Eco-Lighthouse and sustainable digital services

Alf Gundersen AS is Eco-Lighthouse certified.

This certification confirms that we take a systematic approach to climate, the environment, and workplace conditions, and that we monitor our progress through goals, initiatives, and annual evaluations. For us, this applies both to how we run our business and to how we plan, design, develop, and manage digital solutions for our customers.

On this page, we describe how we address climate and environmental issues in our digital services, and what choices can help reduce our digital footprint.

What does it mean that we are Eco-Lighthouse certified?

Eco-Lighthouse is a Norwegian certification scheme for businesses that take a structured approach to climate, the environment, and workplace conditions.

For us, this means, among other things, that we have established procedures, goals, and follow-up processes related to:

• compliance with legal requirements

• continuous improvement

• reduced climate and environmental impact from operations

• use of purchasing power and supplier requirements

• reduced digital footprint in deliveries

• Responsible Communication and Anti-Greenwashing

How this applies to digital services

Digital solutions are not weightless. Websites, campaigns, analytics tools, hosting, and content consume energy and resources in data centers, networks, and on the user’s device.

Our impact is felt particularly through:

• how we design and develop websites and digital solutions

• which technical options we recommend

• how we handle performance, data volume, and maintenance

• how we handle content, analytics, and third parties

• how we communicate climate and environmental issues in a responsible manner

How we work in practice

We adhere to internal guidelines for responsible digital design and communication. This means, among other things, that we:

• builds for actual needs, not unnecessary complexity

• minimizes the amount of data in images, videos, fonts, and scripts

• limits the use of third-party services and removes those that do not add value

• includes performance as a standard part of the delivery

• focuses on data minimization and the judicious use of analytical tools

• considers universal design and simplicity to be part of quality

• prioritizes reuse where appropriate

• avoids making environmental claims without supporting documentation

In web projects, this involves, among other things, image optimization, the judicious use of video, limiting the use of fonts and third-party scripts, as well as caching and compression where appropriate.

We view universal design as an essential part of responsible digital delivery. Accessible, understandable, and user-friendly solutions benefit more people and are often easier and more resource-efficient to manage over time. This is part of how we assess quality in projects.

In practice, this means that in relevant projects, we:

• plan the structure and content so that it is easy to understand and navigate (headings, landmarks, reading order)

• ensures good contrast, legible typography, and clear focus marking when navigating with the keyboard

• uses alt text where appropriate and ensures that important elements are not only conveyed visually

• tests key user journeys with the keyboard and assesses screen readability

• document that the UU has been assessed as part of the delivery when agreed/required in the project

We base our work on the WCAG standard and relevant guidelines from the Norwegian Agency for Disability and Accessibility, and we recommend that accessibility requirements and acceptance criteria be agreed upon early in the project.

Suppliers and technology choices

Sustainability in digital services also involves the selection of tools and suppliers. We are therefore working to establish relevant requirements and expectations for key suppliers, including those related to climate, the environment, working conditions, and, where applicable, hosting and data center services.

Responsible communication and anti-greenwashing

As an advertising and communications agency, we also have a responsibility for how climate and environmental claims are used and communicated. We must be objective and transparent in our climate and environmental communications, require documentation to support claims, and help our clients make informed choices.

That means we:

• request documentation where climate and environmental claims are used

• clarifies assumptions and limitations

• prioritizes real measures and actual impact over "window dressing"

• helps customers communicate honestly, accurately, and clearly

Our ongoing environmental efforts

Eco-Lighthouse certification is not an end in itself. We monitor our progress through goals, initiatives, and annual evaluations, and use this as a basis for further improvements in operations, the work environment, procurement, and digital services.

Sustainability Report and Feedback

You can read more in our public sustainability report. We also welcome feedback from customers, partners, and other stakeholders on how we can improve the climate and environmental impact of our services.

If you have any feedback, please send it to mette@alfgundersen.no or .

Would you like to make more sustainable digital choices?

Please contact us if you would like to:

• a more resource-efficient website or campaign

• streamlining scripts, tags, and data-intensive elements

• advice on technology, management, and digital infrastructure

• help with credible climate and environmental communication