On 1 November 2008 PR!NT Communications Consultants began offering CO2 neutral consulting services. In taking this step the agency is making its contribution to climate protection. The changeover to CO2 neutral services is being carried out on the basis of a 4-part roadmap, which clients can also use.

The agency, which has over 50 consultants, currently causes almost 200 tonnes of CO2 emissions a year in the day-to-day running of the 1,200 square meters of offices in Berlin, Düsseldorf, Hamburg and Munich as well as for travel and flights to clients. Print Communications Consultants calculates its carbon footprint using recognised standards of the World Wildlife Fund and the International Economic Forum for Renewable Energies (IWR).

To start the environmental burden is offset on the basis of international standards. When this is not possible without further measures, concrete programmes are initiated in order to lessen the burden. These programmes include measures for separating and avoiding waste as well as switching over to green electricity from 2009.

The CO2 initiative by PR!NT Communications Consultants is integrated into the agency’s overall CSR concept. This means, for example, that in future staff will also be informed about and trained in all sorts of issues relating to CO2 as part of the agency’s internal further training programme.

The experience gathered by the agency in offsetting its own carbon emissions will also benefit clients.

The first step for them is also to determine the carbon footprint of their marketing and communication activities. Checklists and assumptions for determining the climate burden of communication projects – from advertising media to major events – already exist for this purpose. Concepts and strategies for even more sustainable communication can be developed using these analyses. In the second step the environmental burden can then be avoided, reduced or even – with the help of suitable partners – offset. The third step involves integrating the communication measures into the overall CSR concepts.
The agency considers itself a partner in the process of ensuring sustainable and effective communication.

The CO2 initiative by PR!NT Communications Consultants is implemented in cooperation with Climate Care.