Carbon footprint offsetting and other climate initiatives at Hurja in 2024

Hurja’s sustainability work made rapid progress in the area of environmental responsibility in 2024. We achieved significant milestones on the path towards our climate targets: we calculated our carbon footprint, drew up plans and took measures to reduce it, and offset the remaining emissions.

Following these measures, we applied for the Code from Finland Carbon Neutrality symbol to demonstrate our commitment to concrete climate action to the wider world. Hurja was awarded the carbon neutrality label, so we are now a certified carbon-neutral software company! However, this achievement was just one step in a longer process, in which our aim is to continue doing our bit for the environment in the future too.

The Carbon Neutrality symbol is valid for one year at a time, so retaining the label requires calculating your carbon footprint, taking steps to reduce it, and offsetting any remaining emissions on an annual basis. So there’s no point in resting on your laurels!

Our journey towards carbon neutrality

The carbon footprint calculation carried out in 2024* marked the start of a whole new phase in Hurja’s sustainability work. For the first time, we gained a clear and comprehensive understanding of the climate impact of our operations. The calculation showed us what our emissions consist of and where we need to focus our efforts to get closer to our climate targets. Our largest sources of emissions relate to purchased services and business travel. The calculation was an important learning process for us, providing valuable insights into how we can make more impactful choices in our daily lives and business operations.

However, it is not possible to eliminate all emissions – at least not straight away. We have also realized that some emissions are currently unavoidable for us, which is why we will still need to offset them in 2025 as well.

Among other things, we cannot completely eliminate the impacts arising from services we purchase and travel at Hurja in the short term. That is why we decided to offset the remaining emissions through the Gold Standard-certified CO2OL Tropical Mix project.

*Carbon footprint calculations are always based on the previous year’s data, so this calculation is based on emissions from 2023.

A massive carbon footprint and measures to reduce it

In 2024, Hurja’s carbon footprint was calculated in collaboration with Carbon Wise Oy, and total emissions were estimated at approximately 39.6 tonnes of CO2 equivalent. The calculation took into account, among other things, Hurja’s energy consumption, water and waste management, business travel, employees’ commuting to and from work, data transfer and server usage, as well as purchased services.

The sources of emissions were:

• Outsourced services (59%)
• Business travel (27%)
• Heat and electricity emissions (7%)
• Business travel (6%)
• Waste management, data transmission and water supply together accounted for less than one per cent of the total carbon footprint

The basics of calculating a carbon footprint

The first assessment provided us with concrete data that we did not previously have. This helped us to identify our sources of emissions, not all of which are straightforward to reduce:

• Outsourced services: Unfortunately, we cannot eliminate emissions from the procurement of services and goods overnight, as changes take time and require a balance to be struck between environmental considerations and business needs. Reasons for this include long-term contracts, the limited availability of low-emission alternatives, the level of sustainability among available suppliers, and the lifecycle emissions associated with the manufacture of equipment. The manufacture, use and recycling of equipment generate emissions that cannot be completely eliminated in the short term. Furthermore, technical requirements, cost-effectiveness and operational reliability limit the scope for rapid change.
• Commuting and business travel: Despite the rise of remote working and virtual meetings, there are situations where a physical presence at the office or with clients is essential. In Finland, long distances and a limited network mean that public transport is, in some situations, impractical in terms of time management. Nor can we expect anyone to cycle tens or hundreds of kilometres to work. However, we aim to favor public transport whenever possible.
• Heat and electricity emissions: We decided to move to smaller and therefore more energy-efficient premises in Kuopio. However, as we expanded our operations to Helsinki last year with the opening of a branch office, this is likely to push our emissions in this area upwards.

Through our calculations, we realized that although we have been making many responsible choices in certain areas for years, not all sources of emissions had previously been taken into account. We now have a better understanding of what we need to prioritize and where we can reduce our emissions in the future.

