Climate protection in Swiss shipping: How companies and customers can make a difference together
How can climate protection contributions be structured in such a way that they are effective, transparent and credible? This question is on the minds of many companies across a wide range of industries. This article takes a closer look at the Swiss shipping sector, where emissions cannot be entirely avoided but where there is a strong awareness of nature and the environment.
Taking responsibility beyond one’s own operations
BLS Schifffahrt AG is aware of its responsibility towards the environment, society and the economy, and aims to systematically embed sustainability in its operations and services. Since July 2023, BLS Schifffahrt has been working with Swiss Climate to complement this commitment by supporting a local climate protection project. At the heart of this is a project for sustainable forest management in Wattenwil and Blumenstein, in the canton of Bern. This project is regionally rooted, professionally supervised and has a demonstrable, measurable impact on the climate.
Enabling climate protection together and for customers too
A key element of this commitment is the involvement of charter customers. They have the opportunity to support the local forest project with a voluntary climate protection contribution. BLS Schifffahrt AG doubles this contribution, turning a voluntary commitment into a joint climate protection contribution. This model exemplifies how companies can offer their customers a low-threshold and transparent opportunity to get involved. Without obligation, but with a clear impact.
Why a local forest project?
The supported forest area in Wattenwil and Blumenstein covers around 1,016 hectares. Climate-adaptive forestry with optimised CO2 storage means less timber is harvested than under conventional management; this additional climate benefit (additionality) generates around 2,000 CO2 certificates annually, each representing one tonne of stored CO2. In addition to the climate impact as a natural carbon sink in the region, the focus is also on biodiversity, forest health and regional value creation.
As a climate partner, Swiss Climate ensures that the project is technically verified, that the climate impact is quantified in a verifiable manner, that funds are used for their intended purpose and in compliance with regulations, and that transparent monitoring is guaranteed.
The commitment of BLS Schifffahrt and its charter customers to the local forest project in Wattenwil and Blumenstein demonstrates how climate protection can succeed: strategically planned, locally implemented and jointly supported by companies and customers.
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