Topac Offers Climate-Neutral Packaging

Climate protection goals is playing an increasingly important role in media production as well. Together with the company Climate Partner, the Arvato subsidiary Top now offers its customers the possibility to produce in a way that is carbon neutral.

In addition to avoiding and reducing the so-called CO2 footprint – for example with sensible packaging concepts, the use of recycled materials, refinements made of renewable raw material and better energy efficiency – Topac now offers its customers the possibility to offset with carbon neutral packaging.

The term "carbon neutral" needs to be specified; Carsten Schnier, Product Manager of Topac, explained the context: "Carbon neutral means that a product is selectively produced, used and recycled without carbon emissions – which is rarely realized – or that the generated emissions are saved elsewhere. Therefore, companies, processes or products whose greenhouse gas emissions are calculated and offset by the acquisition of emission certificates are described as carbon neutral."

Emissions certificate trading is strictly regulated; the issuing climate protection projects are examined and evaluated by experts. Special service providers assure that partners worldwide come together. Here, Topac cooperates with Climate Partner, a company that is already a strategic partner of Mohn Media. The main focus is on media production, which is one of the main causes of CO2 emissions. Since April 2011 Topac has been able to determine and account for the product carbon footprint (PCF) of packages and individual print orders with the TÜV-tested computer of Climate Partner. On this basis, customers of the Arvato company can declare their packaging as carbon neutral by acquiring recognized emission certificates. Topac also offers assistance for the selection of climate protection projects.

The additional cost to customers ranges between 0.5 and two percent of the order value. Carsten Schnier explains the advantages: "The individual certificate number allows for the clear communication of the climate protection commitment. This label can be integrated in the packaging's graphics, and our customers thus have a direct advertising effect."