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Carbon footprints - the basics PDF

power stationWhat is a carbon footprint?

The first thing you need to know is that there are two different types of footprint, which are often confused with each other: organisational footprints and product footprints.

The first of these would involve measuring greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) related to your activities as a company, and the second involves measuring the GHGs over the life cycle of a product.

What is a carbon footprint for?

A carbon footprint is best used as a tool. If you understand where most GHG emissions come from, either within your company or in a product, you are much better placed to reduce them. You have the information you need to decide what areas to work on first and can develop a plan of action.

They are also used for reporting, either as a legal requirement or to provide information to stakeholders. And they can be used for fulfilling the information requirements for a certificate or label.

How do you measure a carbon footprint?

Measuring a footprint involves several stages:
  • Decide what you want to use it for, as this then defines the information you'll need
  • Also decide what you are measuring - your organisational footprint or a product footprint
  • Then choose the method you want to use
  • Set your boundaries and decide what data you need to gather (your scope of coverage)
  • Collect your data
  • Use the appropriate emissions factors to calculate your footprint
  • Then put all the information together
The following pages will give you more information on how to do this.
 

Related links:

The GHG Protocol standards and tools

Defra GHG measuring and reporting guidelines

The Carbon Disclosure Project

Environment Agency CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme guidance

The BSI to download PAS 2050:2008 - Specification for the assessment of the life cycle greenhouse gas emissions of goods and services

The Carbon Trust, for advice on carbon footprints and energy efficiency

Outside the UK:

Australia: Department of Climate Change

Canada: Monitoring, Accounting and Reporting on Greenhouse Gases

Ireland: Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government climate change pages

South Africa: Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism - look for the new Global Climate Change pages under 'Projects & Programmes'

USA: EPA Energy Portal; Climate Leaders; Small Business GHG pages