Swiss Ad Giant Cuts Emissions 46% With Renewable Switch

Swiss outdoor advertising company APG|SGA just slashed its greenhouse gas emissions by 46% in one year, showing that rapid corporate climate action is possible even for established businesses.

The company, celebrating its 125th anniversary, reached the milestone by switching its Serbian subsidiary Alma Quattro to renewable electricity. That single move helped push the entire group from 70% to 100% renewable energy across all operations.

Since 2014, APG|SGA's Swiss operations have run entirely on hydropower carrying the "naturemade star" quality seal, the highest certification for green electricity. That covers everything from illuminated billboards to digital advertising screens, commercial buildings, and the company's electric vehicle fleet.

But the company didn't stop at renewable electricity. APG|SGA rolled out a new fleet strategy in 2025 to gradually electrify all company vehicles, which will cut an additional 700 tonnes of CO2 from annual emissions going forward.

The Ripple Effect

The company's climate work earned recognition from global sustainability evaluators. APG|SGA received an A rating in the Climate category from CDP, an international environmental disclosure system, placing it among the world's leading companies for transparency and quality in climate reporting.

It also achieved the highest level of Switzerland's EcoEntreprise certification program, earning "EcoEntreprise Excellence" status. The company even secured "Great Place to Work" certification, showing that environmental responsibility can go hand in hand with employee satisfaction.

There's a meaningful connection behind the numbers too. The cover of APG|SGA's 2025 Sustainability Report features a renaturalized floodplain in Sins, Aargau, where new branches of the Reuss river now provide habitat for threatened species. The "naturemade star" fund, supported by companies like APG|SGA that purchase certified green electricity, covered about 20% of that biodiversity project's costs.

The company published its 23rd annual sustainability report, demonstrating more than two decades of commitment to transparent environmental accounting and measurable progress.

When a 125-year-old company can cut emissions in half while earning top marks for both climate action and workplace culture, it proves that the path forward isn't just possible but profitable.