Measures to reduce emissions

We are actively working to reduce our carbon footprint through concrete measures:

• Responsible procurement: In our procurement activities, we aim to select responsible suppliers and, where possible, domestic suppliers; we explore ways to reduce the carbon footprint of our service purchases and, for example, minimize the procurement of corporate gifts manufactured abroad.
• Sustainable commuting and business travel: We reduce emissions by allowing unlimited remote working, minimising unnecessary business travel and offering a company bicycle scheme.
• Use of renewable energy: We prioritize renewable energy in areas such as our office and server maintenance, including Hetzner’s virtual servers located in a domestic data centre, which are powered entirely by renewable energy.
• Energy-efficient premises and recycling: We pay close attention to the energy consumption of our equipment; we have switched to LED lighting in our premises, improved our waste sorting and recycling practices, and decided to move to smaller premises to improve energy efficiency.
• Circular economy for equipment and resources: We acquire our employees’ computers through leasing agreements, meaning that the equipment is returned to suppliers at the end of its life cycle. We also apply the circular economy to the procurement of office furniture. Another aim is to recycle or donate equipment that is no longer in use but still in working order, such as monitors.
• Increasing the availability of plant-based food: We prioritize plant-based food at the company’s social events and use oat milk in our coffee.

Increasing the carbon footprint*

Our aim for the future is also to increase the broader impact we have on the world through our own activities. We actively seek to increase our positive impact on the climate by providing software development services that support environmentally beneficial projects, either directly or indirectly.

The carbon footprint calculation showed that, although we are succeeding in reducing our emissions in many areas, a certain portion of the remaining carbon footprint is still unavoidable for us. This is typical for companies operating in the technology sector, as emissions from IT infrastructure and equipment purchases, for example, cannot be reduced to zero overnight.

That is why offsetting remains an important part of our sustainability strategy in 2025 as well. Offsetting complements our emission reduction measures until we are able to make more far-reaching, permanent changes to areas such as our supply chain and infrastructure.

*A carbon footprint describes the positive impacts that products or services have on the climate. These impacts may include, for example, emission reductions resulting from the use and application of a product or service. However, the carbon handprint does not replace the need to reduce the carbon footprint or offset remaining emissions.

Why did we choose the project in Panama as the focus of our offset initiative?

For 2024, we have chosen the Gold Standard-certified ‘Planting Biodiverse Forests in Panama (CO2OL Tropical Mix)’ project to offset our carbon footprint. The project offers a concrete and effective way to combine climate protection with the enhancement of biodiversity. The project is particularly important because traditional logging in natural rainforests and the clearing of large monoculture plantations have significantly depleted tropical rainforests. The project aims to reverse this trend by demonstrating sustainable timber production and reforesting degraded pastureland with a mix of native tree species and teak.

As part of the CO2OL Tropical Mix project, native tree species are being planted in the area, which:

• They sequester carbon, which helps to mitigate climate change.
• They protect and enrich the soil, making it more fertile and sustainable.
• They provide a habitat for many endangered animal species. Among others, 15 species listed as endangered on the IUCN Red List have already found a home within the project area.

The project also brings significant social benefits. For local residents, the project provides long-term jobs, fair wages and training opportunities. In addition to all this, the project combines sustainable cocoa production with measures to enhance biodiversity.

The project’s impact in figures

Benefits achieved through the CO2OL Tropical Mix project:

• 7.5 million trees planted, which sequester carbon and promote biodiversity.
• 25% of the project area has been designated a nature reserve, ensuring that the forests and wildlife remain protected.
• 150 jobs for the local population in the Panama region, providing stability and better living conditions.
• Fifteen endangered animal species have found a new habitat thanks to the afforestation project.

The project was the right choice for us, as it not only offsets our emissions but also supports the UN Sustainable Development Goals set out in our sustainability program, such as climate action, decent work and economic growth.

What is the Gold Standard project?

The Gold Standard is an internationally recognized certification that guarantees that climate projects not only reduce greenhouse gas emissions but also deliver tangible benefits to local communities and the environment. The certification is underpinned by an independent assessment process that ensures the quality, transparency and effectiveness of the projects.

