Following international eco-balance standards, Heidelberg - in co-operation with the TU Darmstadt (Darmstadt University of Technology) - has elaborated a method for precisely calculating the CO2 footprint of printing presses.
The CO2 footprint of the printing press is calculated according to cradle to gate principle i.e. without taking into account transport to your print shop. It is based on a detailed analysis of energy consumption and transport needs, as well as on the percentage of the various materials with their specific CO2 footprint. In this case, not only the CO2 emissions caused during the production at Heidelberg will be taken into consideration, but also those of the suppliers. Depending on the equipment, approx. 260 tons of carbon dioxide are generated during the manufacturing of a Speedmaster XL 106-6+L. The percentage inherent to the material and the energy needed for production tends to be equal. The material's largest CO2 driver is not the steel, but the electronic components.
The Fraunhofer Institut UMSICHT certifies that Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG calculates the CO2 footprint for manufacturing printing presses according to the rules.
Greenhouse gas emissions generated during the manufacturing of a printing press are compensated by purchasing climate protection certificates which correspond to the Carbon Footprint of the press. The emission credits or certificates are attributed to specific climate protection projects. Heidelberg has decided to invest emission credits in certificates which are certified according to the Gold standard, the latest in date being the Sodo project.
Print shops that offer certified carbon neutral products position themselves to attract and retain consumers who want to reduce their impact on the climate while demonstrating leadership in the fight against climate change. Today, more than 30 print shops around the world have acquired the Heidelberg "Equipment CO2-neutral" certificate.
Today, climate protection is a key success factor and a selling point for businesses. Print shops which have acquired the Heidelberg Equipment CO2-neutral certificate can demonstrate their environmental commitment to their customers in multiple ways:
How does the project contribute to the individual Sustainable Development Goals? What is the aim of the project? How is it improving the livelihood of the community and the environment around them? Find all the answers to these questions and more in the Sodo Reforestation project report.
To help where it is needed, Heidelberg cooperates with World Vision.
World Vision's reforestation project in Ethiopia, Mount Damota near the city of Sodo addresses the most pressing issue of the region.
Besides the reforestation, the project has many other positive effects on the region's eco-system:
protection against soil erosion, increased biodiversity, improvement of the local microclimate, help to the local population, positive impact on schools and much more.
