Carbon Footprint

What is it?

Carbon footprint refers to the Greenhouse Gas Emissions generated from:

a) the operation of public/private organizations and

b) the Life Cycle of individual products/services.

The quantitative measurement of the carbon footprint enables the implementation of an effective Climate Change Strategy, which aims at reducing and eliminating emissions. Related initiatives in support of the Climate Change Strategy may constitute the increase of energy efficiency, the usage of renewable energy sources and the offsetting of carbon which aims at declaring a product, service or the operation of an organization as carbon/climate neutral.

Why is it important?

Climate Change represents one of the greatest challenges to the Global community and the emissions of Greenhouse Gases to the atmosphere are considered the main cause factor. Beyond the international commitments (Rio Summit, Kyoto Protocol) and the national efforts to reduce emissions, public and private entities can actively target climate change. This is demanded by citizens and consumers, who place great emphasis on this environmental aspect and expect concrete results. The measurement of the carbon footprint thus forms a common practice by many organizations globally and it is usually supported by a clearly defined Climate Change Strategy.

Our Services

The services of Close the Loop concentrate on two levels as it concerns the measurement of the carbon footprint:

  1. Corporate Carbon Footprint: Measurement of the carbon footprint of a public/private organization for a determined period of time (usually per annum), and formulation of a clearly defined carbon reduction and/or offsetting strategy.
  1. Product Carbon Footprint: Measurement of the carbon footprint of a product/service for some or all phases of the Life Cycle and formulation of a clearly defined carbon reduction and/or offsetting strategy.

Your benefits

Discover opportunities for energy and cost reduction

Establish your organization as being innovative at an international and sector specific level

Assure competitive advantage

Substantial contribution to your Corporate Responsibility Strategy and Sustainability Report

Support of Green Marketing efforts

Our methodology

For the measurement of the Carbon Footprint, Close the Loop has developed an advanced methodology implemented per level of application:

1. Corporate Carbon Footprint

The measurement of the Carbon Footprint is based on the methodology of the Greenhouse Gas Protocol, which determines the process by which Carbon Footprint data are selected, conserved and analyzed. The international establishment of the Greenhouse Gas Protocol assures the accuracy, transparency and consistency of the Carbon Footprint measurements among public/private organizations.

One of the basic directions provided by the Greenhouse Gas Protocol is the ability to clearly determine the Scope of the Carbon Footprint - that is to determine the types of Gas emissions that will be included in the measurements. Thus, 3 scopes for Gas Emissions are set:

Source: World Resources Institute and World Business Council for Sustainable Development

 

  • Scope 1: Includes those emissions that stem from processes which belong to, or occur from the direct control of the organizations (e.g. heating boilers, corporate cars). This scope is mandatory for the measurement of carbon footprint.
  • Scope 2: Includes those emissions that stem from the consumption of electric energy within an organization (e.g. lighting, office equipment). The emissions at this scope do not occur within the facilities of the organization, yet they are very important as they indirectly stem from the facilities producing electric energy, and most often form the largest component of total emissions. This scope is mandatory for the measurement of the Carbon Footprint.
  • Scope 3: Includes all emissions that indirectly stem from the operation of the organization (e.g. air travel, emissions from suppliers). This scope is optional for the measurement of the Carbon Footprint.

2. Product Carbon Footprint

In all phases of a product’s Life Cycle a fair amount of energy is mandated for the mining, production and disposal of natural resources and of the end product. Also, energy is needed for the processing or recycling of the product once it is disposed as waste. All of the above scopes are closely related with Greenhouse Gas emissions such as Carbon Dioxide, Nitrogen Oxide, etc, which contribute to climate change.

Source: World Resources Institute and World Business Council for Sustainable Development

Measuring the Carbon Footprint at the product level entails determining quantitatively the Greenhouse Gas emissions for all phases of the life of the product, based on the International ISO 14044 Standard. This method detects the processes that appear to have the largest Carbon Footprint, as well as facilitates in the reduction of Greenhouse Gas Emissions and declaring the product Carbon Neutral.