Climate investments beyond our value chain

1 January 1970

At Once Upon, we acknowledge that everything we do has an impact on our planet. Guided by our ambitious climate goals, we are constantly taking steps to minimize this impact. However, we understand that achieving these goals will take time. That's why we complement our efforts to reduce our own emissions by also offsetting our total emissions through certified projects that reduce emissions faster than we can on our own.

Why do we offset our carbon emissions?

Our carbon offsetting is not a substitute for our efforts to minimize our emissions; it's a complement and a motivator. While we work tirelessly to reduce our environmental footprint, we recognize that immediate action is necessary to address the urgent climate crisis. Certified projects allow us to offset our total emissions and support initiatives that provide immediate and long-term environmental benefits.

How and what do we offset?

Key areas for reducing our emissions include paper and energy usage in the production of our books and prints. Social sustainability is also a core concern, encompassing our customers, ourselves, and those who work with and for us. Therefore, we fund projects that match our values, help reduce emissions in a short and medium term, protect nature, and support long-lasting carbon removal solutions.

Once Upon invests in projects outside our value chain, representing more than 200% of our total emissions (scopes 1, 2, and 3). Our internal budget for this is 1000 SEK per ton of CO2.

Projects we support

The projects we support are divided into three areas.

1
Projects that are certified by the UN and Gold Standard

focusing on scaling up the use of renewable energy. You can find more information about these projects here: Climate Hero Projects.

2
Long-term carbon storage through biochar

Biochar is a technology that enables long-term carbon storage while providing multiple additional benefits. We support projects like Arti in the US and Puhi in Finland, which utilize this innovative method.

3
Reforestation for increased biodiversity, social sustainability, and carbon sequestration

For the year 2024 (conducted in 2025), we supported Naturarvet, a Swedish organization that protects and preserves biodiversity in old growth forests. Learn more about their work here: Naturarvet.

For the year 2023 (conducted in 2024), we supported the Eden Reforestation Projects. These projects sequester carbon, increase biodiversity, and create local job opportunities in social sustainability through the restoration of mangrove forests in Mozambique, Madagascar, and other countries. Learn more about their work here: Eden.

Eden Reforestration Projects.

Ensuring the effectiveness of our investments

We understand the risks and challenges associated with carbon offsetting and the difficulty in assessing the exact impact of these projects. To address this, we and our partners conduct annual qualitative assessments to select projects with strong reputations and large-scale impacts.

For example, Eden Reforestation Projects employ local people to replant and care for natural vegetation on state-owned land, providing them with a monthly salary. This model helps mitigate certain risks and includes due diligence and stakeholder collaboration before launching new projects.

By supporting these initiatives, we ensure our investments have a meaningful impact, fostering environmental sustainability and social well-being.

See our certificate here; 2024 and 2025, Naturarvet 2025.

We are committed to doing our part in the fight against climate change and hope to inspire others to join us in making a positive difference. Interested in more about our sustainability initiatives?