Professional Documents
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Carbon
footprinting
The next step to reducing your emissions
enter
Contents
67%
About this guide 1
Introduction to carbon footprinting 2
Organisational carbon footprints 4
Why calculate your organisational 6
carbon footprint?
How to calculate an organisational 9
carbon footprint
Communicating your organisational 11 of UK consumers surveyed are
carbon footprint
Product carbon footprint 12
more likely to buy a product with a low
Why calculate your product 14 carbon footprint
carbon footprint?
How to assess your product 15
carbon footprint
Communicating your product 17
carbon footprint
Further services from the 20
Carbon Trust
Carbon footprinting 1
Finally, we explain how the Carbon Trust can help you calculate
your carbon emissions, and work with you to develop a full
carbon management strategy for your organisation.
Carbon footprinting 2
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All businesses have the opportunity to reduce A carbon footprint is the total greenhouse gas
Carbon dioxide equivalent
their carbon emissions, and the business case (GHG) emissions caused directly and indirectly
for doing so is growing ever stronger. by an individual, organisation, event or product, Carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) is
and is expressed as a carbon dioxide equivalent the unit of measurement which allows
Higher and more volatile energy costs are
(CO2e). A carbon footprint accounts for all six different greenhouse gases to be
increasing the value of energy savings.
Kyoto GHG emissions: compared on a like for like basis relative
Climate change regulations such as the EU to one unit of CO2. CO2e emissions are
carbon dioxide (CO2)
Emissions Trading Scheme (EU ETS) and the calculated by multiplying the emissions
Carbon Reduction Commitment (CRC) Energy methane (CH4) of each of the six greenhouse gases by its
Efficiency Scheme are creating new 100-year global warming potential (GWP).
nitrous oxide (N2O)
requirements and opportunities to benefit
from emissions reductions. hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs)
Different types of carbon A product carbon footprint measures the Production is often a key focus when companies
footprints GHG emissions over the whole life of a product are looking at carbon management, and
(goods or services), from the extraction of raw calculating one or both carbon footprints can
This publication looks at two types of
materials and manufacturing right through to its help with this work.
carbon footprint:
use and final re-use, recycling or disposal.
Organisational carbon footprint
The different boundaries of organisational and
Product carbon footprint. product footprints are illustrated below.
An organisational carbon footprint measures The production process itself is part of the
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the GHG emissions from all the activities across product life cycle, but would also be included in
the organisation, including energy used in buildings, the organisational footprint so there is some
industrial processes and company vehicles. crossover between the two types.
Organisational footprint
Distribution Re-use/
Production Distribution The organisation of products Consumption recycling/
of raw materials of raw materials
and retail disposal
Product footprint
Carbon footprinting 4
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What is it used for? The Greenhouse Gas Scope 3: Any other indirect emissions from
Protocol Standard sources outside your direct control. Examples
Quantifying GHG emissions will help you
of scope 3 emissions include employee
understand what your key emission sources The Greenhouse Gas Protocol is a widely used
commuting and business travel, outsourced
are, how your organisation contributes to global standard that sets out how to account for your
transportation, waste disposal and water
emissions, and what opportunities you have GHG emissions. It categorises emissions into
consumption.
to reduce your emissions. You can then develop three groups or scopes:
a carbon reduction plan, identifying ways to
Scope 1: Direct emissions that result from
reduce your carbon footprint and limit
activities within your organisations control.
emissions from future activities and then
This might include on-site fuel combustion,
measure what progress you have made.
manufacturing and process emissions,
Once youve calculated your organisational refrigerant losses and company vehicles.
carbon footprint, you can report it internally,
Scope 2: Indirect emissions from any
externally or both.
electricity, heat or steam you purchase and
use. Although youre not directly in control of
the emissions, by using the energy you are
indirectly responsible for the release of CO2.
Carbon footprinting 5
Under the GHG Protocol, all organisational Figure 2 Three scopes of carbon emissions
footprints must include scope 1 and 2 emissions.
