Corporate Carbon Footprint and TÜV Süd Verification
Customer: IU Group
Category: Education
Date: December 2021
The IU International University of Applied Sciences is a private, state approved university of applied sciences with numerous locations in Germany. Holding company behind the IU is IU Group, Germany’s largest private university group. It offers national and international distance studies, campus studies as well as dual studies. To date, over 75.000 students are enrolled in the IU International University of Applied Sciences study courses.
The IU Group assigned DFGE to calculate a complete Corporate Carbon Footprint (Scope 1–3) and to accompany the TÜV Süd verification procedure.
Marc Mobers
Project Lead ESG, IU Group
“It was very important for us to have our emission study carried out and evaluated by a renowned institute with scientific experience and distinctive expertise. The DFGE was the partner of choice who supported us along the entire journey, from the methodology to the visualization of the results.”
Challenge
Extension of Corporate Sustainability Strategy
In the project, a complete Corporate Carbon Footprint (Scope 1–3) was calculated and the TÜV Süd verification was accompanied. Non-avoidable emissions were compensated through verified emission reduction certificates. The TÜV Süd verification took place in 2021.
The main driver of carbon emissions for the organization are the Scope 3 emissions from their students. The emissions occur mainly in relation to the IU Internationale Hochschule and with regard to the time spent online for studying, the student commuting and the energy consumption for charging the IT equipment.
Solution
Validated Carbon Footprint as a prerequisite for TÜV certification
DFGE supported the first Carbon Footprint for the IU Group in 2020 considering the 2019 base year. The Corporate Carbon Footprint was established as a management tool to record and monitor emission data. The documentation and the verification procedure were carried out in accordance with the PAS 2060 specification.
The DFGE supported the organization throughout the third-party verification process with the TÜV Süd. Besides preparing and providing the Carbon Footprint Calculation, DFGE accompanied the IU Group in the audit and certification procedure. This included the completed documentation according to the PAS 2060 standard, critical review of activity data and support for the audit questions.
Result
Corporate Carbon Footprint and Verification
A full Scope 1 to 3 Corporate Carbon Footprint was evaluated. The TÜV Süd verification was carried out for the second year running. Non-avoidable emissions were compensated through verified emission reduction certificates. In addition, measures from the IU Group’s reduction plan were implemented. The projects were chosen based on internationally recognized standards to assure their quality and reliability.
Dr. Sven Schütt
Managing Director and CEO, IU Group
“We are very proud to have been awarded a certificate by TÜV SÜD. With our climate protection measures and the help of DFGE, we aim to contribute to an environment worth living in for future generations. We know that we cannot change the world on our own, but we hope to inspire others to take the same path.”
About IU Group
With over 75,000 students enrolled, IU Group (holding company behind IU – International University of Applied Sciences) is Germany’s largest private university group, providing a well-diversified mix of online degree courses, part-time studies, and flexible combination models. The company delivers high-quality education, leveraging technology and innovation to meet the changing needs of students. The company’s vertically integrated education platform offers more than 200 Bachelor’s and Master’s degree programs and over 350 upskilling courses in German and English. IU cooperates with over 10,000 corporate partners and actively supports them in their people development including in high-demand areas such as business administration, artificial intelligence, and technology. In addition, the company fosters strategic initiatives with global partners to provide students with future-job oriented skills. The company was founded in 2000 and now has over 2,500 employees from more than 60 nationalities. More at www.iu-group.com.
