In the context of climate protection, more and more companies are aiming to reduce and offset their carbon footprint — LILLYDOO is one of them! In collaboration with ClimatePartner, we calculate and offset all greenhouse gases emitted during the production of our products, shipping, and waste disposal.

How do companies like LILLYDOO achieve climate neutrality? How can you act in favor of the climate as a consumer? How does ClimatePartner help make the world a little more sustainable? In this interview with ClimatePartner, we answer these questions and more.

Let's get started!

The mission of ClimatePartner

What is ClimatePartner, and what exactly does it do?

We have been helping companies actively participate in climate protection for over 15 years. To do this, we have developed a wide range of solutions that enable companies to work with us to calculate their CO₂ emissions, identify reduction opportunities, and offset the remaining emissions through certified climate protection projects according to international standards. In this way, they or their products achieve what is known as climate neutrality. But that's not all: we also advise on strategies and methods to save or reduce emissions and develop climate protection projects. This significantly contributes to CO₂ emission savings and also supports local sustainable development, as required by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

What was the motivation for founding ClimatePartner?

It is clear that we must act now and use all the tools at our disposal to protect the climate. In the beginning, most companies were somewhat unresponsive, as the issue of climate protection was not yet as ingrained in people's minds as it is now. But this is exactly where we wanted to start: encouraging companies to stop fearing their carbon footprint and motivating them to take responsibility for it.

Climate neutrality in companies

What does it mean for a product or a company to be climate-neutral or to have climate neutrality?

"Climate-neutral" means that CO₂ emissions are recorded and calculated according to common standards such as the Greenhouse Gas Protocol (GHG Protocol) and are offset through certified climate protection projects that save emissions in the same amount. The result, therefore, is climate neutrality in the balance. Of course, only emissions that cannot be reduced or avoided should be offset. Therefore, if no ongoing measures are taken to reduce emissions, it cannot be said that real help is being provided to protect the climate.

How can carbon neutrality be achieved?

The principle of climate neutrality and carbon offsetting was established in the Kyoto Protocol of 1997 and the Paris Climate Agreement of 2015 and is based on the understanding that greenhouse gases are evenly distributed in the atmosphere. Therefore, to achieve climate neutrality, emissions caused in one place on Earth can be offset elsewhere, as is done in climate protection projects. In this way, the balance is maintained.

How are the CO₂ emissions of products, services, and companies calculated? What is the final sum?

To calculate CO₂ emissions, we follow strict standards. In the case of products, for example, there are approaches that include emissions from raw material production, processing, logistics, and transportation, as well as packaging, customer use, and disposal. The respective consumption data, such as energy, water, raw materials, etc., are collected and converted into CO₂ equivalents.

Why does CO₂ offsetting play such an important role in a holistic approach to climate protection?

Not all companies can reduce their emissions as much as they would like. Either their carbon footprint is very small, or they are highly environmentally conscious and have already reduced a large part of their emissions.

On the other hand, sectors with a fundamentally large carbon footprint typically do not yet have alternatives to their products or services. However, by supporting climate protection projects, these companies can also offset the emissions that they currently cannot reduce or avoid in their products or services. Based on this, carbon offsetting can have a positive effect until new reduction technologies and alternative production processes are introduced, or the company adopts more sustainable models.

In addition to the opportunity to avoid or reduce emissions, carbon offset projects also promote sustainable development in the countries where they are implemented—for example, by improving access to clean water and sanitation, expanding local infrastructure, creating jobs, or contributing to biodiversity conservation. The UN SDGs are a globally recognized benchmark for measuring these positive impacts. They include direct and indirect actions on climate change through improved education, the fight against poverty and hunger, job creation, and the introduction of clean and affordable energy sources.

Climate protection projects

How does ClimatePartner select participation in projects?

When selecting a carbon offset project, we ensure that it is internationally certified and meets high-quality standards, such as the Gold Standard, Verified Carbon Standard, and FSC certification. We also have an internal process to verify the participation of local partners.

Currently, LILLYDOO supports a wind energy project in Maharashtra (India). Can you tell us more about this project?

In India, in Georai (Maharashtra), LILLYDOO supports a project to promote renewable energy. A total of 40 wind turbines have been installed to produce eco-friendly energy. Since India's energy supply is mainly based on fossil fuels, the wind farm generates more environmentally friendly energy. This saves approximately 137,000 tons of CO₂ emissions per year. But that's not all: the project also contributes to sustainable development by creating many jobs in the region. In this way, LILLYDOO supports the financing and viability of this project.

Why does ClimatePartner support projects on the other side of the world instead of doing so here, in front of us?

Greenhouse gas emissions are evenly distributed in the atmosphere, so it is irrelevant for the climate where the emissions are saved. Climate protection projects in developing and recently industrialized countries contribute to sustainable growth because, in addition to saving CO₂ emissions, they help improve sanitation conditions, create new jobs, or provide educational opportunities for the populations in the project regions, for example.

However, to promote regional engagement in environmental and climate protection at the local level, ClimatePartner offers so-called combined projects in Germany and many other European countries. In this case, CO₂ emissions are fully offset with one of our internationally certified climate protection projects, and additionally, for each ton of CO₂ offset, a regional initiative in Germany or Europe is voluntarily supported. In this way, we combine regional commitment with the guarantee of emission savings.

Consumers and climate neutrality

What is the importance of the ClimatePartner certificate for consumers?

Today's consumers want more transparency and clear information to make better purchasing decisions. Our CO₂ offset label is recognized by many independent and government organizations, making it a guarantee of reliability.

For each product and company involved in CO₂ offsetting, we provide an individual identification number so that consumers can see all the details of the offset. This transparency is important and necessary, as it is the only way to give consumers an understanding of what they are consuming.

How can consumers contribute to climate protection, aside from their consumption choices?

Choosing products from a company that offsets CO₂ emissions not only helps protect the climate, but also encourages the company to continue its commitment. However, reducing consumption is one of the most powerful tools for climate protection today.

Thanks to our collaboration with ClimatePartner, at LILLYDOO we offset all CO₂ emissions generated by our company. This includes the entire supply chain of our products, as well as offices and logistics facilities, and business travel. Of course, we also work to reduce our carbon footprint and make our products even more sustainable. This is the case, for example, with our LILLYDOO green line, whose , and contain the smallest possible amount of plastic. The remaining plastic is offset in collaboration with Plastic Bank.

Additionally, LILLYDOO green diapers and training pants are packaged in paper packaging, making LILLYDOO the first diaper brand with this environmentally friendly feature. We look forward to taking our next step toward a greener future. Will you join us? :)