trees without support is not economically viable. Besides the climate impact, standard fruit trees promote biodiversity, protect against soil erosion and provide habitats for numerous animal species. Participation in the programme is subject to clear criteria, including maintenance of the trees for at least 10 years and participation in monitoring.

The climate protection programme “Support programme for standard fruit trees” calculates the emission reductions based on scientific principles and has the data verified externally. The programme will save a total of around 31,500 tonnes of CO₂. The support can be combined with direct payments from the Confederation, the canton and the municipalities, but not with other standard fruit tree support programmes.

Standard: myclimate Guidelines for Domestic Projects

Project number: 7831

In Peru’s high-altitude Andean regions, where temperatures can drop below 0 °C, families often use open fires for cooking and heating. To provide families with modern cookstoves and improve their quality of life in an environmentally friendly way, the Qori Q’oncha programmeTarget not accessible was founded in 2018. Qori Q’oncha means “golden cookstoves” in the Quechua language of Peru.

With 134,573 improved cookstoves, the Qori Q’oncha programme has achieved a total emission reduction of almost 3 million tonnes of CO₂. For more than 14 years, Qori Q’oncha has benefited more than 600,000 people, including thousands of rural families who previously lacked access to sustainable energy sources.

In addition to the environmental benefits, the project also has social and economic impacts: the improved cookstoves allow women to breathe less smoke, children to spend more time learning and attending school, and households to spend less on fuel.

The programme is based on the gold standard methodology, the effects of which on the climate and society are reviewed on a regular basis. Financing is provided through the sale of emission certificates, the impact of which is documented in a transparent, traceable and verifiable manner. Qori Q’oncha supports 11 Sustainable Development Goals (1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 11, 12, 13, 15 and 16). The project has received many awards and is considered a pioneering model for international cooperation and sustainable development in Peru.

Standard: Gold Standard

Project number: GS1005

The climate protection projectTarget not accessible for the disposal and recycling of refrigerators, freezers and air conditioning units in Brazil is based on Swiss standards and was initiated in 2008 by the Swiss Fair Recycling Foundation. The aim is to ensure the proper treatment of equipment containing CFC and HFC gases that are harmful to the climate. Employees use these methods to destroy these gases in a verifiable and irreversible manner. Since the start of the project, Fair Recycling has processed over 1.4 million devices, and in 2024 alone eliminated around 118,000 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents. A local partner operates the recycling facilities and is continually developing them, including the construction of a new factory with a photovoltaic system and modern technologies.

In addition to the environmental effects, the project also has social and economic impacts. Secure jobs are being created, and employees and waste collectors (“catadores”) can receive targeted training. One example of this is the microlearning project, which provides access to qualifications via digital channels. The project contributes to several goals of the United Nations 2030 Agenda, including high-quality education, decent work and sustainable production. The project is supported by Swiss authorities and international partners and is part of funding programmes such as REPIC.

Standard: Swiss Charter Standard

As part of the moorland projectTarget not accessible involving the rewetting of the raised bog in Sous-Martel-Dernier (Neuchâtel, Switzerland), a unique landscape has been renatured. Targeted rewetting ensures that carbon is stored permanently in the peat soil, avoiding large amounts of CO₂ emissions. Over 50 years, around 925 tonnes of CO₂ can be saved per hectare of raised bog. Besides this important contribution to climate protection, the project also promotes biodiversity, improves flood protection and contributes to the conservation of valuable habitats for rare animal and plant species.

In addition to its environmental impact, the project also has social and economic impacts, benefiting both tourism and the local construction industry.

The emission reductions are calculated using the max.moor calculation approach and verified externally. The funding is earmarked and is used entirely to protect the peatlands. Monitoring and inspection of the impact are carried out by myclimate and independent experts.

Standard: myclimate Guidelines for Domestic Projects

Project number: 7823–008