The climate protection projects for compensation of greenhouse gas emissions, in which GLS Germany invests in cooperation with ClimatePartner, contribute to the avoidance and removal of greenhouse gas emissions from the atmosphere as well to the support of sustainable forest management and afforestation (see project overview below). The impact of these climate protection projects results from the afforestation (approx. 13,000 hectares) and preservation of the CO₂ storage capacity of forests (approx. 8,000 hectares) in Colombia as well as the expansion of wind and solar energy plants in India, which reduces the use of fossil energy generation plants and avoids the greenhouse gas emissions associated with electricity generation.

As GLS Germany, we offer our business customers the compensation of greenhouse gas emissions resulting from parcel shipping through climate protection projects selected by us in cooperation with ClimatePartner as an individual service on request. This service includes the compensation of the amount of greenhouse gas emissions resulting from the calculated product of the number of parcel and freight shipments of business customers multiplied by the value of the average greenhouse gas emissions (CO₂ equivalents per parcel and freight shipment) for the respective shipping country.

As our compensation partner, ClimatePartner acquires on behalf of General Logistics Systems B.V. (GLS B.V.) on the voluntary compensation market so-called Verified Emission Reductions (VERs) - which confirm that a certain amount of greenhouse gas emissions has been reduced, avoided or removed through climate protection projects - in the amount of greenhouse gas emissions calculated and selected for GLS Germany for compensation (approx. 140,000 t CO₂ equivalents for the financial year 2025/26 / 01.04.2025 - 31.03.2026).

On the basis of these VERs, ClimatePartner issues its own compensation certificates for the business customers of GLS Germany who make use of compensation as a service on request, which confirm that the amount of greenhouse gas emissions stated on the certificates has been compensated.

The GLS B.V. website provides a detailed overview of the process from the purchase of the VERs to the issuance of the compensation certificates by ClimatePartner.

The climate protection projects supported by GLS Germany are certified according to international standards, such as the Gold Standard (GS), developed by WWF and other environmental organizations.

As an international standard for the certification of climate protection projects, the GS is characterized by a focus on additional sustainability aspects next to the consideration of greenhouse gas emissions. Projects certified in accordance with the GS therefore also make a positive contribution to sustainable development and environmental protection.

The climate protection projects for compensation of greenhouse gas emissions in which GLS Germany invests in cooperation with ClimatePartner differ according to the type of verified emission reductions (VERs) on which they are based.

VERs for the avoidance of emissions (so-called “avoidance carbon credits”) are derived from compensation projects that prevent potential greenhouse gas emissions from being released into the atmosphere. For example, renewable energy projects - such as wind and solar power - that replace fossil fuel-based electricity sources contribute to the avoidance of future greenhouse gas emissions.

VERs for the removal of emissions (so-called “removal carbon credits”) are derived by compensation projects that remove already emitted greenhouse gas emissions from the atmosphere and store them over an extended period of time. For example, afforestation and reforestation projects remove greenhouse gases by absorbing CO₂ through photosynthesis processes and storing it in trees.