There is more flexibility when choosing which Scope 1 Scope 2 Scope 3
scope 3 emissions to measure and report, and
you can tailor these to reflect your environmental Fuel combustion Purchased electricity, Transport business
and commercial goals. heat and steam
The best approach depends on what you intend Company vehicles Waste disposal
to use the footprint for, the data available to
Menu calculate it, what you want to monitor and which Process emissions Transport product
sources you can influence. Organisations
Fugitive emissions Transport commuting
commonly include waste sent to landfill and
employee business travel from scope 3. Leased assets, franchises, outsourcing
Use of products
Following protocol
The Greenhouse Gas Protocol (GHG Protocol) is an accounting tool used by business
and governments. It was created in 2001, when the World Resources Institute and the
World Business Council for Sustainable Development identified a need for consistency
in how organisations accounted and reported emissions, and together introduced the
new standard.
Since then, its been used by more than 1,000 businesses and organisations worldwide,
including many Fortune 500 companies.
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There are two primary reasons to calculate your
The Carbon Reduction
organisational carbon footprint:
Commitment
Manage your GHG emissions and make
The Carbon Reduction Commitment (CRC)
reductions over time.
Energy Efficiency Scheme is an emissions
Report your footprint accurately trading scheme aimed at reducing carbon
to a third party. emissions in large non-energy intensive
organisations by 1.2 million tonnes of
carbon per year by 2020.
Manage your GHG emissions
and make reductions over time It is a mandatory scheme, targeting
emissions currently not included in the
Quantifying your GHG emission sources
EU Emissions Trading Scheme or
will help you understand what impact your
Climate Change Agreements. It applies
organisation is having on climate change.
to organisations that used more than
This will help you identify and prioritise areas
6,000 megawatt hours of electricity
for reducing emissions, which will often
through half-hourly meters during 2008.
result in cost savings as well.
Read more about the CRC on
DECCs website.
Carbon footprinting 7
respond to requests from business, customers Read more on the CDP website at Hotels Hilton International Hotels
and investors for carbon emissions data www.cdproject.net
Hospital trusts North Wales NHS Trust
participate in carbon reporting initiatives
Police forces Merseyside Police
such as the Carbon Disclosure Project
Paving stone suppliers Pavestone UK
measure your emissions levels as part of
a carbon reduction or offsetting strategy. Galleries and museums
The National Gallery
If you are going to publicly disclose your footprint
or progress with its reduction, its important to Supermarkets Tesco
use a robust approach to calculating your carbon
Aviation companies British Airways
emissions. The GHG Protocol is the standard
that the majority of organisations follow. Self storage suppliers Big Yellow Group
Obtaining independent certification or validation
Pharmaceutical companies
can give external stakeholders more confidence
GlaxoSmithKline
that the methods have been used correctly and
that the results are accurate.
Carbon footprinting 8
1 2 3 4 5 6
Decide on the method Define organisational Collate the data Apply emissions Verify the results Verify that you have
to be followed and operational factors (optional) taken action to reduce
boundaries your emissions
(optional)
The key steps in calculating an organisational ISO 14064, which builds on many of the The operational boundary determines which
carbon footprint are: concepts introduced by the GHG Protocol. emission sources will be quantified. It should
Both provide further explanation of the steps include the full range of emissions from
covered here. activities under your operational control. All
1 Decide on the method to be followed
material scope 1 and 2 emissions should be
It is important to use a consistent method to included, but you can choose which scope 3
2 Define organisational
ensure an accurate result, particularly if you will emissions to include.
and operational boundaries
rely on several people to help collect and
Be realistic when choosing a boundary and make
interpret data. Set clear, explicit boundaries on which parts
sure you consider the practicalities of collecting
of your organisation are included in the footprint.
The GHG Protocol is one of the most commonly complete and accurate data. It may help to fit in
This can be complex if you have many
used standards. It provides detailed guidance on with your other reporting periods and legislative
subsidiaries, joint ventures or leased assets,
methods, and is available free of charge online. requirements, or the requirements of schemes
but its an important step.
Another recognised standard is from the operated by third party certifiers, such as the
International Organization for Standardization, Carbon Trust Standard.
