# Kickstarter

**Certification:** The Climate Label Certified — Completed (expired), 2024
**Certified since:** 2020 (most recent: 2024)
**Industry:** Software + Tech
**Website:** https://www.kickstarter.com

## Sustainability story

Kickstarter is committed to limit its environmental impact within and outside our walls. When we reincorporated as a Public Benefit Corporation in 2015, we formalized environmental stewardship as part of our legal obligations as a company. We believe it is our responsibility and commitment to invest in green infrastructure, support green commuting methods, and factor environmental impact when choosing vendors. Additionally, we've committed to providing recommendations and resources that help creators make environmentally conscious decisions on tasks, like shipping and packaging, that are common to the use of its services. When Climate Neutral started in 2019 by two Kickstarter funded companies, we were excited to join the effort and commit to being climate neutral immediately. We have also worked with the Environmental Defense Fund to build tools for creators on Kickstarter to make their own environmental commitments. We view our position as a well known brand and as a platform as a powerful lever for leading on climate and sustainability.

## Emissions (2024)

**Methodology:** Kickstarter's emissions inventory uses a mix of spending and activity-based data. Kickstarter attests to the accuracy of their data inputs and the Change Climate team reviews the submission for compliance with the Standard.

- Scope 1: 7 tCO2e
- Scope 2 (location-based): 0 tCO2e
- Scope 2 (market-based): 11 tCO2e
- Scope 3 (location-based): 0 tCO2e
- Scope 3 (market-based): 305 tCO2e
- **Total (location-based): 0 tCO2e**
- **Total (market-based): 324 tCO2e**

**Emissions intensity:** Per dollar of revenue — dollar of revenue

### Emissions history (tCO2e, intensity as disclosed)
| Year | Scope 1 | Scope 2 (loc) | Scope 2 (mkt) | Scope 3 (loc) | Scope 3 (mkt) | Intensity |
|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|
| 2019 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2020 | 51 | 0 | 35 | 0 | 229 | 0.01 |
| 2021 | 66 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 261 | 0.01 |
| 2022 | 63 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 496 | 0.01 |
| 2023 | 7 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 305 | 0.01 |

## Reduction plans

### Science-aligned targets
- We commit to reducing 2021 Scope 1 and 2 emissions 50% by 2030. (completion: 100%)

### Reduction action plans
- **Scope 3** — We will transition our data servers from Amazon AWS East (fossil fuels) to AWS West (hydroelectric). (source: Software and servers, target: Q4 2021, completion: 100%)
- **Scope 3** — We will formalize a long term set of practices and policies that support employees in working from home more often. (source: Employee commuting, target: Q4 2021, completion: 100%)
- **Scope 1** — We plan to reduce our Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions in their entirety by eliminating our physical office and transitioning to a fully remote workforce. (source: Energy at offices or controlled facilities, target: Q4 2022, completion: 85%)
- **Scope 3** — We will implement guidance and policies for reducing carbon emissions from business travel. (source: Business travel, target: Q3 2022, completion: 100%)
- **Scope 2** — Reduce overall energy emissions from HQ by transitioning Kickstarter HQ to fully renewable energy. (source: Energy at offices or controlled facilities, target: Q1 2020, completion: 100%)
- **Scope 3** — Reduce overall scope 3 emissions (source: Software and servers, target: Q3 2020, completion: 100%)
- **Scope 1** — Eliminate natural gas usage at owned facilities. (source: Energy at offices or controlled facilities, target: Q4 2023, completion: 10%)
- **Scope 3** — Implement updated environmental commitment measures for creators on Kickstarter to reduce the carbon footprint of their projects (source: Use phase emissions, target: Q3 2023, completion: 0%)
- **Scope 3** — Reduce flight-based business travel for all employees by implementing a policy to encourage the use of the train whenever possible for business travel by Q3 2023. (source: Business travel, target: Q3 2023, completion: 100%)
- **Scope 3** — Implement a policy to extend the lifespan of laptops by 50% from 2 to 3 years in all departments. (source: Capital expenditures, target: Q1 2025, completion: 100%)
- **Scope 3** — Implement server efficiency measures to reduce energy consumption through improvements in data processing and delivery in our databases. These improvements will include reduction in energy usage through efficiencies in our data transfer process and the elimination of Fivetran processing. (source: Software and servers, target: Q2 2025, completion: 100%)

## Climate funding (2024)

**Total funding:** $6,156

**Spend by category:**
- VCA (Voluntary Carbon / Reductions): $0
- OC (Organizational Commitments): $0
- BVC (Beyond Value Chain): n/a

### Projects
- [BVC] Clinton Landfill #2 Gas Collection and Combustion (Carbon credit, Voluntary Carbon Market): $3,401 — type: Landfill Gas, registry: Verified Carbon Standard, vintage: 2020, location: USA
- [BVC] Borneo Peatlands (Katingan Peatland Restoration and Conservation) (Carbon credit, Voluntary Carbon Market): $2,147 — type: Forestry, registry: Verified Carbon Standard, vintage: 2018, location: Indonesia
- [BVC] Kootznoowoo Forestry Project (Carbon credit, Voluntary Carbon Market): $608 — type: Forestry, registry: American Carbon Registry, vintage: 2021, location: USA

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Source: https://explore.changeclimate.org/brand/kickstarter
API documentation: https://api-docs.changeclimate.org/certified-brands.html