Support for Climate Projects
What does GLS offer its customers?
Since 1 April 2026, GLS Austria offers to clients a service for financing climate projects:
This service is available upon customer’s individual request and includes an emissions allowance calculated based on the number of the customer’s parcel and freight deliveries multiplied by the value corresponding to the average CO2/parcel for the relevant country.
How Are Climate Projects funded?
We cooperate with ClimatePartner GmbH, Munich (“ ClimatePartner ”) to finance climate projects. See below: “ In which climate protection projects does GLS Austria invest during 1 April 2025 and 31 March 2026? ”
How does the service/program actually work?
Climate protection projects aim to reduce or avoid greenhouse gas emissions, for example by financing renewable energy projects of third-party communities and protecting rainforests from deforestation. The climate protection projects listed here are certified according to international standards, such as Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) or Gold Standard (GS) and are regularly verified by independent third parties. See below: " What does the certification standard of the climate protection projects mean? "
ClimatePartner purchases Verified Emission Reductions (VERs) generated by climate protection projects in an amount calculated annually based on the corresponding GLS emissions.
Based on these VERs, ClimatePartner issues its own certificates for GLS Austria customers who use the service. These certificates confirm that the amount of emissions specified in the certificate has been offset.
The following timeline provides a detailed overview of the process at GLS B.V. and GLS Austria, starting with the purchase of emission credits from Climate Partner and ending with the issuance of customer certificates.
From purchasing emission credits to issuing customer certificates - Exemplary process during April 1, 2025 and March 31, 2026
The exact times may vary slightly.
In which climate protection projects invest GLS Austria during 1 April, 2025 and 31 March, 2026?
We are investing in third-party projects outside our value chain. See below: “What is the difference between avoidance and removal carbon credits?”
| Project Region and Country | Project type | Certification Standard |
| Supported climate protection projects that avoid emissions from being emitted into the atmosphere: | ||
| Guttigoli, India | Solar energy | Gold Standard VER (GS VER) |
| Gadhsisa, India | Wind energy | Gold Standard VER (GS VER) |
| Gia Lai, Vietnam | Wind energy | Gold Standard VER (GS VER) |
| Gyapa, Ghana | Cook stove | Gold Standard VER (GS VER) |
What does the certification standard of the offsetting projects mean?
The supported projects meet the Gold Standard (GS) or Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) in conjunction with the Climate, Community and Biodiversity Standard (CCBS). See table from previous sections.
The GS (developed by WWF and other environmental organizations) and VCS (developed by the non-governmental organization VERRA) are standards for voluntary emissions trading. Offsetting projects can be verified and certified by the VCS and GS based on their respective criteria and requirements (e.g. the criterion of additionality).
The Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) is a widely recognized global standard for certifying greenhouse gas emissions reduction and removal projects. It provides a framework to ensure the accuracy, transparency and credibility of carbon offset projects, which generate carbon credits or carbon reductions (VERs) that can be traded in carbon markets. The VCS can be combined with the Climate, Community and Biodiversity Standard (CCBS), which is an additional standard and focuses on social and further environmental aspects.
The Gold Standard (GS) is another internationally recognized standard for certifying carbon offset projects. What sets it apart is its strong focus on sustainability and co-benefits, such as social and environmental impacts in addition to emissions reductions. Projects certified under the Gold Standard adhere to rigorous criteria, making them contributing positively to sustainable development and environmental protection.
What is the difference between avoidance and removal carbon credits?
Emissions avoidance credits come from climate projects that prevent potential carbon emissions from entering the atmosphere. One example is renewable energy projects that replace fossil fuels with clean energy sources, thereby avoiding future emissions.
Removal carbon credits are generated by offsetting projects that remove already emitted carbon emissions from the atmosphere and store them for an extended period of time. An example of such a project is reforestation, which reduces carbon by absorbing CO₂ through photosynthesis and storing it in trees.