Carbon footprinting 10
If you decide to report your carbon footprint If you are going to ask people to try and save Why communicate your
internally or externally, make sure the data is energy, its important to show them what footprint externally?
presented transparently. difference they are making to your
Communicating your organisational footprint
organisations emissions which means they
This means providing complete information externally in your corporate social responsibility
need to know the starting point and, ideally, the
about each of the six steps in the previous (CSR) report, for example demonstrates that
progress they are making. The data you collect
section, including methods, footprint you are concerned with the impact your
may also help employees identify efficiencies in
boundaries, data quality and assumptions. Try business is having on the environment.
existing processes and practices.
to keep a consistent approach when reporting
If you are a service-led or business-to-business
changes over different years and explain the Gaining certification can also give employees
(B2B) organisation, it may not be possible
context, e.g. changes in the business structure. something to aim for and, once achieved,
or practical to footprint individual products
can help to retain and attract an increasingly
or services. In this case, gaining independent
environmentally-aware workforce.
Why communicate your certification of your organisational carbon
footprint internally? Plus, of course, if you do manage to save footprint, and demonstrating reductions,
energy, youll see a reduction in costs and a could help enhance your reputation and
Communicating your organisational carbon
better bottom line. attract customers or business partners
footprint to employees can help engage them
with similar concerns.
in the process of carbon reduction and energy
management.
Carbon footprinting 12
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In contrast to an organisational carbon footprint, Measuring emissions from all gas emissions such as refrigerant losses
the product carbon footprint also considers stages of the product life cycle from air conditioning units and waste.
GHG emissions outside the boundaries of your
A product carbon footprint is a measure of GHG In the case of a service product the life cycle
own activities. This includes those of your
emissions at each stage of the products life, stages are defined individually for each service.
suppliers, customers and distributors related to
including:
the manufacture and use of the product. It also Publicly Available Specification (PAS) 2050
covers emissions created by disposing of any extraction and production of raw materials (see page 15) provides a widely recognised,
waste, and the impact of recycling. internationally applied and consistent method
transportation of raw materials
for assessing product life cycle GHG emissions.
production (or service provision) It can be used for a wide range of product and
What is it used for?
service types, including:
distribution
A product carbon footprint is a useful tool to
goods and services
engage with employees, suppliers, investors product use
and customers. It can motivate employees to manufacturers, retailers and traders
disposal/recycling.
take action to reduce emissions, build brand
B2B and business-to-consumer (B2C)
awareness and value, and support the actions At each stage the analysis should include GHG
of suppliers and customers in reducing emissions resulting from any material inputs to, supply chains both UK and international.
emissions. It may also identify inefficiencies or outputs from, the process. Commonly, these
and cost savings in your own processes, and in include energy use, transportation fuel and direct
the supply chain.
Carbon footprinting 13
A product carbon
footprint can
help to differentiate
your product
or service and
enhance your
brand image
Carbon footprinting 14
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The three main reasons to calculate the carbon might bring to your business and reduce attract new customers. You may also consider
footprint of your product or service are to: your emissions by changing: using third party endorsement of the footprint
e.g. through the Carbon Reduction Label
drive change and reduce costs and emissions suppliers
to increase the power of your claims.
within your company
choice of materials
tell people
manufacturing processes Drive wider change in the
drive wider change in the supply chain. supply chain
product designs.
Its important to look at your whole product
It can also help you gain the support of your
Reduce costs and emissions supply chain, rather than just one part, as this
employees, and encourage them to take action.
will let you see all the opportunities to reduce
Identifying areas where you can reduce
emissions. You can then take positive action
GHG emissions will often result in cost
Tell people to reduce the total emissions, which will benefit
savings, in terms of transport energy,
everyone more than shifting emissions within
waste and packaging, for example. Customers, employees and shareholders
the chain.
are becoming increasingly aware of the
Understanding the carbon impact of your
environmental impact of the goods and services It can also help you develop better relationships
supply chain more clearly can also help you
they use. A product carbon footprint can help with your suppliers, by helping them identify and
manage the potential risks climate change
to differentiate your product or service and eliminate inefficiencies in their own processes.
