Cozero and Gothaer support SMEs in climate transformation

• With Cozero, Gothaer corporate customers can calculate their company's carbon footprint free of charge.
• Only 16 percent of SMEs are currently aware of their carbon footprint.
• Stage 2 of the Gothaer 500-50-5 initiative has launched successfully.

Berlin, May 11, 2022
Gothaer launched its new initiative to support small and medium-sized enterprises in the energy transition at the end of 2021. The 500-50-5 initiative helps German SMEs move toward climate neutrality quickly and with extensive support to make a sustainable contribution to the climate turnaround. "Our ambitious goal is to help 500 corporate customers reduce their CO₂ emissions by 50 percent over the next five years," says Thomas Bischof, CEO of Gothaer Allgemeine Versicherung AG.

‍Only 16 percent of SMEs currently know their carbon footprint
‍Gothaer is expanding its broad network of cooperation partners and making it available to all participating companies. The companies receive services for implementing their climate protection measures and support with regard to funding opportunities. "We offer active support in the areas of mobility, buildings and energy. To make the first step and start into a sustainable future, it is essential to know the footprint of your own company," says Bischof. That is why 500 companies are now being given free access to the software from the Berlin-based company Cozero, which they can use to record their CO₂ emissions and balance them according to the criteria of the so-called "Greenhouse Gas Protocol". "Our SME study shows that only 16 percent of SMEs currently know their carbon footprint," says Sören Heinzmann, Managing Director of Gothaer Digital GmbH and head of the initiative. "Only those who precisely record and know their CO₂ emissions can start taking customized measures in their companies."

‍SMEs as drivers of transformation
‍With more than 370,000 insured companies, Gothaer knows the challenges of these businesses very well. "Political and social circumstances have recently brought the issue of sustainability into sharper focus. Many SMEs have not only recognized the necessity but the economic opportunities of climate protection," says Bischof. "It is our firm conviction that we can make an effective contribution to climate protection and continue to demonstrate and expand our position as a leading partner for SMEs. We are now looking for corporate customers who are willing to join us," Bischof continues.

‍Thinking climate protection and digitization together
‍"Resilient strategies for sustainability require thinking out of the box. By involving customers Gothaer is taking an effective step towards climate transformation," says Helen Tacke, CEO and founder of Cozero.

As a digital basis, the Cozero software not only provides more and better CO₂ emissions data for a carbon footprint, it also allows companies to initiate effective measures that lead to actual reductions while meeting all economic requirements. Cozero has developed its own standard for this purpose: the so-called "ROCI - Return on Climate Investment" puts every project to reduce carbon emissions under a profitability check. "Experiences with our SME customers show that climate protection measures must be effectively calculated and clearly communicated. This is exactly what the Gothaer initiative 500-50-5 stands for," Helen Tacke concludes.