Carbon-neutral IT leasing with carbonZER0

Company PCs, smartphones, and servers generate tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions, with the bulk of these CO₂ emissions generated during production. That is why, for more than 40 years, CHG-MERIDIAN has been offering end-of-life services based on the professional refurbishing and sustainable reuse of used IT devices, in line with the principles of the circular economy. We are now taking this one step further with carbonZER0. For the first time, our customers can offset the CO₂ generated in the production, transportation, use phase, and end-of-life scenarios of their leased IT assets.

Alongside measures to avoid and reduce CO₂ emissions, offsetting is an important step that allows companies to operate more sustainably and to make a positive contribution toward climate change mitigation. Thanks to carbonZER0, our new financing upgrade, our customers can pay to offset the total CO₂ emissions of their IT assets. This financing option is available internationally, with 100% of the money generated used to finance certified projects aimed at combating climate change. The monthly lease instalment increases only marginally. For example, the cost of making a smartphone carbon-neutral is just a few pence.

Using the carbonZER0 financing upgrade requires no additional time or effort from customers. They enjoy the benefits of a complete package that allows them to select and manage their climate change mitigation projects and includes recognised emissions certificates and the calculation of CO₂ emissions using a certified calculation logic. The calculation considers production, transportation, and the electricity consumed during the use phase and end-of-lease scenarios of the IT assets. We also take into account any differences related to the device type and manufacturer by adding a percentage-based markup.

Once the calculation has been completed, the greenhouse gases generated are offset. This can be done in a variety of ways, either by purchasing certificates on voluntary carbon markets or by investing directly in climate change mitigation projects. Selecting and regularly auditing these is an important step. Through carbonZER0, CHG-MERIDIAN is supporting internationally recognised and certified climate change mitigation projects. All of these projects ensure sustainable development at the economic, social, and environmental level in the respective countries in line with the UN’s 17 sustainable development goals. In return, the customer receives a certificate as proof of the CO₂ emissions saved. This guarantees that the savings will only be used to offset CO₂ emissions once; the related certifications are subsequently retired in the official registers. Both the certificate and the information on which assets are carbon-neutral can be viewed digitally in TESMA® – simple, transparent, and straightforward.

Customers that have taken up the carbonZER0 option are currently supporting solar power generation in northern Namibia, including the on-site medical provision and the expansion of local schools. In South Sulawesi, the money from our customers’ carbon offsetting is financing a wind power project in Jeneponto, while in southern Sri Lanka it is funding a hydroelectric plant that will provide carbon-neutral power to the island. As forests are some of the Earth’s most important carbon sinks, carbonZER0 also supports the protection of a 100,000-hectare area of forest in the Madre de Dios region in Peru. This project alone is saving an average of 660,000 tonnes of CO₂ every year. Our climate change mitigation projects meet internationally recognised standards. The projects are checked and certified according to the Gold Standard, the Verified Carbon Standard (VCS), and the Climate, Community and Biodiversity Standard (CCBS) to prove that criteria are being met. This ensures – and regularly confirms – that the projects are effective in combating climate change.

Customers and investors have long been demanding sustainable solutions. What might once have been an afterthought, such as climate-neutral business practices or green IT, is now often crucial to a business's success. Environmental protection has become a corporate objective and sustainable procurement a moral obligation. Sustainability and combating climate change have become a must for companies – from an environmental, social, and commercial perspective. carbonZER0 allows our customers to not only enhance their image through carbon-neutral IT financing but also to make a truly positive and transparent contribution to their environmental footprint.

Our carbonZER0 product allows customers to offset the CO₂ emissions that are generated in the production, use phase, and end-of-lease phase of their equipment, including all transportation. It takes the form of an add-on payment that is used to support selected international projects aimed at mitigating climate change.

carbonZER0 is available internationally for all IT assets.

Yes. Periphery devices (e.g. chargers and keyboards) are included in the calculation.

Climate change mitigation projects that have been proven to reduce greenhouse gas emissions make a significant contribution to the fight against global warming. They can take the form of forest conservation activities, reforestation, or investment in renewable energies. They also promote sustainable development in the individual countries, for example, by improving the supply of clean drinking water, expanding local infrastructure, creating jobs, or preserving biodiversity.

Yes. The customer is given a certificate of the CO₂ emissions saved. This is issued in accordance with international standards. It guarantees that the savings will only be used to offset CO₂ emissions once; the related certificates are subsequently retired in the official registers.