Terms & Conditions

Preliminary remarks

carbon-connect AG (hereinafter referred to as carbon-connect) is committed to climate protection worldwide by providing advice and offsetting greenhouse gas emissions with high-quality climate protection projects. All climate protection projects comply with internationally recognised quality standards (CDM, Gold Standard, CER & VCS (Verified Emissions Reduction). In dealings with third parties, these General Terms and Conditions take precedence over those of contractual partners, unless otherwise agreed in writing.

Definitions

CDM (Clean Development Mechanism): The CDM is a mechanism provided for in the Kyoto Protocol that enables industrialised countries to achieve part of their agreed greenhouse gas reduction targets through climate protection projects in developing countries. The CDM also serves to support developing countries on their path to sustainable development.

CER (Certificate Emission Reduction): Certificates of emission reductions issued in accordance with CDM criteria.

VER (Verified Emission Reduction): Certificates of emission reductions; where possible, carbon-connect chooses the VZS or Gold Standard for VERs.

Gold Standard: The Gold Standard is a best-practice label developed by over 60 environmental and development aid organisations, which is only awarded to climate protection projects that deliver high ecological and social benefits as well as long-term, effective, verifiable and additional emission reductions.

VCS (Verified Carbon Standard): The Verified Carbon Standard enables climate protection projects to be implemented that generate certificates that can be traded on the free market. Such projects must first undergo validation in order to be registered; the effective emission savings must then be verified ex-post.

Vintage: Verification period.

Activities/services of carbon-connect

The customer, whether a private individual or a business, receives services that have a carbon-neutralising effect due to the following activities: Climate neutralisation, sustainability consulting, preparation of life cycle assessments, CO2 carbon footprint (corporate carbon footprint) and CO2 balances, climate protection projects and neutralisation, e.g. through climate vignettes: climate-neutral company, climate-neutral car, climate-neutral product, climate-neutral event and special solutions. In the case of climate compensation, carbon-connect will purchase the corresponding amount of CO2 certificates after receipt of payment and retire or delete them (no later than 24 months after payment of the compensation contribution).

In the event of delays or lower-than-expected emission reductions in the selected projects, carbon-connect guarantees replacement:

• through certificates of the same vintage and quality in another project,
• through certificates in the selected projects from a later vintage,
• or through certificates of the same quality from a later vintage in another project.

carbon-connect and its partners or service providers shall not be liable for failure to fulfil any of the contractually agreed clauses if this is due to a cause beyond their control. The same applies if a partner/project partner of carbon-connect is unable to fulfil its contractual obligations due to the same circumstances.

The carbon-connect website contains links to external third-party websites over whose content we have no influence. Therefore, carbon-connect accepts no liability for these links or their content. The respective provider or operator of the linked sites is solely responsible for their content. We will remove such links immediately upon becoming aware of any legal violations.

carbon-connect has registered design protection for its logos and labels. The contractual partner respects this and acknowledges the exclusive intellectual property rights to carbon-connect's products and services. They undertake not to infringe these rights and to refrain from any action that could dilute them.

carbon-connect grants its customers the right to disclose the contractual relationship with it to third parties and to use its own support for carbon-connect climate protection and sustainability consulting in their own communication media, in particular their website, annual report or official press releases, using the carbon-connect brand and logos or vignettes in accordance with these General Terms and Conditions unchanged for the duration of a contract and within its framework.

Position of the customer

The contractual partner undertakes to provide any assistance required by carbon-connect for the fulfilment of the contract (e.g. provision of data, provision of documents, designation of contact persons, etc.) in a timely manner and free of charge. They guarantee the correctness and completeness of the data provided. carbon-connect treats this data and information as confidential. However, it may reuse this data in processed or derived form for statistical, scientific or advertising purposes.

All invoices are payable net within 10 days of receipt. The invoice amount for climate neutralisation includes value added tax (VAT); in all other cases, VAT is payable in addition. The invoice amount is denominated in Swiss francs or euros and is payable in the corresponding currency either by bank transfer or credit card. carbon-connect may assign the invoices, e.g. within the framework of factoring, in which case the customer will be notified.

carbon-connect is liable for damages resulting from intent or gross negligence. Further claims for damages are excluded. In particular, carbon-connect is not liable for incorrect information provided by certificate providers or certificate registries, nor for any other actions or omissions by them that are beyond its control and could cause damage to the customer.

Contract commencement/right of withdrawal/automatic renewal

The contract commences upon signature for both corporate and private customers, and upon purchase of the climate sticker in the case of climate neutralisation (e.g. Klimapilot/www.climatepilot.com). It is concluded for an indefinite period. The subscription is automatically renewed for one year unless it is cancelled at least 10 days before the end of the contract year. Notice of cancellation must be received by letter or email to info@carbon-connect.ch.

Final provisions

The General Terms and Conditions and contracts based on them are subject to Swiss law, excluding conflict of law rules. The courts at the registered office of carbon-connect shall have jurisdiction over any disputes arising from or in connection with the General Terms and Conditions or any additional contract. However, carbon-connect is free to assert its claims before other courts in Switzerland or abroad.

As of November 2017