The “Hessische Klima-Partner” projects would help reduce CO2 emissions by more than 30,400 tonnes in this year and 2006 together, according to the evaluation report, which was undertaken by the Dresdner Bank spin-off 3C.

The emissions reduction projects were not intended to sell the products the companies involved offer, but more for improving their image. The projects, which involved various efforts including the sale of climate-neutral freezers and investment in a biogas facility, proved that a market for climate neutrality was emerging as an instrument for both climate protection and marketing purposes, the report said.

Although retail customers had been very appreciative of the idea, they were not willing to make any extra payments for products labeled climate neutral yet, the report conceded, but this might change later in this decade when more and more effects of climate change should become visible.

© PointCarbon 2005