Each individual certificate contains a certificate ID and a tree ID, as well as other data such as product and location data. The following figure shows the respective data of the certificate with a short description.

The tree ID is the serial number of the respective electronic tag with which each tree is individually unalterably identified (thus the serial number of the electronic tag corresponds to a unique ID number of the respective tree in the corresponding plantation). In the event of a loss of the electronic tag, the damaged or lost electronic tag is replaced by a new electronic tag. This can be checked and transparently traced using the tree ID noted on the certificate. The tree ID can be checked under “ID query“.

In the event that the tree of the respective tree ID grows very poorly or not at all and thus does not compensate for carbon dioxide, the corresponding electronic marker is inserted into a tree of the same age on the same plantation. This is documented accordingly and can be transparently traced using the tree ID of the respective tree. The tree ID can be checked under “ID query“.

After the respective growth period of the tree, the electronic marker of the previous tree (corresponding to the tree location over all growth periods) is inserted into the newly planted tree. This preserves the compensation of the tree location. The planting of a new tree after the respective growing period is taken care of by Polownia Sp. z o.o.. The respective new planting is documented accordingly and can be transparently traced on the basis of the tree ID of the respective tree. The tree ID can be checked under “ID query“.

The respective certificates are linked to a specific plantation and a tree planted there by means of the product number, location number and tree ID. The GTIN and GLN numbers are based on codes issued by the respective country-specific GS1 organization and are therefore unique worldwide. Furthermore, they can be checked on the GS1 website. The tree IDs are 14-digit alphanumeric codes, which means that the probability of the same ID being issued twice is 1 to the power of at least 36 to the 14th power.

The digital certificate is stored on the IPFS network. For further security, the information stored in the IPFS network is archived on the blockchain (on the Filecoin blockchain). The blockchain, which works on the so-called digital ledger technology, as well as the IPFS network store the certificate immutably. This means that information recorded on the certificate, such as the serial number of the tree ID and product and location information, cannot be changed after the certificate has been issued without losing the link between the QR code found on the back of the certificate and the actual certificate.

The QR codes of the individual certificates refer in each case to the compensation certificate issued once and stored on the blockchain. Only the owner of the respective physical certificate can access the corresponding certificate on the blockchain. Since no personal information is transmitted to Climatree when accessing the IPFS network, the anonymity of the user is preserved. Further information is not and cannot be stored or determined by the certificate per se, so the certificate guarantees the greatest possible anonymity with respect to the tree providing the compensation service specified on the certificate and the user of the certificate. When clicking on the links stored on the certificate, the respective data protection provisions of the target websites of the clicked link apply.

The compensation certificate is made from used cardboard, so no additional paper is needed for this. The compensation certificates are shipped from Germany.