Carbon-neutral
Swisscom has reduced its greenhouse gas emissions by more than 80% over the past few decades. Our remaining, unavoidable emissions are offset via myclimate. This is how the we became a carbon-neutral operation. Swisscom now also enables its customers to offset the carbon emission of products.
Now rated a “carbon-neutral operation”
Together with myclimate, we calculated the CO2 emissions generated by our operations. Through the offset and our support for climate protection projects, we ensure that we make up for these emissions in full in other ways.
How a “carbon-neutral operation” works
The externally verified climate report is the basis for calculating the CO2 emissions to be offset. This offset is used to cover the emissions created by our internal operations as well as upstream emissions such as those produced by energy and fuel extraction or the manufacture of network equipment.
Carbon offset products
CO2 emissions of purchased products like smartphones, tablets or accessories are not covered by their climate-neutral operation. That is why in cooperation with our partner South Pole, we are offering our customers the opportunity to carbon offset these products’ CO2 emissions for a small surcharge.
Did you know?
80 kg of CO2
That’s the scale of the CO2 footprint of a smartphone over its entire life cycle
Number of smartphones which have been carbon offset so far:
970 pieces
This corresponds to the amount of CO2 that
11'640 trees
absorb in one year.
Last amended: 21.12.2020
How offsets work
South Pole’s climate protection experts use a model to help them determine how many emissions are associated with the purchase of a specific product – from mining raw materials to production and delivery to customers. A smartphone’s carbon footprint over its entire life cycle, for example, amounts to about 80 kg CO2.
Climate projection projects
We support various climate projection projects that are proven to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Amount of offset
Offset your products’ carbon footprint by paying a surcharge. South Pole invests this money in various forest conservation projects.
Frequently asked questions
Here you’ll find the most important answers regarding the sale of carbon offset products.
What’s it all about?
Swisscom gives its customers the opportunity to carbon offset their product purchase with an additional payment.
What does carbon offset mean?
During the production, use and manufacturing of a product, greenhouse gases (GHG) are emitted which accelerate climate change. By investing in a climate protection project, these emissions are prevented in another location or extracted from the atmosphere, thus offsetting the product’s emissions.
Where can products be carbon offset at the time of purchase?
This offer is currently only available in the shop on site.
Exactly what emissions are carbon offset?
The emissions which occur during the production, operation and disposal of products are carbon offset.
How is the amount of emissions to be offset per product calculated?
With the help of a model of our business partner South Pole, the entire lifecycle of a product is analysed and the GHG emissions are calculated.
How are the emissions offset?
The carbon offsetting payment is invested in forest conservation projects in Congo and in the Canton of Schwyz which protect forests from forest clearance and enable reforestation. Moreover, part of the payment flows into projects in China which encourage renewable energies.
How much does it cost to carbon offset a product?
This depends on what product is to be carbon offset. A tablet causes considerably more CO2 emissions than a smartphone case. Therefore, the necessary carbon offsetting payment for a tablet is higher than that for a cover. In order to carbon offset the emissions from the products offered by Swisscom, when investing in the projects selected, a carbon offsetting payment of between CHF 1 and CHF 8 per product is required.
What does Swisscom earn from the carbon offsetting payments?
The carbon offsetting payment is transferred in full to South Pole. Swisscom therefore does not earn anything from this offsetting.
What happens to the carbon offsetting payment if the carbon offset product is returned?
The carbon offsetting payment is transferred directly to our business partner South Pole, and can therefore not be reimbursed.
Why should I carbon offset?
Climate change is a problem we must face together. By carbon offsetting their product, our customers also contribute to climate protection.
Why is the carbon offsetting payment identical for some products?
The emissions caused by the various products vary. However, in order to simplify the billing process, our partner South Pole has put products with similar emissions in the same category. The amount of the calculated carbon offsetting payments covers the emissions of all products in the corresponding category.
Why South Pole?
South Pole is the leading supplier of sustainable climate protection solutions and thus our business partner for the carbon offsetting of products. South Pole enables us to choose from more than 700 certified climate protection projects, in order to offset emissions.
What does South Pole guarantee?
South Pole guarantees that the projects invested in result in lower greenhouse gas emissions or extract CO2 from the atmosphere.