What does carbon footprint calculation mean?
The ecological footprint, more accurately called the carbon footprint, measures the total greenhouse gas emissions, both direct and indirect, generated by an organization, product, or service. Calculating the carbon footprint is essential for understanding the overall environmental impact of a company and is divided into three main categories:
Scope 1: Direct emissions produced from sources owned or controlled by the organization, such as the use of fossil fuels in industrial processes or company vehicles.
Scope 2: Indirect emissions related to the energy purchased and consumed by the organization, including the production of electricity, heat, or steam from external sources.
Scope 3: Indirect emissions generated along the organization's value chain, such as those from the supply chain, production of goods and services, transportation, waste disposal, and other external activities.
Optimising the reduction of the carbon footprint of an organization, considering Scope 1, 2, and 3, is a crucial step for companies aiming for sustainable emissions management and a transition to a low-carbon future.
Let's discover together the 9 essential steps to calculate a company's carbon footprint
1. Determination of the organisational context
The standard requires the organisation to identify its organisational context and establish the boundaries of the GHG emissions inventory, along with other international standards, i.e. which emissions (and "sinks") will be considered.
2. Identification of emission sources
The organisation must identify all direct and indirect greenhouse gas emission sources within the established boundaries.
3. Data collection
Collection of accurate and reliable data related to GHG emissions from each identified source.
4. Emission calculation
The calculation of emissions requires the adoption of measurement methodologies based on specific coefficients capable of converting activity data into carbon dioxide equivalent (CO₂e). This process concerns all identified emission sources, such as industrial machinery, company vehicles, or energy consumption from electricity and natural gas. Each emission is translated into equivalent tonnes of CO₂, following international standards such as the GHG Protocol and ISO 14064-1. The emissions inventory is prepared exclusively by qualified personnel using internationally recognised databases. These databases, approved by authoritative bodies such as the IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) of the United Nations, ensure precise quantification of CO₂ equivalent generated within the organisational boundaries.
5. Verification and quality control in carbon footprint calculation
It is crucial to verify and control the quality of the data and calculations used to ensure the accuracy of the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions information. This process includes, where possible, estimating and valuing the overall uncertainty. In some cases, data may come from industry estimates or proxies, as obtaining accurate and precise information on activities external to the organisation, but included in the supply chain and selected reporting boundary, can be complex. The quality of the data is essential to obtain a reliable and representative organisational footprint, a key element for transparent reporting in line with international standards.
6. Third-party verification
The standard encourages the external verification of the GHG emissions inventory by a qualified and independent organisation to confirm its accuracy.
7. Information management
The company should manage greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions information in a structured way, ensuring its availability for monitoring, communication, and continuous optimisation activities.
8. Communication of carbon footprint calculation
The organisation should commit to communicating its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions clearly and transparently, actively involving customers, investors, regulatory authorities, and the public.
9. Continuous improvement
The standard highlights the importance of continuously improving the management of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. It encourages organisations to set clear objectives and concrete action plans to progressively reduce emissions over time.
Reporting an organisation's carbon dioxide emissions (carbon footprint) is a fundamental element in communicating the sustainability of its activities, processes, and products, as it provides the numerical basis for setting a corporate strategy consistent with efficiency and reduction objectives.
This allows organisations to balance their profit with the impact generated on people and the planet. Only in this way can companies ensure sustainable and lasting success.
