The principle of carbon-neutrality
According to current scientific knowledge, the emission
of greenhouse gases is mainly responsible for the climate change.
The most relevant greenhouse gas is carbon dioxide
(CO
2).
Further greenhouse gases defined in the Kyoto Protocol are
calculated in
CO
2
equivalents
(CO
2e).
The most important greenhouse gas emissions are generated by the
combustion of fossil fuels.
Calculation model
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
CO
2
footprint of printing presses.
Identifying the
CO
2footprint
of the printing press (cradle to gate) and the transport to the
customer 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
CO
2
footprint. In this case, not only the
CO
2
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
CO
2
driver is not the steel, but the electronic components.
The Fraunhofer Institut UMSICHT certifies that Heidelberger
Druckmaschinen AG calculates the
CO
2
footprint for manufacturing printing presses according to the
rules.
Certification:
here
Certificates
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 obtain the certificates of the
Togo project which supports an afforestation
project according to the CarbonFix standard.
The
"CO
2-neutral"
label
In the future, the commitment to climate protection can be a
factor that is decisive for the growth of your business. The
"CO
2
-neutral" label that identifies the carbon-neutrality of the
machine is just beside the Heidelberg logo. This illustrates the
ecological commitment of the print shop and assists in its
differentiation.