enhance your brand image. Committing to or
demonstrating carbon reductions can help you
Carbon footprinting 15
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Use a standard method The Carbon Trust has also developed guidance Define the scope and objectives
for communicating the results of a product of the product carbon footprint
Current guidance for calculating a product
footprint developed under PAS 2050, and
carbon footprint includes the PAS 2050, which Before you start, be clear about:
calculating reductions in product emissions
was published in October 2008 following
over time. See The Code of Good Practice why you are measuring the footprint
extensive development and international
for Product GHG Emissions and Reduction is it to be used internally to analyse the
consultation. PAS 2050 is applicable to a wide
Claims (CTC745), which you can download supply chain or publicly disclosed?
range of goods and services, and includes the
from our website.
scope of analysis, collating data and calculating what level of detail you need is a high-
GHG emissions. It gives guidance on how To make sure your calculations are consistent, level approach that identifies carbon hot spots
to treat emissions relating to issues such as its a good idea to use baseline data (including sufficient, or do you need a detailed analysis
recycling, renewable energy and land use standard emission factors and process that can be independently verified?
change. PAS 2050 is reviewed every two to calculators) as well as the guidance provided by
resources who is available internally to carry
three years by the UK Accreditation Service PAS 2050. Baseline data from across sectors is
out the analysis, and how long will it take?
through a consultative user process. available from a number of sources, including
the Carbon Trust Footprinting Company, The next step is to choose a representative
Ecoinvent and GaBi. Sector-specific data is product or service functional unit on which
available from specialist companies. the carbon footprint will be based and
reported e.g. per kg or per hour of service
In the future, the International Life Cycle Database
and work to engage your supply chain in the
(ILCD) will provide consistent data across sectors.
measurement process.
Carbon footprinting 16
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Step 1 Build a process map Step 3 Collect data Step 5 Verify your footprint
List all of the materials, activities and processes Collect activity data (e.g. litres of fuel consumed You can verify your footprint in three ways:
that contribute to each stage of the chosen per product unit) and select appropriate
self-verification
products life cycle. emissions factors (e.g. kgCO2 per litre of fuel).
Where possible, use primary data based on verification by another party, such as
actual meter readings or records rather than another company
Step 2 Check boundaries and
estimates.
determine priorities accredited independent third-party
verification.
Some emissions can be excluded, e.g.
Step 4 Calculate the footprint
consumer travel to retail outlets. Calculating a While self-verification is a simple choice,
high-level footprint first will help focus data Calculate the GHG emissions (kgCO2e per it lacks the reputational value of accredited
collection on the main GHG emission sources product unit) from each source by multiplying independent verification.
and eliminate others. the activity data by the emissions factors.
Verification by another party provides greater
impartiality by ensuring someone not involved
A product carbon footprint is a useful in the process reviews the footprint assessment.
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You can communicate your carbon footprint Communicating internally
in a number of ways, such as labelling your
Communicating the carbon footprint of your
products, or providing information on your
product or service to your company as a whole
companys website or marketing campaigns.
can have several benefits.
The method of communication will depend on
what sort of business you have, how you want Lower energy costs. Using less energy
to communicate your footprint and who you to enable a reduction in your product footprint
want to tell. can help improve your bottom line.
44%
Business-to-business Business-to-consumer
B2B companies can realise significant benefits by B2C organisations can distinguish themselves
communicating their product carbon footprints. from other companies by communicating their
product or service carbon footprints and reduction
Engaging up the supply chain. The
commitments. This can be done through:
information youve gathered during the
process can also help your suppliers reduce point of sale
their emissions, thereby reducing the footprint
reporting
of consumers would switch to a
of your product.
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advertising
lower carbon product even if the
Engaging down the supply chain. You
can provide your customers with valuable labelling.
brand was not their first choice
information about the carbon footprint of
Communicating your footprint to consumers
goods or services they purchase. This allows
by all or any of these methods, and then
your customers to make an informed decision
committing to reducing it, can help you realise
about what they buy and makes it easier for
further benefits, including:
them to calculate their own carbon footprint.
increased cost and emissions savings
It also differentiates your product or service.
As a B2B supplier you can provide your product differentiation and increased sales
business customers with certified product
enhanced brand reputation.
carbon footprint data up to their gate, thereby
reducing the time and cost they need to
footprint their own products.
Carbon footprinting 19
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Published in the UK: March 2012.
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