Carbon footprinting is used to quantify and assess the total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with a specific activity, organisation, product, or individual. It is a crucial tool for understanding the environmental impact of human activities and serves as a foundation for developing strategies to reduce emissions. Carbon footprinting calculates the total amount of greenhouse gases, (CO2e), emitted directly or indirectly by an entity or activity.
1. Typical scopes of carbon footprinting
- Organisational level: Measures emissions from the operations of a company or institution.
- Product level: Evaluates the emissions associated with the entire lifecycle of a product.
- Individual level: Assesses the personal carbon emissions of an individual or household.
2. Greenhouse Gases considered
- Greenhouse gases considered in carbon footprint assessments include carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), and others.
3. Carbon footprint calculation methods
- GHG Protocol: The GHG Protocol is used as the standard for carbon footprinting, providing guidelines for organizational, product, and project-level assessments.
- Life Cycle Assessment (LCA): LCA assesses environmental impacts throughout a product's life cycle, including raw material extraction, production, use, and disposal.
4. Benefits of Carbon Footprinting
- Identification of hotspots: Pinpoints key areas contributing to high emissions, allowing for targeted mitigation efforts.
- Setting reduction targets: Establishes a baseline for emissions, facilitating the setting of reduction targets.
- Supply chain management: Helps companies understand and address emissions within their supply chains.
- Sustainability reporting: Supports transparent reporting on environmental performance to stakeholders.
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