Gold Standard projects support the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), as in this case:

• Climate Action: Taking urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts.
• Decent work and economic growth: Promote inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment, and decent work for all.
• Life on land: Protects, restores and promotes the sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems.
• Responsible consumption: Ensuring that consumption and production patterns are sustainable.

Why didn’t we choose a carbon offset project in Finland?

At present, there is no wide range of internationally recognised carbon offset projects in Finland that meet all the highest standards, such as the Gold Standard certification. This is partly because carbon sequestration projects, such as those based on afforestation, are relatively new in Finland, and their effectiveness has not always been independently assessed.

The Ministry of the Environment has been preparing to establish a voluntary nature value market as part of the Marketta project. The operating principle of this market is similar to that of voluntary carbon markets. On the market, companies can purchase hectares of natural value, which are used to make nature claims, for example in the marketing of products, services or business operations. A nature claim could, for example, be that a company has contributed to the restoration of a 100-hectare aapa mire.

Through its work, the government ensures the reliability of the nature value system by establishing criteria, a verification system and registration practices, as well as by supporting businesses in drafting nature claims through guides and examples. Consistent regulation and transparent information reduce the risk of greenwashing. The aim is for market-based solutions to be in place by 2026.

Our decision was therefore not intended to suggest that high-quality compensation projects could not be developed in Finland; rather, we wanted to ensure that our first compensation project was carried out as effectively and transparently as possible.

Is emissions offsetting a fund or emissions trading?

According to Mariko Landström, a leading expert at Sitra, carbon offsetting has sparked debate over whether it is a genuinely effective climate action or merely a money-making scheme or a form of modern emissions trading. Criticism has been levelled particularly when offsetting is used as an alternative to reducing emissions or when its climate benefits remain unclear. In activities resembling emissions trading, emissions are offset without any genuine effort to reduce them in one’s own operations.

According to Sitra, however, offsetting can be an effective part of climate action if it meets strict criteria: it must be real, measurable, permanent and additional. ‘Additionality’ means that the project would not have been carried out without the funding for offsetting. Permanence, in turn, ensures that the benefits achieved, such as carbon sequestration, are not undone, for example, by deforestation.

When these conditions are met, offsetting is not a mere trade-off, but a concrete way of offsetting emissions that cannot be reduced immediately. Internationally recognised standards, such as the Gold Standard, ensure the transparency and climate benefits of offset projects.

To avoid carbon trading, offsetting should not be used merely as a figurehead for sustainability efforts, but must function as a complementary part of a broader emissions reduction plan. Sitra points out that offsetting is only effective when it complements active emission reductions, rather than replacing them. Offsetting emissions can demonstrate responsibility when done carefully and transparently.

Towards continuous improvement in our sustainability work

The year 2024 marked a significant step forward for us in our sustainability work and involved a great deal of new learning, so we are certainly not there yet. Calculating our carbon footprint, implementing concrete measures to reduce emissions and offsetting our remaining emissions were important achievements on our journey towards carbon neutrality. Receiving the carbon neutrality label shows that we are on the right track, but we recognise that climate action is not a one-off task.

The calculation helped us gain a clearer understanding of the composition of our emissions and highlighted key areas for improvement, such as improving the sustainability of outsourced services and reducing business travel. We have also made decisions that help reduce our emissions, such as moving to more energy-efficient premises in Kuopio. On the other hand, our new branch office in Helsinki increases the need to manage our emissions. Offsetting complements these measures and helps us to offset those emissions that we cannot yet eliminate.

It is important to us that our sustainability work continues to evolve. Alongside reducing our carbon footprint, we are looking for ways to increase our carbon handprint by seeking out climate-positive projects with our customers and partners. Every line of code can be part of a bigger impact, which is why we want to be involved in creating a more sustainable future for the environment – one line of code at a time.

Learn more about how we put responsibility into practice at Hurja