Your Carbon Footprint
The following definition is from the Carbon Trust:
‘The total set of greenhouse gas emissions caused directly and indirectly by an [individual, event, organisation, product] expressed as CO2e.'
The full footprint of an organisation encompasses a wide range of emissions sources, from direct use of fuels to indirect impacts such as employee travel or emissions from other organisations within the supply chain.
A common classification method (1) is to group GHG emissions by the level of control an organisation has over them. On this basis, there are three main types of GHG classification:
Direct emissions that result from activities the organisation controls
For example via the on site combustion of fuels, emission of gases during operation, production and manufacture, and running of a vehicle fleet
Emissions from electricity usage
For example for lighting, heating, and powering of equipment. Although the organisation is not directly in control of the emissions, by using the electricity it is indirectly responsible for the release of CO2.
Indirect emissions from products and services that the organisation does not directly control
For example, a company that manufactures a product is indirectly responsible for the carbon that is emitted in the preparation and transport of the raw materials.
Producing a full footprint covering all three types of emissions can be quite a complex task; and there is currently lack of consistency in methods for calculation and reporting that mean it can be difficult to compare published footprints.
This is where ISO 14064 can avoid confusion about Carbon emission.
Measuring and managing your company's carbon footprint is a business best practice that is quickly becoming a requirement in today's competitive marketplace.
Not only do you get to showcase your environmental stewardship and corporate social responsibility, but you also prepare for pending mandates and proposed cap and trade programs. Establishing your carbon footprint can help you reduce risk and potentially even help you ride out the recession. In fact, a new report from A.T. Kearny, Green Winners: the performance of sustainability-focused companies during the economic crisis, shows that companies with established and recognized sustainability practices are outperforming their peers that are not committed to sustainability during the current economic crisis. Again ISO 14064 can achieve good results in your GHG, environmental stewardship and corporate social responsibility roles.
